Opening remarks for the awards ceremony for the Cities for the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women. Today, we gather to celebrate not just individual achievements, but the collective spirit and determination that each of you embodies as a global citizen. The UNA’s commitment to creating a more equitable and sustainable world fills me with hope and admiration . . . Read More

I fled Pyongyang as a child under cover of night—a journey that shaped my lifelong belief in resilience and global citizenship. In 1947, Pyongyang was under Russian military authority. Life for my family had been difficult during the Japanese occupation and was about to become even harder. My mother, Song Kyung-Shyn, had surrendered her brass housewares and even her wedding ring to the Japanese army for the war effort . . . Read More