2024 GDAMS : Military spending threaten everyone! Disarmament now for humans and the planet!

Amidst the clouds of war that have engulfed the world, militarism, which advocates “peace through strength,” is on the rise. The war that broke out with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been three years with no sign of a ceasefire. According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), there have been at least 30,457 civilian casualties over the past two years, 1,885 of which are children. As the war has become more protracted and entrenched, the pain of the people in the war is growing. Israel’s genocide against Palestinians, which intensified last October, is even more devastating. Israel’s indiscriminate bombardment on Gaza has left 33,899 dead and 76,664 injured (as of April 17). Of these, 70% are women and children. Countless people are suffering from war and armed conflict. This tragedy must not continue or escalate any longer.

On the Global Days of Action on Disarmament in 2024, we demand.

Let’s make every diplomatic effort to achieve an “immediate ceasefire” in Ukraine and Gaza.

Let’s cease all military actions and hostilities that threaten each other on the Korean Peninsula and restore channels of communication for crisis management. Both South and North Korea should return to the spirit of the September 19 inter-Korean Military Agreement and cease all military actions and threats that could lead to an accidental conflict, and establish minimum channels of dialogue to prevent armed conflict.

Let’s stop the arms race and military operation, and make peace through dialogue, cooperation, and peaceful means. Let’s work to improve relations through phased disarmament and resumption of dialogue, not through more weapons and military exercises.

Let’s stop arms exports to conflict countries to stop wars. Especially stop military cooperation and arms trade with Israel, which is committing genocide.

Let’s use our limited resources, human resources, and technology to solve problems that threaten lives and everyday lives, not to prepare for war. Let’s dramatically cut military spending to address social inequality, prevent disasters, build social safety nets, and address the climate crisis.

April 22, 2024
2024 Global Days of Action on Disarmament Campaign in South Korea
BDS Korea
Catholic Extinction Rebellion
Civilian Military Watch
Climate Christian Solidarity
Daejeon Women’s Association for Peace
End Ecocide Korea
Energy Justice Actions
Geumjunggul Humanright & Peace Foundation
Green Korea United
Green Party Korea
Jeju Peace Human Rights Institute WHAT
Jesuit Research Center for Advocacy and Solidarity
Korea Association of Christian Women for Women Minjung(Gidok-Yominhoe)
Korea Youth Corps
Korea-Vietnam Peace Foundation
Korean House for International Solidarity
NANCEN
National Council of Churches in Korea
Pax Christi Korea (PCK)
PDHEDU IN
Peace Ground
PEACEMOMO
Peace Network
People’s Solidarity Participatory Democracy(PSPD)
Pyeongtaek Peace Center
The Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan
Women Making Peace
World Without War

Joint Statement [See/Download]