Global Staff Team (GST) Meeting in South Korea

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2023 in-person Global Staff Team (GST) Meeting was held in South Korea – Co-hosted by APAY and YMCA of Korea 


Global Staff Team (GST) Meeting

Global Staff Team (GST) members meet regularly to share the current status of YMCA movement of each region and to collaboratively develop the global strategy, positioning, and visibility. The GST consists of seven professional leadership: Secretary General of the World YMCA, the General Secretaries of the Area Alliances (Africa, Asia and Pacific, Europe, Latin America and Caribbean), and representatives of YUSA and YMCA Canada.

This year, the GST meeting was held on October 3-7 in Seoul and Jeju Island, South Korea, co-hosted by Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs (APAY) and NCY-Korea. Seven YMCA leaders not only discussed the important agendas such as the Areas Update and Vision 2030 implementation, but also had various meaningful side events such as the press conference for peace on Korean Peninsula, visit to Demilitarized zone (DMZ) between South and North Korea, meeting with Jeju Governor, and visit to the site of APAY Jeju office and soon-to-be YMCA Global Peace & Ecology Center.

Press Conference for Peace on the Korean Peninsula

The press conference with the title ‘World YMCA Leaders solidify with Korean civil society to Protect Peace on the Korean Peninsula’ was held on October 4 in Seoul, South Korea. The statement was released by GST members to call for △ end-of-war declaration on the Korean Peninsula, △ conclusion of a peace agreement, △ denuclearization of Korean Peninsula, and △ establishment of the World YMCA Pyongyang* Liaison Office. The statement also mentioned that the peace movement on the Korean Peninsula can play a key role in establishing peace in East Asia and the world. (*Pyongyang is the capital city of North Korea.)

The matter of the World YMCA Pyongyang liaison office was adopted in the resolution at the 2018 Chiang Mai YMCA World Council and again at the 2022 Aarhus Denmark World Council. Carlos Sanvee, Secretary General of World YMCA said “The core content of the resolution is to establish a World YMCA liaison office in Pyongyang. I look forward for North Korea to open the door for the necessary dialogue.” He also added “I am ready to visit Pyongyang at any time.” APAY also showed its support for the liaison office by establishing a Task Force for peace building on the Korean Peninsula in 2021 and by adopting a resolution for peace on Korean Peninsula at the 21st General Assembly in India this year.

The related statement and resolutions can be found by clicking each item below: