Professor Kozue Akibayashi is a feminist researcher and activist.  She is a professor at the Graduate School of Global Studies, Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan. Her research and activism has focused on analysing issues of militarism, militarisation and demilitarisation and decolonisation, from a gender perspective. Professor Kozue Akibayashi is the International President of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. WILPF is an international non-governmental organisation, established in 1915, with national sections in every continent and brings together women from around the globe to work for peace through non-violent means and promote gender quality and social justice for all. She is also a member of the International Women’s Network Against Militarisation.

On International Women’s Day for Peace and Disarmament 24 May in 2015, Professor Akibayashi participated in an historic event when 30 international women peacemakers from 15 countries crossed the Demilitarised Zone between North and South Korea together with Korean women from both sides of the border making a powerful call for peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Professor Akibayashi focused her presentation on the current security situation in the Asia Pacific region, particularly the tensions in East Asia, and on women’s contribution to peace in the region, including between North and South Korea.