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Pretoria, South Africa – March 25, 2025 – The 9th Annual Commemoration of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) took place at Brooklyn Lodge, Pretoria, bringing together high-level officials, ambassadors, representatives from NGOs and IGOs, and members of civil society.
The event, hosted by Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), followed the March 14 commemoration held in South Korea and focused on this year’s theme, “Institutionalizing Peace: Legal Frameworks for Sustainable Conflict Resolution.”
The event underscored the urgent need to transform peace from a conceptual ideal into a legally binding and institutionalized norm. As South Africa reflects on its own history of human rights struggles, the commemoration highlighted the necessity of codifying peace—much like human rights—within national and international legal frameworks to ensure sustainable conflict resolution.
The event was conducted in a hybrid format, accommodating both in-person and live online participation. It commenced with praise and performances, fostering a sense of unity among attendees. The program featured the introduction of speakers, presentations, discussion sessions, a screening of the HWPL video, the National Solidarity Statement (NSS) presentation, a Q&A session, a support signature campaign, and a closing ceremony.
Approximately 48 individuals from various sectors—including government officials, youth organizations, and peace advocacy groups—attended the event to engage in discussions on peace. Participants represented South Africa and nine other countries.
Speaking at the South Korean event on March 14, HWPL Chairman Man Hee Lee emphasized the importance of strengthening legal mechanisms for peace, stating, “True peace can only be realized when it is upheld by law, not just by words. The DPCW serves as a blueprint for ensuring that peace is not left to voluntary political will but is instead a legally protected right for all.”
The Pretoria event echoed this sentiment, with discussions focusing on the role of the Legislate Peace Project, which has mobilized citizen-led advocacy to integrate peace into governance structures. The discussions focused on integrating peace into governance structures through civic-led advocacy efforts. To achieve this goal, four speakers including Mr Sipho Seakamela, Reon van der Merwe, Mpule Kgetsi, and Mu-Aalima Amyna Fakude shared their perspectives and engaged in meaningful discussions on practical peace initiatives. Experts and stakeholders explored how international organizations, including the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU), and the European Union (EU), have underscored the necessity of normative frameworks for peacebuilding.
Key sessions addressed the DPCW’s 10 articles and 38 clauses, which advocate for global conflict prevention, disarmament, and institutional cooperation. The declaration calls for legal obligations on states to adhere to international court rulings, repurpose military infrastructure for civilian use, and engage civil society in peacebuilding efforts.
Building on these discussions, participants engaged in strategic dialogues on how to institutionalize peace within Southern African legal systems and expand the National Solidarity Statement (NSS) Campaign. The campaign seeks to ensure that regional governments recognize and support the implementation of the DPCW, fostering genuine peace by encouraging collaboration between officials and civil society.
The event concluded with a renewed commitment to fostering an even stronger global coalition for peace through legal reform and grassroots advocacy. Recognizing that peace remains an aspiration in many regions, HWPL’s mission continues to drive forward the necessary legal transformations to practically ensure that peace is protected, upheld, and enforced at all levels of society.
For more information, media inquiries, or to support the Legislate Peace Project, please contact: [email protected]
