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On May 25, 5,000 people gathered at the Peace Gate of Seoul Olympic Park in South Korea to remember a decade of citizen-led peacebuilding efforts. The event was also held in 89 locations in 59 countries, including Southern Africa.
The global events are held by peace NGO, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light, which is affiliated with the United Nations Economic and Social Council with the joint auspices of public and private organizations in different countries.
Recalling HWPL’s peace activities for the past decade, Chairman Lee Man-hee said, “Since we pledged to work together for world peace 10 years ago, we have been calling for peace all over the world. We have advocated that peace should be taught at home and at school and that everyone should become messengers of peace. I went to the battlefield in Mindanao, Philippines to raise the voice of peace and we were promised not to begin war again.”
He also emphasized, “Everyone should be one under the title of peace and work together to create a good world and make it a legacy for future generations. This is what we need to do in this era in which we live.”
In the event, the “Joint Statement of the 10th Anniversary of the Declaration of World Peace” was unveiled. The statement said that the Declaration developed into the “Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War” (DPCW) to pursue “a transition from the rule of power to the rule of law” based on principles of “democracy, justice, civil liberties, and equality, religious freedom, and responsibility.” It further said that the decade of peacebuilding achieved millions of participants joining inter-religious dialogues, peace education, advocacy of peace to national leaders, and a network of youth in over 120 countries.
Through the joint statement, HWPL and participating organizations affirmed their commitment to institutionalizing peace through international cooperation, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 16 “Peace, justice and strong institutions.”
They pledged to engage in mediation efforts and raise awareness and provide education in conflict areas, empower youth and women, and promote best practices for the participation of civil society.
In the ends, HWPL announced its ambitious goal to garner the support of 10 million citizens through their signatures to advocate for the establishment of an international law for peace. Additionally, they have organized various overseas commemorative events aimed at fostering peace within local communities around the world.
Membership registration, information about peace projects, and reading the full text of and supporting the DPCW are available on HWPL’s official website at www.hwpl.kr. For more details, please email press_za@hwpl.kr
