In the present era where the safety of individual lives is constantly threatened by widespread conflicts, peacebuilding is currently demanded to develop into a system that promotes the values, norms, and culture of peace for all countries, communities, and individuals based on the shared principles of coexistence and interdependence of the global community.

To amplify the campaign for peacebuilding, HWPL held its 6th Annual Commemoration of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) online on March 14, 2022 with over 5,000 participants under the theme, “Institutionalizing Peace: Building a Legal Foundation for Sustainable Peace”.

A UN-affiliated NGO, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), has endorsed combined efforts of governments and civil society that lead to the institutionalization of peace in each society. Its DPCW, proclaimed in 2016, has provided a guide to citizen-led peace advocacy, in line with international organizations including the UN, the African Union (AU), and the EU that have stressed normative guidance as a standard for substantial conflict resolution with the participation of women and youth.

As for the need to ‘build a legal foundation for sustainable peace’, Dr. Kamal Hossain, the President of International Law Association (ILA) Bangladesh Branch said, “The precondition for achieving peace is securing peoples’ inalienable rights, which include equality before the law, equal protection of the law, non-discrimination, freedom to associate, freedom to assemble, and freedom to express.”

In addition, Ms. Anna Cervenakova, a member of HWPL International Law Peace Committee, mentioned, “In the world’s ongoing crisis, governments question themselves, what kind of action would be the best action to take in order to overcome the emergency crisis… Much of the burden of the work is, therefore, on the side of the governments, so it is important what are the priorities in their institutional agenda.”

As one of the speakers, Prof. Rommel Santos Diaz of international law at the Universidad INCE said that government offices including the Senate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Attorney General’s Office in the Dominican Republic have been working with NGOs for the purpose of the ‘state’s decision-making for public policies on citizen security and human rights’ based on the DPCW.

Responding to prevalent threats from religious conflicts, Imam Moulana Shafiek Nolan in Westridge of South Africa expressed, “The DPCW emphasizes the importance of peace between religions and the cessation of religious conflict. The monthly scripture dialogue hosted by HWPL particularly aims to create a platform to break down misunderstandings of religious scripture and practices, mirroring the values expressed in the DPCW”.

Mr. John Rommel Garces, Chief Branch Manager of HWPL Philippines Branch, shared how the DPCW’s Article 10 ‘Spreading the Culture of Peace’ has paved the way for peace education to ‘reach the hearts of every learner’. HWPL Peace Education is now being adopted in the Philippines, from basic to tertiary education.

“We envision every school, college, and university all across the globe starting in the Philippines will nurture the students and embed peace education in their hearts and minds. Eventually, the leaders of the next generation will rise up and will lead the world with peace and love.”

Chairman Lee Man-hee of HWPL said that wars and conflicts continue to occur since ‘wars can be triggered if it is allegedly necessary according to the current international law, which is why this cannot put an end to war’. He highlighted that all members of the global village need to be united as one as ‘messengers of peace’ to ‘certainly create a thing (international law for peace) that can bring about peace’.

On February 28, HWPL issued a statement on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that includes refugee protection and global youth solidarity against war and is delivering it to 192 countries. The DPCW presents principles of peace to be promoted by the international society such as prohibiting the use of force, fostering religious freedom, and civic participation to spread a culture of peace. It highlights that sustainable peace can be achieved through all members of the global society by identifying not only nation-states but also international organizations and all citizens as the main actors in building peace.

For the full text of the DPCW or Statement Regarding Russia and Ukraine, you may visit: www.hwpl.kr

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International NGO Sends Anti-war Statement to 192 Countries to Restore Peace in Ukraine

Many parts of the global society are reacting to Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine by denouncing Russian President Putin’s decision of devastating attack and occupation of the Ukraine territory.

In his presidency, Putin used the military power to invade and control foreign territory including South Ossetia, Crimea of Ukraine, and now parts of the north, east and south of Ukraine, which all challenged the global security and stability.

On February 28th, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), a South Korea-based international NGO affiliated with the UN ECOSOC and Seoul Metropolitan Government, made a statement to advocate a global cooperation for peace.

The statement demands that Russia withdraw all military to its own territory, the international community to protect and accommodate refugees, and global youth unite for an anti-war movement and peace.

“Military aggression against a sovereign state cannot be a solution to any problem, and the perils of such war and violent conflict hit innocent citizens the hardest, including women, the youth, and children… Russia must withdraw its forces back to its country… [and we] request all nations to demonstrate their love for humanity by offering help to refugees.”

HWPL has been seeking to construct a global network for peace by building solidarity among leaders and representatives from the field of politics, religion, youth, women and media in the world. Written by 580,000 citizens worldwide, HWPL sent out “peace letters” in 2018 urging the heads of states of 192 countries to demand their participation in cooperation for peace.

On February 26th, the White House announced through a statement that the European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States will cooperate to execute an economic sanction to exclude Russia from the international financial system by removing selected Russian banks from the SWIFT.

Ukrainian forces are currently resisting against the Russian military with effective defense, and anti-war protests and voices in support of Ukraine through social media have become more widespread throughout the world.