Staff Reporter
Incheon, South Korea, played host to the 9th Anniversary of the September 18th HWPL World Peace Summit, drawing participants from 121 countries, including the United States, the Philippines, Ukraine, South Africa, Pakistan, Thailand, Romania, and India. The event, held from September 18th to 21st, focused on the theme of “Implementing a Multi-dimensional Strategy for Institutional Peace.”
Leaders and experts from diverse fields such as international law, religion, education, youth, women, and media gathered for approximately 30 sessions over four days. These sessions, tailored not only by fields but also by countries, aimed to generate practical and viable strategies for establishing a legally binding international law for peace.
During the press conference on the 18th, Lee Man-hee, Chairman of the host organization, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), issued a heartfelt call to action. Drawing from his personal experience as a war veteran who witnessed the harsh realities of war, he urged politicians and leaders of countries to unite for the cause of peace. He asked why the lives of young people should be sacrificed in war, emphasizing that peace cannot be achieved through words alone. Lee Man-hee’s passionate plea reflected his belief in creating a legacy of peace through the enactment of international law.
The main session on the 18th featured HE Prof. Dr. Emil Constantinescu, the 3rd President of Romania, who articulated the importance of peace as a supreme value for humanity. He emphasized that peace can create a calm environment free from the threat of violent conflict or psychological pressure. The participants agreed to work toward the implementation of concrete measures, promoting a new system of reference focused on “man alongside man.”
HWPL advocates for building a concrete institutional peace based on the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), a proposal encompassing comprehensive peace measures, from conflict prevention to peace maintenance. Additionally, HWPL engages in activities such as facilitating interreligious dialogues, empowering youth and women in peace initiatives, providing peace education, and fostering a culture of peace through media outreach.
During the progress report presentation, Kang Tae-ho, Managing Director of HWPL, highlighted the DPCW’s progress, which has garnered support from approximately 900,000 individuals in 176 countries, including the Central American Parliament. The presentation also cited the Mindanao case as a private-level peace agreement example.
Hon. Ahod B. Ebrahim, Al haj, Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) from the Philippines, shared the region’s transformation into a land of peace, prosperity, and justice. He called upon influential leaders, policymakers, and peace advocates worldwide to champion peace, disarmament, and a sustainable future.
HWPL operates the Religious Peace Academy (RPA), a platform for comparative scriptural studies, in 130 countries worldwide, aimed at preventing conflict and promoting reconciliation through interreligious dialogue. Furthermore, HWPL’s Peace Education, designed to instil and practice peaceful values, is implemented in numerous schools and educational institutions across 90 countries.
HWPL expressed gratitude for the visit to South Korea by global peace messengers, including former heads of state and leaders of ministerial rank. They called for the cooperation of the South Korean government, along with international support, to ensure that such non-governmental diplomacy contributes to achieving lasting peace.
The event also recognized 13 individuals with the HWPL Peace Award for their significant contributions to HWPL’s peace initiatives. Among the recipients were H.E. Prof. Dr. Emil Constantinescu, the 3rd President of Romania; H.E. Mr. Oumar Keita, Former Permanent Delegate of Mali to UNESCO HQ; and Dr. Ciaran Burke, Professor of International Law at Friedrich Schiller University Jena in Germany.
