A UN-affiliated NGO based in South Korea Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light, HWPL is hosting the 2018 Peace Summit.
The Summit is held annually to discuss comprehensive development of peace-building through institutionalization of policies and deliberate on inter-Korean reconciliation initiatives.
The Peace Summit under the theme: “Collaboration for Peace Development- Building a Peace Community through the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War, DPCW” is being held in Incheon, South Korea from 17th to 19th September.
Under the auspices of UN ECOSOC and UN DPI, about 2000 representatives from the fields of politics, religion, law, education, youth, women, media and civil societies across the World are attending “2018 HWPL World Peace Summit.
This year marks the 4th anniversary of the International Peace Summit.
This year’s Summit aims to further seek for a driving force for the enactment of the international law for peace through an all-encompassing approach involving different areas of expertise.
Participants will discuss the following agenda:
1) National and regional support for developing the DPCW into a legally binding form.
2) Future direction of the interfaith dialogue meeting to find a trustworthy religious scripture.
3) Role of educators in peace education to spread a culture of peace.
4) Practical action plans for peace-related projects led by women and youth.
5) Peace network platform for journalists.
Since 2014, HWPL has been hosting the World Alliance of Religions’ Peace, WARP Summits with the slogan; “Everyone should become messengers of peace” to discuss the realizable methods for world peace in collaboration with leaders from all sectors of the global society.
As a result of such collaborative efforts, in 2016 HWPL and world-level international law experts proclaimed the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War, DPCW which aimed at preventing and ending armed conflict at their core across the globe.
The DPCW of 10 articles and 38 clauses addresses the role of states and civic participation in peace-building through developing friendly relations between nations, prohibiting the use of force, fostering religious freedom and spreading a culture of peace.
Emphasising the importance of collaborative efforts, Chairman Man Hee Lee of HWPL in a message said if there is an answer to peace, every family of the global village born in this era should become a messenger of peace.
“It is our responsibility to put an end to war and make sustainable peace a legacy for future generations,” he declared.
This year’s summit proceeds high-level meetings for former and current heads of state and women leaders including first ladies to advocate support for the DPCW at the national level backed by national solidarity statement for the DPCW from eSwatini and Seychelles as well as the agreement of the President of Pan-African Parliament on the implementation of peace-related institutions and projects based on the principles of the DPCW throughout Africa.
Story by Dominic Hlordzi.
