To commemorate the 8th anniversary of the declaration of peace and cessation of war (DPCW), international peace experts gathered together to discuss ways to institutionalize peace.

Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (Corp.) (HWPL, Chairman Man Hee Lee) held a commemorative ceremony at the Peace Training Center in Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do on the 14th. About 10,000 HWPL members and experts in fields such as politics, law, religion, education, media, women, and youth from around the world attended the commemorative ceremony. After announcing the DPCW in 2016, HWPL has been holding a ceremony every year to institutionalize it.

This year's anniversary ceremony, which is the 8th, was held under the theme of 'Building the Spirit of Peace: Intercultural Dialogue and Understanding for Institutional Peace.' This theme contains the meaning to establish the ‘spirit of peace’ through intercultural dialogue and understanding in order to achieve true peace in a global community where conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars are intensifying.

In his commemorative speech, HWPL chairman Man Hee Lee emphasized the need to achieve peace through dialogue and understanding between religions. Chairman Lee said, “Religious people need dialogue, regardless of their religion. It is good for religious people to compare scriptures with each other in one place and for religious people to become one and move forward on a good path.”

Hyunsook Yoon, head of the International Women's Peace Group (IWPG), said, “We plan to participate in the international conference of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) held at the UN Headquarters to announce key clauses of the DPCW and introduce the case of the Mindanao Peace Agreement in the Philippines. We will work together with HWPL until the end in all processes through which the DPCW is submitted and passed as a resolution at the UN General Assembly.”

The International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) introduced the activities of young people from 50 countries who participated in the 'Youth Empowerment Peace Workshop (YEPW)' launched last year to realize the clauses of the DPCW.

IPYG Director Youngmin Jeong said, “Young people at Signal Village High School, the largest public school in the Philippines, raised funds on their own to build a peace monument. Our goal is to teach ourselves the importance of peace and pass it on to future generations through culture. Please carry out various support activities based on the principles of peace presented by the DPCW.”

◆ Buddhist Monk Beopsan “Institutional peace and dialogue between religions are the answer” 

International peace experts who participated in the ceremony discussed ways to realize the ‘institutionalization of peace.’ 

Mohagher Iqba, The minister of Education, gave a speech on behalf of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in the Philippines. Since last February, BARMM has been using peace education textbooks published by HWPL as local moral and sociology textbooks.

Regarding the institutionalization of the DPCW, Minister Iqbal said, “It is a powerful call to action that is closely related to historical journeys for the values, justice, and self-determination of the Bangsamoro people. As we come together to promote understanding and dialogue, our aspirations for peace and reconciliation will be strengthened.”

Buddhist Monk Beopsan, who has participated in the interreligious dialogue promoted by HWPL, said, “Intercultural dialogue and understanding for institutional peace can be found in Alliance of Religions’ Peace Office.”

Buddhist Monk Beopsan, who has been attending the Alliance of Religions’ Peace Office as a panelist since 2015, said, “As I sought to understand and identify with other religious cultures, I realized that the roots of religion are one.”

Buddhist Monk Beopsan recently participated in the International Religious Peace Academy (IRPA) and the Religious Leaders’ Bible Exchange Program (BEP) held for 4 days and 3 nights, and said, “My understanding toward the Christian Bible has rapidly increased. I will work hard and participate until the day when the DPCW is submitted to the United Nations and becomes the foundation for world peace.”

◆ “The key to peace is dialogue and solidarity.” 

On that day, there were congratulatory speeches from around the world to commemorate the 8th anniversary of the DPCW announcement.

Otelio Ote, chairperson of the East Timor Press Committee, who recently signed a business agreement for peace media education with HWPL said “10 articles and 38 clauses of the DPCW provides a clear roadmap for individual, social and national contributions to peace. We will support HWPL’s efforts for the sustainable development of institutional peace based on intercultural dialogue and understanding.”

Vidura Wickramanayake, Minister of the Ministry of Culture of Sri Lanka, said “Our continued cooperation is necessary to promote peace projects based on the DPCW. Let us solve conflicts in a peaceful manner, understanding each other and encouraging dialogue.”

Ana Maria de Oliveira, Ambassador of UNESCO Angola representatives, said, “As we celebrate the 8th anniversary of the DPCW, let us remember that dialogue and solidarity for peace are key elements (in the institutionalization of the DPCW).”

Reference : https://shorturl.at/clLRU