HWPL Holds the ‘11th Anniversary of the September 18th World Peace Summit’

HWPL Holds the ‘11th Anniversary of the September 18th World Peace Summit’

▪  Simultaneous events in 78 countries worldwide, emphasizing solidarity with a desire for peace amid global instability

▪  Over 800 leaders, including heads of state and figures from various sectors, attend and call for practical solutions for peace

Amid intensifying conflicts in the international community, more than 800 leaders, including heads of state, gathered in Korea for global peace cooperation. 

Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL, Chairman Man Hee Lee), an international peace NGO, announced that “11th Anniversary of the HWPL September 18th World Peace Summit” will be held simultaneously in Cheongju, Korea, and major cities across 78 countries worldwide for two days, from September 18 to 19.

Held under the theme “Uniting for Peace and Fulfilling Humanity’s Duty Together,” the commemorative event brought together more than 800 leaders, including former and incumbent presidents, speakers of parliament, chief justices, ministers, and leaders from education, religion, media, and various fields. They reaffirmed the importance of global peace cooperation based on public-private partnerships and engaged in in-depth discussions on concrete strategies for realizing future peace.

This year’s commemoration highlighted the outcomes and vision of peace initiatives consistently pursued over the past 11 years, focusing on ▲ the enactment of an international peace law, ▲ the unification of religions, and ▲ the expansion of civic peace movements.

In particular, the greatest achievement over the past year has been the growing international support for the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW). With resolutions supporting the DPCW adopted by 17 bodies, including the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament (PARLATINO) and the legislatures of Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, and South Sudan, a stronger institutional foundation for preventing and resolving conflicts has been established.

Ivo Josipović, the 3rd President of Croatia, emphasized, “We all remember the first HWPL World Peace Summit in 2014 and the historic Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) proclaimed in 2016. We must recognize that our activities to prohibit wars worldwide are more important than ever.” He further assessed, “This year’s achievements are evidence that humanity can indeed achieve lasting peace.”

Since 2014, HWPL has facilitated scripture-based interreligious dialogues and discussions at 292 sites in 132 countries. Beginning in 2023, HWPL launched the World Interfaith Peace Academy, which provides in-depth interfaith understanding and educational programs for leaders and citizens alike. Recently, governments have officially adopted these programs, achieving results in transforming religious dialogue into a public-private cooperative peace initiative.

Peace education at the national level is also being actively pursued. In Timor-Leste, procedures are underway to incorporate HWPL’s peace education into the public school curriculum, with about 70% of higher education institutions cooperating.

Domestically, HWPL has been actively carrying out the peace campaign “Together: Connecting Korea” in cooperation with over 170 civic organizations and local governments. Building on this initiative, plans have been made to establish the “Preparatory Committee for Korean Peninsula Peaceful Reunification,” with activities focused on inter-Korean exchanges, unification education, international cooperation, and policy research.

As a result of such activities, HWPL’s global membership has seen explosive growth, increasing by 140,000 in just one year, surpassing 580,000 members. HWPL Secretary-General Kang Tae-ho explained, “Citizens around the world, suffering from wars and conflicts, strongly yearn for practical peace beyond the existing order. That earnest longing has led to the explosive growth of membership.”

Meanwhile, the commemoration will also include the ▲ HWPL Global Peace Leaders’ Conference, ▲ regional strategy meetings of the Youth Empowerment Peace Workshop (YEPW), ▲ the Global Peace Education Conference, ▲ the Interfaith Peace Academy (IRPA), ▲ the International Youth Peace Conference, and ▲ the World Women’s Peace Conference. These conferences will present case studies of proactive peacebuilding achieved through government and civic cooperation, along with in-depth discussions on future avenues of collaboration.

At the 9th anniversary of the DPCW Proclamation in March, Chairman Man Hee Lee encouraged, “We are not strangers to this peace. We are the parties involved, and we ourselves are peace. Let us make sure to lead this global village into a peaceful world.”

In addition to the main event in Cheongju, HWPL will host regional commemorations in 78 countries worldwide until October. Total attendance is expected to exceed 15,000 people, and this commemoration is anticipated to be an important milestone for realizing peace, humanity’s common mission.

(HWPL was founded on May 25, 2013, with the creed “Let us achieve a world of peace without war and leave it as an eternal legacy to future generations.” It is an international peace NGO registered in Seoul, Republic of Korea, with special consultative status at the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and association with the UN Department of Global Communications (DGC). HWPL seeks practical solutions for peace through transnational solidarity and cooperation led by civil society.)