Monday, March 16, 2026

10th Anniversary of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)

March 16, 2026 0 Comments
10th Anniversary of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)



▎What Path Should Humanity Take?
– 10th Anniversary of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW): From War to Peace –
War remains a reality of international politics. Conflicts and armed clashes continue to erupt, and despite the existence of international law, war has not disappeared. How long must humanity continue to endure this cycle? If conflict is inevitable, must war also be the way we resolve it? The Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), proclaimed on 14 March 2016, was presented as a proposal in response to these questions.

▎HWPL and the DPCW
The DPCW is not a document born from abstract ideals. Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), the organization that proclaimed it, is an international peace NGO established to protect lives lost in war and to build a sustainable peace order. The background of its founding lies in the wartime experience of HWPL Chairman Man-hee Lee. As a student soldier during the Korean War, he experienced firsthand the devastation of war. The conviction that the cycle repeatedly sending young people to war must end with this generation later inspired international peace initiatives. The September 18th HWPL World Peace Summit, held in Seoul on 18 September 2014, became an important turning point. At the event, attended by a total of 1,933 participants from 152 countries, participants shared a consensus that international standards are needed not only to respond to conflicts after they occur, but also to prevent them and institutionalize cooperation.


To translate this vision into concrete form, HWPL launched the HWPL International Law Peace Committee (ILPC) in 2015, composed of international law experts from around the world. Through legal review and consultation, the committee completed drafting the DPCW, consisting of 10 articles and 38 clauses, which was officially proclaimed on 14 March 2016.

▎The Standards Proposed by the DPCW
The DPCW sets out standards on the use of force and procedures for the peaceful resolution of disputes. It also reinforces the principles of international cooperation and collective security, while incorporating the roles of religion and civil society within the institutional framework. This document does not deny the existing international legal order. Rather, it focuses on clarifying already agreed-upon principles and structuring them so that they can operate effectively in practice. It is meaningful in that it represents an attempt to move beyond an order that presupposes war as a means of resolving conflict. The question raised by the DPCW is simple: even if conflicts exist, must they necessarily result in war?


▎Expansion of International Support
Since its proclamation, the DPCW has gained support from international organizations and national parliaments. Regional parliamentary bodies—including the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN), and the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament (Parlatino)—have adopted resolutions endorsing the initiative, while about 900,000 endorsements have been collected from citizens in 178 countries. This demonstrates that norm diffusion is taking place not only through state diplomacy but also through civil society. Yet reality remains complex. International conflicts persist, and power politics remains entrenched. The transformation envisioned by the DPCW is still unfolding.

▎Beyond the Era of War: Leaving Peace as a Legacy for Future Generations
For a long time, humanity has ended conflicts through war whenever they occurred. The pattern of determining order through superiority of power has been repeated. The issue raised by the DPCW is structural. Even if conflicts do not disappear, the way they are addressed can change. The question is whether it is possible to build an order that manages conflicts within standards and procedures, cooperation and institutions, rather than through armed clashes. The past decade has been a period of raising this question to the international community and accumulating institutional and social foundations. The task ahead is to ensure that these standards operate within the actual international order.


▎What Path Should Humanity Take?
Not toward a path where war remains a means of addressing conflict, but one that seeks to structure and institutionalize peace. Conflicts may be unavoidable. However, whether they are allowed to escalate into war or addressed through a different standard ultimately depends on humanity’s choice. The DPCW represents an effort to give this transition a concrete institutional framework. The discussions and global expansion over the past decade have demonstrated that such a vision is possible. One question remains: Will these standards take root in the international order, or remain yet another declaration?
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10th Anniversary of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)

March 16, 2026 0 Comments
10th Anniversary of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)

What Path Should Humanity Take?
10th Anniversary of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)
– The Path to Writing Peace into Law –


On 14 March 2016, the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) was proclaimed. The document was proposed to establish shared standards for the prevention of war and the peaceful resolution of disputes in an international environment where wars and conflicts continue to recur.
The DPCW began with the recognition that countless youth are sacrificed in wars. Rather than managing conflicts after they arise, the declaration presents a direction for structurally preventing conflicts and institutionalizing cooperation.

As the DPCW marks the 10th anniversary of its proclamation, the support and engagement over the past decade have gradually expanded the foundation for implementing the standards it proposed.


▎HWPL Founded on the Experience of War
Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) is an international peace NGO established to protect lives lost in war and to build a sustainable peace order. The background of its founding lies in the wartime experience of the chairman, Man-hee Lee. As a student soldier during the Korean War, he experienced firsthand the devastation of war. The conviction that youth should no longer be sacrificed in war became the starting point for HWPL's establishment. Since then, HWPL has built an international network connecting politics, religion, and civil society, and carried out discussions on the implementation of international law for peace, peace education, and interfaith cooperation. The DPCW is a proposal for international norms prepared as part of these efforts.

▎September 18th HWPL World Peace Summit and International Consensus
The DPCW began with the September 18th HWPL World Peace Summit held in Seoul on 18 September 2014. A total of 1,933 participants from 152 countries attended, including former and current heads of state, government officials, religious leaders, international law experts, and representatives of civil society. The key issue raised at the conference was clear: merely responding after conflicts arise is not enough to prevent the recurrence of war. Accordingly, a consensus was formed that international standards are needed to prevent conflict and institutionalize collaboration. In 2015, HWPL launched the HWPL International Law Peace Committee (ILPC), composed of international law experts from around the world. Through legal review and consultation, the committee completed drafting the DPCW, consisting of 10 articles and 38 clauses, which was officially proclaimed on 14 March 2016.


▎Key Contents of the DPCW
The DPCW consists of a preamble and 10 articles with 38 clauses. Although it is based on the fundamental principles of existing international law, it has a more detailed articulation of mechanisms for preventing war and strengthening cooperation.
The DPCW includes the following:
• Establishing international standards regarding the use of force
• Codifying procedures for peaceful resolution of conflicts
• Strengthening the principles of international cooperation and collective security
• Guaranteeing freedom of religion and promoting interfaith collaboration
• Expanding a culture of peace and encouraging civil participation
The DPCW is not a document intended to replace the existing international legal order. Rather, it focuses on complementing and strengthening the agreed-upon principles of international law so that they can operate effectively in practice.

It is also meaningful in that the declaration aims to broaden the foundation for implementing international norms by including the roles of various actors, such as religious communities and civil society, beyond a state-centered legal framework.


▎10 Years of Expansion and Accumulation
Since the proclamation of the DPCW, endorsements continued to emerge from international organizations and national legislatures. Several regional parliamentary bodies, including the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN), and the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament (Parlatino), have adopted resolutions in support of the DPCW. Recently, the Chamber of Deputies of Paraguay, the Senate of the Dominican Republic, and the National Legislature of South Sudan have also adopted resolutions endorsing the DPCW. Support has expanded at the civil society level as well. Approximately 900,000 endorsements have been collected from citizens in 178 countries. This demonstrates that norm diffusion is taking place not only through state diplomacy but also through civil society. Such trends show that the DPCW has moved beyond a mere declaration and has gradually expanded its foundation for implementation through ongoing discussions with the international community and civil society.


▎The Path Going Beyond the Era of War: Writing Peace into Law
For a long time, humanity has often ended conflicts through war. The pattern of determining order through superiority of power has been repeated. A civilizational transition lies in changing this structure—moving away from resolving conflicts through war toward resolving them through law, agreement, procedures, and cooperation. Conflicts may not disappear, but the means of resolving them can change. The DPCW clarifies standards regarding the use of force, establishes procedures for dispute resolution, and incorporates the roles of religion and civil society within the institutional framework. This represents an effort to strengthen structures that prevent conflicts from escalating into war. The past decade has been a period of advancing this proposal within the international community and accumulating institutional and social foundations. The task ahead is to consolidate this accumulation. International norms must be strengthened so that conflicts do not escalate into war, and a structure must be firmly established in which states and societies share responsibility.

▎“What Path Should Humanity Take?”
Not toward a path where war remains a means of addressing conflict, but toward one in which peace is chosen and gradually accumulated over time. Conflicts may persist, but the means of resolving them can change. The DPCW represents an effort to give this transition a concrete institutional framework.
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Wednesday, March 4, 2026

HWPL Hosts International Webinar on Nuclear Legacy and Climate Crisis, Calls for Building Justice

March 04, 2026 0 Comments

HWPL Hosts International Webinar on Nuclear Legacy 
and Climate Crisis, Calls for Building Justice



Concerns are growing that the legacy of nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands is evolving into a serious human rights issue as it intersects with climate change. In response, experts from around the world gathered in an international webinar to discuss the urgency of the situation and the need for collective action. The online event provided a platform to highlight how nuclear contamination and climate-related threats are creating overlapping challenges for affected communities.

The international peace NGO HWPL organized the webinar ahead of the Marshall Islands’ National Nuclear Victims and Survivors Remembrance Day. The discussion focused on how the historical consequences of nuclear testing continue to intersect with today’s climate challenges. Participants emphasized that the issue of nuclear legacy is not confined to the past but remains a pressing concern in the present.

March 1 marks the anniversary of the 1954 Castle Bravo hydrogen bomb test conducted at Bikini Atoll. Experts pointed out that the consequences of nuclear testing go far beyond environmental damage and have deeply affected the lives of local communities. Radioactive contamination, forced displacement, the loss of livelihoods, and restricted access to ancestral lands continue to impact generations of Marshallese people.

Climate change is further complicating the situation through rising sea levels and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. Some contaminated areas, including sites where nuclear waste was buried, are now considered vulnerable to the effects of sea level rise. This has raised concerns that radioactive materials could eventually threaten both the health of local communities and the surrounding marine ecosystem.

The webinar brought together experts from the Pacific region as well as Europe and Asia, demonstrating growing international solidarity on the issue. Speakers highlighted the interconnected nature of nuclear legacy and climate change challenges. They also stressed the importance of ensuring that the voices of affected communities are heard more clearly in global discussions.

Participants emphasized that the international community should address nuclear legacy issues more actively within the broader conversation on climate justice. Understanding the experiences of affected communities and placing them at the center of policy discussions was seen as essential. Such an approach, they noted, could play a key role in developing long-term solutions.

The issue of responsibility for environmental damage and the need for international cooperation was also discussed during the webinar. Experts stressed that accountability for environmental harm does not disappear over time. They also highlighted the importance of establishing effective legal and policy frameworks to protect future generations.

According to HWPL, the webinar was designed to promote a human rights–centered approach that emphasizes prevention and international cooperation. It also aimed to frame nuclear legacy and climate vulnerability as interconnected human rights concerns. Through this discussion, the organizers hoped to encourage greater global awareness and responsible engagement with the challenges faced by the Marshall Islands.

HWPL also announced plans to continue these discussions beyond a single event. Follow-up webinars are being prepared to further explore the relationship between nuclear legacy, climate justice, and international human rights frameworks. Organizers hope that these ongoing conversations will strengthen global cooperation on the issue.

Reference : https://vo.la/iFD3mHn
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Friday, February 27, 2026

HWPL Global Branch 07 Successfully Concludes Episode 4 of “Mentor Theater”… Sitting Face-to-Face with a Living Witness of Division

February 27, 2026 0 Comments

HWPL Global Branch 07 Successfully Concludes 
Episode 4 of “Mentor Theater”… 
Sitting Face-to-Face with a Living Witness of Division




In Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, citizens gathered to hear the personal story of someone who experienced national division not as headlines, but as lived reality. Around thirty participants attended, creating a thoughtful and attentive atmosphere throughout the event. Hosted by HWPL Global Branch 07 with support from a regional peace committee, the program offered more than a lecture. It became a meaningful encounter with history through the voice of a living witness.

The program began with an icebreaking session to help participants feel comfortable before moving into a talk-show style conversation. “Mentor Theater” invites individuals who have dedicated themselves to their fields and encourages open dialogue about their life experiences. Rather than a one-sided speech, the event fostered active engagement through questions and answers. It was designed as a shared journey of reflection rather than a formal presentation.

The mentor shared his story of being born in the North, fleeing during the war, and spending decades reflecting on separated families and inter-Korean relations. He spoke calmly about childhood memories shaped by conflict and displacement. As the years pass, he explained, opportunities for family reunions become increasingly rare, deepening the sense of urgency. His testimony reminded listeners that personal histories are inseparable from national history.

He encouraged participants to view reunification not as a distant slogan, but as a practical solution to ongoing tensions and uncertainties. According to him, genuine unity would create new opportunities for growth and stability. He illustrated how division continues to affect everyday life, as well as economic and diplomatic realities. Many attendees shared that the discussion helped them think about reunification in a more concrete and personal way.

A member of the peace committee also shared brief reflections from his own life. Looking back on a challenging youth, he reminded the audience not to take present comforts for granted. He stressed the importance of continuing to learn and grow, even in times of stability and happiness. His commitment to lifelong learning, even in advanced age, left a lasting impression on everyone present.

The event concluded with a small gift presentation and a commemorative photo session. Organizers expressed their intention to continue creating spaces where citizens can discuss division and reunification in their own voices. Rather than treating these topics as distant political issues, they hope to frame them as shared concerns connected to everyday life. This gathering marked a meaningful step in that ongoing effort.

Reference : https://vo.la/yJB3WkK
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Thursday, February 5, 2026

IWPG Gimhae Branch Holds Completion Ceremony for the 8th Women’s Peace Education Program

February 05, 2026 0 Comments

IWPG Gimhae Branch Holds Completion Ceremony 
for the 8th Women’s Peace Education Program




The completion ceremony of the 8th Women’s Peace Education Program by the IWPG Gimhae Branch was held to honor participants who diligently completed all eight sessions. It was more than a formal event, as it celebrated the dedication and growth of each participant. The ceremony reflected appreciation for their commitment to learning and practicing peace in everyday life.

The program covered a wide range of topics, including peace and identity, civic capacity, culture, war, international law, and the role of women in peacebuilding. By combining theory with real-world examples, participants were able to better understand peace as a lived value rather than an abstract idea. Many shared that the sessions encouraged deeper reflection on their responsibilities within society.

One graduate shared that watching visual materials about war made its reality feel far more immediate and personal. Scenes of destroyed cities and suffering civilians left a lasting impression on her. Through the education, she came to reflect deeply on the value of peace and the importance of global efforts to prevent conflict.

The Gimhae Branch Chairperson emphasized that the program helped participants realize peace as a value closely tied to everyday life. She expressed hope that Women’s Peace Education would continue to expand and reach more members of the community. She also noted that collective participation is key to building a safer and more compassionate society.

IWPG is an international women’s NGO registered with the UN ECOSOC and DGC, actively working for peace across the globe. With its headquarters in Korea, it operates branches and partner organizations in many countries worldwide. Guided by the vision of sustainable world peace, IWPG continues its efforts through education, advocacy, and the promotion of a culture of peace.

Reference : https://vo.la/k2PSlOw
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