Since 18th September 2024, the 10th Anniversary of the HWPL World Peace Summit has been celebrated in South Korea and various locations around the world, spanning 122 countries. With the theme ‘Creating World Peace Community Through Regional Collaboration’, this event honours the efforts of global leaders and citizens towards peace over the past decade and looks forward to future strategies for promoting global harmony.
HWPL explained that the aim of the anniversary is to reflect on the achievements since 2014 and discuss upcoming plans. Various sessions are being held across different countries to unite regional talents and build essential networks, ensuring that peace strategies are tailored to local needs, while reinforcing regional networks to address local challenges and make the most of collective capabilities.
Based in Seoul, South Korea, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) is an international NGO associated with the UN’s ECOSOC. Over the past 10 years of global cooperation for peace, HWPL has gathered 500,000 members across 170 countries and has established peace initiatives through MOAs or MOUs with 1,014 organisations in 105 countries.
Chairman Lee Man-hee of HWPL highlighted the devastation caused by religious divisions, stressing that religions must take the lead in fostering dialogue and mutual understanding. “We must work together to create a world of peace and leave it as a legacy for future generations. This is to fulfil our mission as a light that brings life to the global village. Only through love and peace can the world become one,” he stated.
In alignment with the event’s focus on regional cooperation, HWPL has formed partnerships with the intergovernmental organisation Group of 7+ (G7+) and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino) to advance peace efforts. G7+, which consists of 20 member states, was founded to unite conflict-affected nations under a vision of peace, stability, and development. Parlatino, with 23 member states, promotes development and integration within the framework of democracy.
One notable peace project in Timor-Leste was presented by Dr. Jose Honorioda Costa Pereira Jeronimo, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Culture. He explained that his Ministry, along with eight higher education institutions, collaborated with HWPL to introduce peace education in the country. “I believe that peace education will play a crucial role, not just as a simple subject, but in helping students grow into future global citizens and in laying the foundation for peace and stability across society,” he expressed.
H.E., Prof. Dr. Emil Constantinescu, the 3rd President of Romania and President of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Levant Culture and Civilization, reminded participants of the 2014 HWPL summit, which called for international cooperation in building peace. He commented: “An incredible and impressive image proves that the faith in global peace is very much more than a mere initiative. It was then that I first truly felt that we are all one and be irrespective of our perceived differences. We are all united in one breath in the service of the greater calling of global peace.”
This peace summit has involved representatives from various countries in peace projects. In South Korea, the ‘Together: Connecting Korea’ campaign was officially launched to promote national social harmony. Supported by 230 civil society organisations, this campaign connects generations and diverse cultures while also engaging in environmental protection activities.
