Celebrating a decade of global commitment to peace

KUCHING (Sept 7): The Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its flagship event, the World Peace Summit, this Sept 18.

Themed ‘Creating World Peace Community Through Regional Collaboration’, this year’s grand gathering will take place in Seoul and is set to involve leaders and citizens from 122 nations.

In conjunction with the anniversary, the satellite ‘918 Peace Summit’ will also be held simultaneously in both Kuching and Kuala Lumpur this Oct 6, with the sub-theme ‘Harmony in Diversity’.

“HWPL Malaysia will also share its progress over the past year, demonstrating the impact of all its initiatives and engaging with the local leaders, organisations and citizens to further the ongoing journey towards achieving lasting peace and unity,” said Kelly Sim, the Malaysian spokesperson for HWPL.

In 2014, the HWPL gathered over 1,000 key representatives of political, religious, women and youth organisations, as well as the media from 140 countries, for its inaugural ‘World Peace Summit’ in Seoul.

It was a platform for the organisation to address the issues of conflict resolution, religious harmony, and the implementation of legal instruments to ensure lasting peace.

Sim added: “HWPL states that the purpose of the anniversary is to review the achievements attained since 2014, and also to discuss future plans.

“The event aims to gather regional talents and establish networks essential for tailored peace strategies, for strengthening regional networks to tackle local peace threats, and for harnessing collective capacities.

“To achieve this, various sessions will be held in each country at different levels.

“Under its slogan ‘Let’s Have Everyone Become a Messenger of Peace’, the HWPL advocates for individual responsibility in promoting peace at all levels.

“Fostered by the agreements signed in 2014, the HWPL and its global partners remain committed to addressing global challenges such as military tensions, economic disputes, climate change, and cybersecurity threats through enhanced regional cooperation and collective action.

“The organisation is dedicated to establishing a robust peace governance framework, connecting international organizations, governments, and civil societies.”

Sim cited the key points highlighted in last year’s summit by HWPL chairman Lee Man-hee, who said: “Why should the lives of young people be sacrificed in war?

“What is politics, and for whom is it for?

“When war breaks out, it is young people who are sacrificed.

“Peace cannot be achieved through words alone. If peace had won in this world, there would have been no regrettable deaths.

“We must leave peace as a legacy to the global community where our descendants will live in.”

The HWPL advocates the culture of peace through various means such as forums, education, volunteer work and campaigns, as it seeks to contribute to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals.

Registered with the Seoul Metropolitan Government of the Republic of Korea in 2013, it is associated with the UN Department of Global Communications (DGC) and in special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

With its partner group the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG), and affiliate group the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG), HWPL is leading an international peace movement with leaders in all walks of life without being limited by national, cultural, or ideological boundaries – in the hope of assuring sustainable peace for future generations.

For more information, go to www.hwpl.kr.