On September 18, 2024, the Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) marks the 10th anniversary of the HWPL World Peace Summit, celebrated in South Korea and across 122 countries.
This year’s theme, “Creating World Peace Community Through Regional Collaboration,” highlights global leaders’ and citizens’ decade-long commitment to fostering peace and outlines strategies for promoting global harmony in the future.
HWPL, headquartered in Seoul and affiliated with the UN ECOSOC, emphasized the anniversary as an opportunity to review its achievements since 2014 and to discuss upcoming peace initiatives.
The summit features numerous sessions in various countries, aiming to gather regional expertise and strengthen networks to address local peace challenges through tailored strategies.
Since its founding, HWPL has built a strong international presence, boasting 500,000 members in 170 countries.
The organisation has formal partnerships through MOAs and MOUs with 1,014 institutions in 105 countries.
Chairman Lee Man-hee, HWPL’s founder, addressed the summit, stressing the vital role of religions in promoting dialogue and understanding. “Only through love and peace can the world become one,” Lee remarked, calling for collective efforts to build a peaceful future for the next generation.
In line with its commitment to regional collaboration, HWPL has partnered with international organizations such as the Group of 7+ (G7+) and The Latin American Parliament (Parlatino) to develop peace-building initiatives.
G7+ consists of 20 member states united by a vision of peace and stability, while Parlatino, which comprises 23 member states, promotes development and democracy.
One key project presented at the summit came from Timor-Leste, where Dr. Jose Honorio da Costa Pereira Jeronimo, the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Culture, highlighted a collaboration with HWPL and eight higher education institutions to introduce peace education in the country.
“Peace education will help students grow into future global citizens and lay the foundation for societal peace and stability,” Dr. Jeronimo explained.
H.E. Prof. Dr. Emil Constantinescu, the former President of Romania, reflected on the inaugural 2014 HWPL summit and the powerful image of global unity it presented.
“Faith in global peace is more than just an initiative. We are all united in the service of the greater calling of peace,” he stated.
In Uganda, HWPL Uganda will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the World Peace Summit on September 28, 2024, at Makerere University.
The event will bring together social and religious leaders to promote peace and solidarity across various fields, including the environment, politics, and religion.
