On September 18, 2024, the Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its World Peace Summit, an event that will span across South Korea and 121 other countries. Themed 'Creating World Peace Community Through Regional Collaboration,' the summit aims to commemorate a decade of persistent efforts toward global harmony and set the stage for future peace strategies.
Inaugurated in 2014, the HWPL World Peace Summit initially brought together over a thousand global leaders from various sectors, including politics, religion, women's groups, youth organizations, and the media, representing around 140 countries. The summit has focused on conflict resolution, religious harmony, and the development of legal frameworks to ensure lasting peace.
The upcoming anniversary event will serve as a platform to reflect on the achievements of the past decade and discuss future plans. Emphasizing regional collaboration, the event aims to gather local talents and strengthen networks essential for implementing tailored peace strategies. Various sessions will be organized in different countries to address local peace threats and harness collective capacities effectively.
Under the slogan "Let's have everyone become a messenger of peace," HWPL encourages individuals to take responsibility for promoting peace at all levels. The organization plans to collect and showcase messages of peace from people worldwide, symbolizing the global desire for unity and tranquility.
Since 2014, HWPL and its global partners have tackled various global challenges, including military tensions, economic disputes, climate change, and cyber security threats, through enhanced regional cooperation and collective action. The organization has been dedicated to establishing a robust peace governance framework, connecting international organizations, governments, and civil societies.
Reflecting on the importance of peace, Chairman Lee Man-hee of HWPL remarked during the 9th anniversary in 2023, "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."
HWPL is a non-governmental organization registered with the Seoul Metropolitan Government of the Republic of Korea. It is associated with the UN Department of Global Communications and holds Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council. In line with the Declaration of World Peace, HWPL strives to achieve world peace through a heavenly culture and restore the global community with light.
With the support of its partner group, the International Women's Peace Group (IWPG), and its affiliate, the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG), HWPL continues to lead an international peace movement that transcends national, cultural, and ideological boundaries. The organization aims to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals by promoting a culture of peace through forums, education, volunteer work, and campaigns.
HWPL's peace activities will persist until sustainable peace is secured for future generations.
