Concerned leaders meet in Seoul to discuss global peace

Threatened by the sixth North Korean nuclear test, the international society has gathered in Seoul, the South Korean capital to seek ways to respond to the provocation that ever increases the probability of international conflicts.

On September 17, government officials, chief justices and civil society representatives from some countries assembled to discuss global peace building measures in Seoul.

Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), an international NGO under the UN ECOSOC, hosted the third Annual Commemoration of the World Alliance of Religions’ Peace (WARP) Summit” from September 17 to 19 with the theme, “constructing collaborative governance for development and implementation of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW). The 5th HWPL International Law Peace Committee Meeting is being held as part of sessions to draw action plans to build peace projects in cooperation between governments and civil society around the world.

According to a statement by Jackie Kim of the Press and Media liaison of HWPL, the 5th HWPL International Law Peace Committee Meeting was held as part of sessions to draw action plans to build peace projects in cooperation between governments and civil society.

The purpose of the meeting, “Facing the news around the world regarding the nuclear test, people from different parts of the world gathered in Seoul, South Korea to discuss peace and nuclear test by North Korea. Now we at HWPL are holding peace events in many countries. And North Korea will be the final destination of our work for peace. Rather than just watching, all of us without exception should work together for a world of peace,” said Chairman Man Hee Lee of HWPL.

In terms of cooperation with government for peace building, Rt. Hon. Hrant Bagratyan, former Prime Minister of Armenia, said, “In order to receive support from the state level, the head of parties and the ministers of each ministry, have been introduced to the DPCW and its importance at a conference meeting. The reason I did this was not only because this declaration of HWPL’s peace work which is beneficial to a specific level of society but is a definite tool to bring peace to all of us.”

Samuel Hinds, former President of Guyana suggested establishment of peace zones with an example of the Declaration of the Indian Ocean Peace Zone that prevents any actions that threaten peace in the region, especially in military terms.

He emphasized, “The establishment of such a zone of peace, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, aims at the establishment of a permanent world peace based on equal rights and justice for all mankind. This is consistent with the fundamental purpose of the ‘Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War’.”

The DPCW was drafted by experts in international law and HWPL in 2016 to advocate peace building efforts through international cooperation with participation of individuals from all sectors including government, civil society, religion, education, media.