Peace and reconciliation is an issue that, Heavenly Culture World Peace Restoration of Light (HWPL) is advocating for in today’s world of frequent wars and hostility between countries which has led to the death of over 33,000 civilians and the displacement of millions.
HWPL is a
non-governmental organization affiliated with the United Nations Economic and
Social Council. The organization advocates for global peace and the cessation
of war and conflict worldwide.
The
organization has been working with governments and civil societies to promote
sustainable development and institutionalize peace across various fields. Washington DC’s HWPL Office has further focused on supporting peace-building efforts
across the continent of Africa, the Caribbean, Ukraine, and in D.C.
According to HWPL, they are often reminded of
the atrocities of war and conflict, and that is why they keep organizing events
to recognize the millions of individuals around the world who are working to
create peace.
Director of HWPL,
Washington DC, Regan Durkin, says volunteers participate annually in a peace walk that will take
place in May in Washington DC. The organization was founded by the Chairman,
Lee Man-Hee.
” It was founded in South Korea and the way it was commemorated was through a nationwide peace walk, so there were hundreds of thousands of youth and different people from society who came out and did a peace walk all together so as a result, ever since May 25th we always do peace walks around the world, said Durkin.They also gathered fifteen law experts to break down the international laws of each region.
“The Declaration of Peace and the Succession of War was a document that was drafted by the chairman of our organization along with fifteen law experts from around the world, where they got together and they took what was international law and condensed it into ten articles and thirty-eight clauses that break down what is needed for a region and even a country and even at the international level.”
Durkin said their events have led to hosting dignitaries like Hilda Stuka-Mafudze, African Union Ambassador to the USA. On Thursday, March 21, 2024, on the eighth commemoration of the declaration of peace and succession of war, the local DC Office of HWPL held a peacebuilding event under the theme "Building the Minds of Peace: Promoting Institutional Peace via Intercultural Dialogue and Understanding."
To inspire the spirit of peace and further promote close cooperation and understanding, this event brought together U.S. government officials, embassy representatives, NGO leaders, education leaders, and religious figures through an interactive peace gallery and opening ceremony.Durkin said they want to make sure that these events blossom into real solutions for peace, the organization is also working on future projects.
“We are now working with the ambassador of Bolivia on projects like a peace library in the country of Bolivia so we really try to work quickly, and then when someone comes and they align with our mission and our heart we try to repay that grace I guess that ones that we share and by actually doing something for their country”. She said.
The organization also carries out its peace initiatives in the Caribbean by working with its affiliate partners, the International Women’s Peace Group and the International Peace Youth Group. According to the Peace Education director at HWPL Washington DC, Khalea Larett, their aim is to integrate peace in schools in some parts of the Caribbean.
“Children are going to be our future leaders so we are making sure that they have the principles of peace as part of their core and part of their character. There is a curriculum that the afterschool programs adopt so whether it be classroom instruction or afterschool programs, activities like peace clubs we have done a lot in the Caribbean that has been a way that it has been applied.”
Larett reiterates the importance of children being taught how to be productive members of society because they are usually the ones who are affected the most during the war.HWLP has also mediated a conflict in Philippians.
“A lot of times when a country goes through war it is the young adults who go off and risk their lives. So we don’t want that to happen really for anyone and I think just showing our track record of being able to go and mediate a conflict in the Philippines being a perfect example of bringing the people to the table to have dialogue conversations.”She said.
After the pandemic, other issues like mental health emerged.Larett believes there is a lack of guidance and direction for countries and there needs to be a third party that can come in and actually objectively solve and maintain peace.
Larett said “The more we can talk about peace, the more it can be achieved and so having people who can publicize and having news stories that are about making a difference, moving towards peace versus having the same cycle. I think that is so important and really makes a difference.”
Recently there has been tension between religious groups, political parties, border disputes, and racial and ethnic disputes, HWPL acts as an organization that brings people together, to have dialogue to actually find similarities and solutions and then actually enact those solutions.
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