[HWPL]

[HWPL] HWPL holds International Media Workshop for Journalists to Discuss Institutional Peace

On the 18th of February, HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light, Chairman Man-hee Lee) held the 1st HWPL International Workshop on Peace Journalism with about 150 attendees from 30 countries. The workshop was focused on encouraging peace journalism and international media networks under the theme "A Road to Institutional Peace for Sustainable Development".

28 media worldwide supported the event by HWPL. The event featured speeches and presentations by prominent journalists of the world.

Dr. Salim Khan, director of News & Views Network (NVN) from India said in his congratulatory address, “Journalists should play important role in spreading the message of love and justice. I expect that this HWPL online event on journalism will bring fresh ideas with regards to the role of media in peacebuilding and raise awareness facilitating the advocacy of peace in the society.”

Mr. Robert Maseka, founder of Rob Youth Foundation from Namibia delivered the message, ”We need to make sure that we promote a global media network that will promote democracy, human rights, and good governance. Through collaboration, we are able to give the right information, we can communicate and unite the world.”

Ms. Frieda Sila Kana, senior reporter of Digicel TV in Papua New Guinea, delivered a message on conflict and violence in Papua New Guinea, saying, “Sorcery and Witchcraft Accusations Related Violence is an emerging trend of violence and enemy of peace (in Papua New Guinea). The actions of inflicting pain causing death is barbaric, intense and inhumane that it cannot be ignored.”

Mr. Igor Shevyrov, the publicity ambassador of HWPL and a journalist from Ukraine, emphasized, “International peace should be built not only by the UN, but also by every country. Democracy, openness and freedom of civil society, the level of protection of the rights and freedoms of every person, as well as peace education and a culture of peace, are decisive for building sustainable peace in any country. All these principles are clearly defined in the 10 articles of the founding DPCW Declaration of Peace. The United Nations needs a new peace convention - the DPCW.”

Ian Seo, general director of the public relations department of HWPL said, “The 'institutionalization' of peace by people having a mind of peace and various organizations collectively supporting and taking actions for peace gradually forms habits, customs, norms, ideas, laws, and ultimately a culture of peace. The HWPL International Workshop on Peace Journalism: A Road to Institutional Peace for Sustainable Development is appealing to all of you to assume the role of the  media as a messenger of peace to help establish peace as the identity of every individual and as a global culture.”

To enhance the international media peace network, HWPL will publish Peace Journalism Studies and host regular events that support journalists to discuss and share opinions to improve peace journalism.

Peace!!