Chairman ManHee Lee is the head representative of the global peace organization HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light), which is striving for the enactment and implementation of the international peace law 'Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)'. The DPCW is a legal instrument comprised of 10 articles and 38 clauses that can end wars and hostilities throughout the world. HWPL is also spreading a culture of peace and implementing peace education.
Chairman ManHee Lee experienced the cruelty and tragedy of war as a veteran of the Korean War. This is one of the reasons why he founded a global peace campaign as the head of HWPL. He has traveled the globe more than 35 times to meet and persuade politicians, legal experts, journalists, professors, peace activists, civil organization leaders, heads of tribes and others to unite them for the work of peace. The significant fruits borne out of his hard work are the World Alliance of Religions' Peace (WARP) Summit and HWPL Peace Committee. The DPCW was drafted and finalised by the HWPL Peace Committee.
How, you may wonder, do I know this? About 10 years ago, when I had just been discharged from military service, I came to know HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee while researching the topic of civil conflicts to satisfy my curiosity in ongoing global issues. At that time, the island of Mindanao in the Philippines was suffering from a major civil conflict that lasted more than 40 years, and Chairman ManHee Lee and HWPL resolved this conflict through non-violent means.
Chairman Lee brought an end to the conflict in Mindanao by holding a peace talk between the warring Catholic and Islamic groups. Before the talk, HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee held a Peace Walk to spread the culture of peace in Mindanao with the many locals who had gathered out of a desire for peace.
Chairman ManHee Lee's pressing appeal today is that humanity unites for sustainable peace in order to pass on the legacy of peace to future generations worldwide. He doesn't just talk peace, but has worked tirelessly for it through practical peace campaigns for over a decade.
I decided to become a supporter of HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee's peace initiatives because I also desire a world of peace for all posterity.
Today I'd like to introduce an article from HWPL official homepage regarding HWPL's main initiatives :)
Support from Civil Society
Since 2016, the “Legislate Peace” (LP) project has collected signatures supporting the DPCW from about 730,000 citizens around the world. Moreover, 176 high-ranking leaders such as former and current heads of state, chief justices, and speakers of parliaments have signed their support for the DPCW.
HWPL's Peace Initiative in Mindanao
Even before the DPCW was proclaimed, its principles were already being practiced in one region, Mindanao of the Philippines. Mindanao is on the path to peace after ending the military collision between the Philippine government and Moro groups, which lasted over 40 years and resulted in more than 120,000 casualties. Seeing how peace was being created in Mindanao according to the Declaration of World Peace, the foundation document of the DPCW, HWPL became certain that a law for peace can transform conflict into peace. Since the DPCW was proclaimed, Mindanao has taken the lead in implementing the DPCW in practice. Mindanao’s governor and a religious leader achieved interethnic and interfaith reconciliation (Article 5 and 9 of the DPCW), civil society is involved in the LP project, and the Ministry of Education is introducing peace education to the region (Article 10 of the DPCW).
Civil Peace Agreement, Determined Voice of Citizens
In General Santos on 14 January 2014, a civilian agreement was signed for the peace of Mindanao. The signing ceremony, hosted by HWPL and organized by the IWPG and the IPYG, was attended by over 300 residents including politicians, university professors, religious leaders, and students. Before the audience, Archbishop Emeritus Fernando Robles Capalla of Archdiocese of Davao and Governor Esmael G. Mangudadatu of Maguindanao signed the agreement as representatives to cooperate in ceasing the conflict and building peace.
With this agreement as a starting point, HWPL launched a peace movement to raise public awareness of peace not only in Mindanao but throughout the Philippines, based on the universal principles of mutual understanding, respect, and harmony. Also, civil society sectors such as education, religion, youth, and women are actively engaged in HWPL’s peace initiatives to remove the causes of conflict and strengthen the values of peaceful development.
The 24th of January was declared as HWPL Day, and a monument was established to commemorate the signing of the Mindanao Peace Agreement. Davao City’s museum and public library are exhibiting HWPL’s peace activities. Students from elementary school to college are growing into messengers of peace through peace education, and on 25 May of every year, youth and women participate in peace walks. Moreover, religious leaders regularly convene at the World Alliance of Religions’ Peace Office to engage in interfaith discussions based on religious texts.
Article 10 of the DPCW, spreading a culture of peace
In line with Article 10 of the DPCW, HWPL is taking a long-term approach to its peace initiatives in Mindanao in order to establish peace as a culture and a common value. To prevent the international community’s support and effort from being thwarted again by war, HWPL is endeavoring to strengthen public awareness of peace in Mindanao and across the Philippines through peace education and interfaith dialogue.
Interested in HWPL's peace work for the world? Please visit following link :)
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