Tuesday, August 19, 2025

[HWPL] HWPL's DPCW Academic Symposium Online

     

[HWPL]

[HWPL] HWPL's DPCW Academic Symposium Online


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 regarding HWPL's DPCW Academic Symposium Online :)

HWPL DPCW Academic Symposium Held Online

 Reviewing the Credibility and Effectiveness of the DPCW Through the Peace Case of Mindanao  

On June 27, the international peace NGO Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) hosted an academic symposium online under the theme of international law and peace, with a focus on the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW).

The DPCW is a proposed international legal framework designed to prevent armed conflict and promote global peace through the prohibition of the use of force, the peaceful resolution of disputes, and the institutionalization of a culture of peace. The declaration has garnered support from over 170 countries, including former and current heads of state, legal professionals, and civil society leaders.

Organized by HWPL’s Global 02 Branch in collaboration with seven legal scholars and professors, the DPCW Academic Research Symposium aims to evaluate and verify the effectiveness of the DPCW in real-world conflict resolution. The first session in the series focused on the peace process in Mindanao, Philippines, analyzing how the DPCW’s principles and articles have been applied in practice and assessing the outcomes. The discussion positioned the DPCW not merely as a declarative document, but as a normative framework with real-world applicability and scalability in international peacebuilding.

The symposium began with an overview of HWPL and the background of the DPCW, followed by a briefing on efforts to elevate the DPCW to the level of a United Nations General Assembly resolution. A case study was then presented on the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, which marked the end of a 40-year conflict between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) through civil society-led peacebuilding efforts.

In the panel session, experts explored the theme: “What were the key factors that contributed to peace in Mindanao?”

Fady Jamaleddine, Chairman of Mena City Lawyers Firm (Lebanon), identified the disarmament and social reintegration of MILF combatants as a major factor in achieving sustainable peace.

Blnd Faraidon Arif Najib, Lawyer at Blnd Najib Law Firm (Iraq), emphasized the role of youth peace education, initiated by both the government and NGOs, in enabling the community reintegration of former combatants through livelihood programs and the promotion of peaceful coexistence.

Delil Workicho Hussen, Associate Dean of Harayama University’s College of Law (Ethiopia), highlighted the importance of inclusive participation by civil society, the state, and local communities, calling it a foundational element for long-term peace.

Mayssam Noueiri, Former Director General of the Ministry of Justice (Lebanon), noted the value of institutional mechanisms for dispute resolution, such as arbitration, and commended HWPL’s mediating role in the peace process.

Sunday Godfrey Ndamugoba, Lawyer at Rive and Co. Attorneys (Tanzania), stressed the significance of public awareness, civic engagement, and cultural initiatives, including the establishment of Peace Days, peace monuments, and peace education.

Pascal Warda, Former Minister of Migration and Displacement (Iraq), was moved by the symbolic act of transforming weapons into tools for peace, and emphasized the importance of sustaining peace through human dignity and the protection of human rights.

HWPL announced that the second symposium in the series will be held in August, focusing on Articles 2 and 3 of the DPCW—Friendly Relations among States and Disarmament—with continued attention on the case of Mindanao.

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