[IPYG]

[IPYG] IPYG's 2025 International Youth Peace Conference

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 IPYG's International Youth Peace Conference in 2025 :)

2025 International Youth Peace Conference

– Sharing Progress and Strategies of YEPW Worldwide –

On September 18, in Cheongju, Republic of Korea, the IPYG hosted the “2025 International Youth Peace Conference” as part of the 11th Annual Commemoration of the HWPL September 18th World Peace Summit. A total of 111 organizations around the world, including government ministries, supported the event by sharing their logos in solidarity.

HWPL has been building peace through cooperation across sectors in areas such as international peace law, religious harmony, peace education, and youth engagement. In particular, IPYG youth have become leaders in their local communities, sparking waves of peace.

Over the past year, through the Youth Engagement & Peacebuilding Working Group (YEPW), youth have led change in their communities through education, volunteer work, policy efforts, and cultural initiatives, while also expanding collaboration with businesses, local governments, and international organizations. As a result, the number of partner organizations that resonated with IPYG’s mission has increased to 297 in 9 countries.

This conference served as a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the peace activities carried out by youth over the past year and explore directions for future implementation. It also introduced five YEPW activity models—Public Awareness, Volunteering, Training, Policy Advocacy, and Creative Collaboration—as strategies for developing and expanding regional peace projects. Best practices were shared for each type.

The following are the five activity models of YEPW:

• • The Public Awareness model promotes the importance and value of peace by supporting and collaborating with civil organizations, governments, local authorities, or companies. It builds public consensus through peace-centered messaging.
  • The Volunteering model involves youth directly participating in solving local community issues and contributing to positive change through volunteer work.
  • The Training model fosters new leaders and carries out peace projects through lectures, mentoring, workshops, and the implementation of action-oriented educational programs.
  • The Policy Advocacy model supports and seeks the institutionalization of the DPCW (Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War) at local, regional, and national levels.
  • The Creative Collaboration model strengthens youth community awareness and helps participants experience peace through collaboration in arts, sports, and creative activities.

 

At the conference, successful case studies from each model were shared.

 

1. Korea YEPW (Public Awareness)

Topic: The power of youth

 

Mr. Chung Young-min, General Director of the IPYG, introduced the “Korean Peninsula Peace and Unification Campaign” led by Korea YEPW as an example of the Public Awareness model. To address one of the most urgent issues in global peace—peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula—they are conducting workshops and campaigns to promote the necessity of free movement within the peninsula, thereby drawing international attention and support.

 

2. Zambia YEPW (Volunteering)

Topic: Youth-led Community Actions for Peacebuilding)

 

 

Mr. Andrew Junior Mwima, President of the Chreso Youth United Nations Association of Zambia, introduced how Zambian youth have been reducing crime and creating change in their communities through the Volunteering model. Recognizing these efforts, 38 youth committees in Lusaka officially partnered with IPYG. With support from the Lusaka City Council, peace signs were erected in support of DPCW Articles 5 (Right to Self-Determination), 9 (Freedom of Religion, Ethnic Identity, and Peace), and 10 (Spreading a Culture of Peace). This initiative was reported by 11 media outlets including the national broadcaster ZNBC, reminding citizens that peace is a shared responsibility.

 

3. The Philippines YEPW (Training)

Topic: Expanding Filipino Youth Peace Leadership through the Youth Empowerment Peace Class Program

 

 

Dr. Reynaldo Nama, Assistant Principal of Signal Village National High School of the Philippines, presented the Youth Empowerment Peace Class (YEPC) as a Training-type model. He shared how the program fosters youth into peace leaders and spreads peace across the Philippines. Started in 2023 in Manila and Mindanao, the program has now expanded to Hinagaran and Kawit, Cavite, with around 9,000 youth participants.

4. The U.S. YEPW (Policy Advocacy)

Topic: United for Peace: YEPW’s Policy Journey toward Humanity’s Mission

Dr. Maya Taylor, Founder of Arrow Youth Leadership Council International of USA, presented the Policy Advocacy model showing how youth voices have been institutionalized into actual policies for peace. The Atlanta YEPW developed a toolkit to help municipalities implement YEPW activities and pushed cities to adopt resolutions supporting DPCW Article 10 on “Spreading a Culture of Peace.” As a result, five cities and counties—South Fulton, Stonecrest, Fairburn, DeKalb County, and Fulton County—officially adopted the resolutions and designated a “Peace Week.”

The conference demonstrated that youth united for peace are transforming their communities. It also served as a platform for youth from different countries to learn from each other’s experiences and strengthen their determination to act.

Prior to the 2025 International Youth Peace Conference, the “2025 Regional Youth Engagement & Peacebuilding Working Group (YEPW) Strategy Meeting” was held. During this meeting, each working group developed practical peacebuilding strategies through table discussions.

At this regional meeting, heartfelt support was extended to the youth committed to peace activities. In particular, organizations that had participated in the U.S. YEPW’s achievement of adopting the DPCW resolution in Georgia and the designation of “Peace Week” contributed by donating supplies. Contributors included the Atlanta Boys and Girls Club, Gwinnett Stripers Baseball Team, Emory University School of Law, Gwinnett Police Department, City of Stonecrest, and Arrow Youth Leadership Council International of USA.

Looking ahead, it is anticipated that youth around the world will apply and develop the five YEPW activity types to realize peace in their regions.