[HWPL]

[HWPL] HWPL's Participation in the 18th Walk for Religious Freedom in Brazil

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 participation in the 18th Walk for Religious Freedom in Brazil :)

A Melody of Harmony Resonates in Rio, Brazil: HWPL Walks Together for Religious Freedom

Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was packed with 100,000 citizens longing for peace. In September 2024, the HWPL Brazil branch was invited to participate in the ’18th Walk for Religious Freedom’ held here. Co-hosted by the Commission for Combating Religious Intolerance (CCIR) and the Center for the Articulation of Marginalized Populations (CEAP), this event was organized to deliver a message of respect to all humanity, transcending religion and race.

Held every third Sunday of September, this event was established following a religious violence incident in 2008. With over 1.8 million cumulative participants over the past 18 years, it has become the largest interfaith solidarity event voluntarily built by Brazilian civil society.

This year’s event was held under the beautiful theme, ‘Understanding Each Other Through Song.’ At the moving closing ceremony, where various religious songs were harmonized as one, Ivanir dos Santos, the representative of CEAP and a leader of the event, explained, ‘This event is a place of reflection for creating a pluralistic society and an effort to strengthen the foundations of democracy.’ He further emphasized the need to jointly overcome intolerance and discrimination, the pressing challenges of modern society.

The Value of Peace Shared Between HWPL and Brazil: “We Are One”

HWPL joined the walk because the value of ‘respect for diversity’ pursued by the host organizations is deeply rooted in the same principles as HWPL’s vision of peace. From African-rooted religions like Candomblé to Catholicism, Protestantism, Buddhism, and Islam, the sight of all religious leaders uniting for the ‘defense of a secular state’ and ‘coexistence’ aligns perfectly with the interfaith dialogue model that HWPL is practicing worldwide.

Through the World Alliance of Religions’ Peace (WARP) Offices in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, HWPL has been building deep trust with local religious leaders by conducting Scripture Comparison Discussions. In particular, activities aimed at fostering mutual understanding between African-rooted religions and Christianity have left a positive impression on Brazilian society. Building on this precious relationship, both parties reaffirmed their shared philosophy of peace through this event and have become steadfast partners.

By joining this peace walk, HWPL promises to engage even more actively in the peace movement together with the Brazilian public. Amelia, the Director of the HWPL Brazil Branch, expressed her resolve, saying, “In Brazil, a country with the world’s most dynamic religious diversity, we will strive even harder to enhance human rights across society through interfaith harmony.”

HWPL Official Homepage

https://www.hwpl.kr/language/en/home-hwpl-_en/