Peace messengers from around the world from the platform of World Alliance of Religions’ Peace (WARP) Summit 2017 have extended their full support for the implementation of Declaration of the Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW).
Over 1,000 leaders and citizens came together for three days of intensive networking and celebration while developing an action agenda for world peace and cessation of war that reflects global citizens’ hopes and aspirations.
Everyone had a role in the peace-building process, so the Summit provided all groups with a platform to share ideas and create concrete strategies for developing cooperation for peace. Such idea is also clearly reflected in this year’s slogan “Together for peace as messengers of peace”, which showed the determination of all participants to work together for a world of peace and cessation of war.
3rd Annual Commemoration WARP Summit was held in Seoul, South Korea with the objectives to develop the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) into a legally binding form, to develop education and a culture of peace and to foster harmony amongst religions.
With peace and respect for life as its core values, Heavenly Culture, World Peace and Restoration of Light (HWPL) transcends culture, religion, ideology, and other boundaries to achieve peaceful harmony in the global society.
HWPL is committed to bringing world peace and cessation of war through the establishment of an enforceable law compatible with the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) and the World Alliance of Religions’ Peace (WARP) offices. Women and youth involved with HWPL’s peace initiatives play a significant role in both peace building and conflict resolution in their respective communities as active proponents of peace.
As support continues to grow worldwide for the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), which was drafted and later proclaimed on 14 March 2016, efforts are now being taken towards the implementation and development of this declaration into a legally-binding document through its adoption by the United Nations.
The DPCW carries within itself the core values of human rights and a world free of war and conflict that set a universal standard of conduct that encompasses both states and individuals equally. It can be seen as the embodiment of a comprehensive legal approach that is essential in today’s globalized society for achieving sustainable peace.With the key message of collaborative peace governance in conjunction with the implementation of the DPCW, this conference allowed participants to understand the necessity of cooperation as well as the specific roles they can play within their respective fields in the peace building process.
Four main speakers were highlighted in this conference, each of whom shared with the audience a unique and personal aspect of peace that clearly demonstrated their sincere heart for the era of peace to begin.
These speeches captivated all participants and inspired them to carry out their individual duty as a messenger of peace and cooperate with others in order to create an unbreakable peace network.
All speakers greatly contributed to the atmosphere of the conference and challenged the other participants to actively strive for peace and create concrete solutions within their respective fields of expertise for peace and the implementation and development of the DPCW.
Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Justice and Buddhist affairs of Sri Lanka Sarathie Dushmantha Mithrapala, stated, “The causes of internal conflict are multiple and it behooves us to respect the human rights and religious beliefs of peoples irrespective of caste, creed, religion or ethnic origins of a peoples. I see the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War as a worthy endeavor to consolidate and stabilize peaceful relations in the world.
The Article relating to the illegal occupation of territory resulting from the threat or use of force in a manner contrary to international law is especially worthy of note. It is the duty of every state to respect the territorial integrity and political independence of other states.”
Ven. Oeun Sam Art, Head Office of Protocol and International Relations of Secretariat of Supreme Sangha Council of Cambodia participated on behalf of H.H Samdech Preah Agga Mahā Sangharājādhipati Tep Vong, in his concluding statement said that “War only brings ‘destruction and pain’. So, we are as state leaders, religious leaders, religious followers, youth and woman groups, and all people over the world must work together to stop all forms of war. No war, no suffering and no destruction. May all being be happy and peaceful”.
Deng Deng Hoc Yai, a minster of the Ministry of General Education and Instruction in South Sudan, spoke very directly, and it was clear that the hearts of all in attendance were moved when he stated that, “we have lost too many human lives very often and in many different parts of the world due to callous acts of incomprehensible indifference; intolerable intolerance and inexplicable selfishness,” showing the bleak reality of the current state of the international community.
Colonel Muana Brima Massaquoi, the military adviser of the Permanent Mission of Sierra Leone to the United Nations, reflected that “There is nothing more precious than the sanctity of life. In fact, all efforts made in the United Nations and international law is for the promotion of human rights. Disarmament of weapons is to safeguard the lives from the unnecessary destructive capabilities of weapons.
Chairman Lee received Plaques of Appreciation from several political leaders, including Sabri Saidam, Minister of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Palestine and Hon. Jean Max Rakotomamonjy, President of the National Assembly of Madagascar, in recognition and appreciation of his dedication to the various peace activities that he has initiated for the purpose of spreading a culture of peace.
Around 300 religious leaders representing many of the prominent religious communities worldwide, including but not limited to Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Hinduism and Buddhism, gathered under the theme of “Cooperation for the Realization of Religious Peace took an active part in the International Religious Leaders’ Conference on the third day of the 3rd Annual WARP Summit,.
All of the religious leaders who came together once again for this conference clearly displayed much greater confidence and determination for peace than in the event that was held in the previous year. The vibrant faces of all in attendance that were seen as they exchanged greetings with one another according to the customs of their respective religions was a strong indication of their high expectations for this conference.
During the Religious Leaders’ Conference at the last Summit, participants had agreed to unite together as one in search of the truth and compare religious scriptures in order to find a trustworthy standard.
In accordance with this promise, the work of doctrine comparison has been going on at the WARP Offices worldwide throughout this past year. As a result of these year-long efforts, we were able to witness the thorough explanation of the resulting data regarding the standard of a reliable scripture at this meeting.
In fact, the conference began with a 15-minute presentation concerning this data of the standard for a trustworthy scripture that was collected, as well as a brief summary of the future direction of the WARP Offices in 2018. It was shared that currently there are 218 WARP Offices operating in 126 countries around the world, which is simply amazing considering that this rapid expansion occurred in such a short amount of time.
Another attractive and productive activity of the WARP Summit was the Peace Festival. The family of peace, who had long waited this moment, shouted out the countdown and cheerfully greeted the opening of the Peace Festival.The card-section and various other performances aroused even greater joy at the festival, and the 35,000 participants in attendance, both domestic and from overseas, waved their world flags throughout these cultural events.
The Gate of the Peace, the representative symbol of the WARP Summit, had finally opened and leading figures from around the globe entered alongside children, who are the future proponents of peace, transcending differences in national borders, religions, and ideologies. The breathtaking entrance appeared to represent the beginning of the new era of no war, which is the ultimate dream of humanity.
The Gate of the Peace itself symbolizes the opening of a new era of peace by overcoming the crises faced by humanity that are caused by the threat of terrorism and by resolving the fundamental problems that scar the international community through the answer to peace.
Members of HWPL gave great cheers and applause with huge excitement as each figure made his or her entrance.
The final entrance was made by Man Hee Lee, the chairman of HWPL, and Nam Hee Kim, the chairwoman of IWPG, officially closing the entrance ceremony. They have continued the groundbreaking work of achieving peace by cooperating for peace with the figures who had previously entered, legislating the international law for world peace and cessation of war, and running the annual WARP Summit for the reconciliation of religions.
HWPL hosted an unprecedented peace festival in the only nation in the world that remains divided. It is now spreading the news to all parts of the globe in order to attain international cooperation that would bring about the cessation of war and establishment of sustainable peace.Over 150,000 people from more than 120 countries participated simultaneously, and six leaders representing political, religious, and civil society sectors gave truly inspiring presentation at the main stadium. The main points of these speeches were regarding the importance of peace education and the establishment of collaborative peace governance.
The level of awareness of people around the world has grown, as well the influence of the WARP Summit and HWPL in peace work. This era requires the establishment of collaborative peace governance among governments and NGOs and the formation of a comprehensive peace network for all members of society to join and work together for peace.
As the peace messengers of this era we ought to publicize the message of the DPCW and advocate for its legislation as a legally binding international law. Moreover, this message should be developed into various forms of campaigns through numerous peace events worldwide.
Peace must become a reality in our generation, which is possible when communication and a firm cooperative system is established. The terror and war still occurring today in different places around the world must come to an end during our lifetime.
‘Arirang,’ the Korean traditional song, resonated throughout the field following the award ceremony. The lyrics of this song conveyed the message ‘over the hills we go, into the world of peace.’ This was paired with the vibrant performances, including traditional musical instruments, dances, songs, and martial arts, that were beautifully put together to exhibit the scene of peace being achieved on Earth.
As the high-spirited performances of the fan-dancers, drummers and colorful banner performers continued, a Korean mask dance combined with martial arts displayed a breathtaking and animated spectacle of the end of wars and the global family of peace ambassadors bringing world peace.
The following performance of the Korean traditional percussion band ‘Cha-san Nong Ahk Dae’, playing along with a lively dance and folk music, filled the field with the vibrancy of a ‘Dae-Dong festival’, which means ‘to become one and big.’ This symbolized the place of unified global peace.
Hyun Ji Kang, a member IPYG as well as the performer of ‘Arirang’, shared how she prepared for the performance. “Getting ready for the peace Arirang performance of ‘not da ri balb ki’ (a traditional game where one walks across the backs of others), I learned about coming together and sacrificing for each other.
There are differences among nations, ethnicities, cultures, and religions. However, in the process of demonstrating world peace through Korean traditional culture, I have hoped for the world to become like the peace festival where there is no discrimination of any sort.”
The motto of HWPL, ‘Make peace as the legacy to pass on to the future generation’, has brought the family of peace together for one purpose: create world peace that transcends over the borders of nation and ethnicity.
In the waves of peace felt from the festival, all participants, who had different religions, cultures, and lifestyles, had the same heart desperately wishing for peace to be brought on Earth. The participants, numbering over one-hundred thousand, full of exhilaration and inspiration, rejoiced in the peace festival.
(Author is the President, Center Of Pakistan And International Relations (COPAIR) and Editor -in- Chief of ‘Mélange’)