Introducing citizen-led peace activities worldwide during the pandemic era, on May 25, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), an international peace NGO, in association with the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) and the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) virtually commemorated the 8th Annual Commemoration of the Declaration of World Peace (ACDWP).
“With numerous cases of international partnership for peacebuilding projects endorsed by youth and women organizations categorized by regions of Africa, Europe, and Asia, this year’s event aimed to discuss a citizen-led peace movement and cooperation to promote coexistence and harmony in the global community, and to overcome global challenges that stem from hatred, conflicts, misunderstanding, and lack of communication in this current pandemic era,” the press statement issued by HWPL reads.
The 8th ACDWP was attended by some 3,000 people representing 150 countries around the world. Inaugurated on May 25th in 2013, this commemoration celebrates the cooperation of each state to establish international law for peace and the role of the media in contributing to sharing information of peace. It also encompasses the active peace movements of youth and women who seek to transform themselves from being the greatest victims of war to the greatest actors for peace.
According to HWPL, from this peace initiative, over the last eight years, millions of citizens from all around the world have participated in promoting peace projects locally aiming to create a favorable environment for peace including education, relief, and forums to offer public policies that meet the needs of the community.
Highlighting the importance of peace activities through education, Pascale Isho Warda, Chairwoman of Hammurabi Human Rights Organization (HHRO) in Iraq remarked:
“We need to learn the mechanism of guiding everyone to become a tool of peace, strengthening from daily life, and sometimes throughout the simplest matter of life, starting with personal peace with oneself, in the family, and with others.”
Warda acted in the role of Minister of Migration and Displacement for the UN from 2004 to 2005 and introduced a legislation project that prevents violence against women and children in cooperation with IWPG.
Ashin Htavara, General Secretary of All Burmese Monks Representative Committee in Norway, who experienced the Saffron Revolution in 2007, stated that three HWPL Peace Libraries had been established in Payapon, Myanmar and that a fourth library was currently underway.
“There are too few libraries for children in Myanmar. I wanted to give hope to these little children. In the future, the library will conduct peace education, peace activities, and peace campaigns, and we will do everything that can help achieve peace,” he informed.
The event also advocated global participation in peace activities such as the peace tree planting campaign that began in Ukraine with 1,000 participants from 21 countries and peace policy proposal dialogue between citizens and policy experts in Mali where the recent coup triggered social unrest.
Highlighting that everything necessary should be done to ensure peace and to prevent our globe from being destroyed, Man Hee Lee, Chairman of HWPL, said:
“War does not end with words, but it comes to an end with our practical actions. I believe that this can be achieved since no one in our global village is not willing to see peace.”
