“Nuclear Test On One Side, Discussion Of Peace On The Other”

Threatened by the 6th North Korean nuclear test, the international society seeks various ways to respond to the provocation that ever increases the probability of international conflicts. On September 17th, government officials, chief justices and civil society representatives discussed global peacebuilding measures in Seoul.

Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), an international NGO under the UN ECOSOC, hosted the 3^rdAnnual Commemoration of the World Alliance of Religions’ Peace (WARP) Summit” from September 17^th to 19^th with the theme of “constructing collaborative governance for development and implementation of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW). The 5th HWPL International Law Peace Committee Meeting was held as a part of sessions to draw action plans to build peace projects in cooperation between governments and civil society.

For the purpose of the meeting, “Facing the news around the world regarding the nuclear test, we from different parts of the world, discuss peace at this moment. There is nuclear test on one side. A discussion for peace is being held on the other side. Now we HWPL hold peace events in many countries. And North Korea will be the final destination of our work of peace. Rather than just watching, all of us without exception should work together for a world of peace,” said Chairman Man Hee Lee of HWPL.

Regarding cooperation with government for peacebuilding, Rt. Hon. Hrant Bagratyan, Former Prime Minister of Armenia, said, “In order to receive support from the state level, the head party and also the ministers of each ministry, I introduced the DPCW and its importance at a conference meeting. The reason that I could do this was not only because this declaration and HWPL’s peace work is beneficial to a specific level of society but is a definite tool to bring peace to all of us.”

H.E. Samuel Hinds, Former President of Guyana suggested establishment peace zones with an example of the Declaration of the Indian Ocean Peace Zone that prevents any actions that threaten peace in the region, especially in military terms.

He emphasized, “The establishment of such a zone of peace, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, aims at the establishment of a permanent world peace based on equal rights and justice for all mankind. This is consistent with the fundamental purpose of the ‘Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War’.”

The DPCW was drafted by experts in international law and HWPL in 2016 to advocate peacebuilding efforts through international cooperation with participation of individuals from all sectors including government, civil society, religion, education, media.