Signed an MOU with government institutions and civil organizations
Organized meetings for the development of the peace movement
Held peace forums with the theme, “Peaceful Unification of the Korean Peninsula”
“Had an amazing impact on the peace movement around the world,” commented by Former President of Romania
[Cheonji-ilbo=Myong Jung-Hui] Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), an NGO associated with the UN Department of Public Information, asked for support of the peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula visiting five European countries from 10 May to 22 May 2018.
HWPL visited Ukraine, Germany, Sweden, Norway and Romania on its 27th World Peace Tour. The World Peace Tours, organized by HWPL and its two wings, the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) and the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG), have received high praise for contributing to world peace through the development of an international legal instrument, religious harmony and peace education.
HWPL Chairman Man Hee Lee and the Peace Delegation met with various government officials, heads of women and youth organizations, religious leaders and more during this World Peace Tour. With them, HWPL’s Peace Delegation organized peace forums, signed an MOU and held discussions for the development of the peace movement around the world.
The peace forums were held in five European countries with the theme, “Peaceful Unification of the Korean Peninsula.” While the international society has its eyes on the Korean Peninsula issues including the North and South Korea summit as well as the North Korea-U.S. summit, these peace forums were held to discuss joint efforts on the peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula which is directly related to the peace and stability of countries around the world.
At the peace forums held in Germany and Ukraine, government officials, people of civil society, and youth members delivered the “Letter of Support for the Peaceful Unification of the Korean Peninsula” to the HWPL’s Peace Delegation yearning for peace in the Korean Peninsula.
At the “High-Level Meeting of Former Political Leaders in Europe to Spread the Culture of Peace and Call for Support for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea” held in Romania, the attendees also discussed ways to achieve the peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula.
The former president of Romania, Emil Constantinescu, emphasized the importance of international discussion. “The great humanity conversation must now be encouraged so that larger groups of people can develop free flocks of ideas and knowledge worldwide. This vision can be developed only if representatives are able to act as a plurality of voices, questions and desires of billions of people participating in it.” Also, he said that the peace activities carried out by Chairman Man Hee Lee along with the women and youth organizations have had an amazing impact on the peace movement around the world since 2014.
At the peace forum held in Frankfurt, Germany, the attendees said an active participation of civil society towards peaceful unification is necessary. A member of the City Council of Frankfurt, Manfred Florian Welker, emphasized the importance of the peace movement being carried out by the citizens. He said that a small meeting began in Leipzig, Germany acted as a catalyst for a peaceful protest which led to the unification of Germany.
The President of International Progress Organization, Hans Köchler, said that the denuclearization and unification of the Korean Peninsula would create a synergy effect, and a unified Korea is the best strategy to strengthen the security of North and South Korea. Furthermore, he said that the nuclear disarmament should be pursed not only in the Korean Peninsula but also in all countries, and countries should not apply a double standard in dealing with disarmament matters.
HWPL Chairman Man Hee Lee asked for participation in this peace movement. “If we leave a world of peace to our future generations, there would not be any greater legacy than this. Just because peace is achieved in one country does not mean that world peace would be achieved. If all people take steps towards peace, then a world of peace can be achieved.”
During this World Peace Tour, HWPL signed an MOU with the government institutions in Romania as well as the civil organizations in Ukraine. Through this, HWPL plans to cooperate with the people of these countries in activities such as HWPL peace education, peace seminar, peace monument, Legislate Peace Campaign and more.
For the cessation of war and achievement of world peace, HWPL proclaimed the 10 Articles and 38 Clauses of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) with the HWPL International Law Peace Committee on 14 March 2016.
Various people including government officials, chief justices and heads of civil organizations in several countries that visited during the 27th World Peace Tour agreed to work with HWPL to develop the DPCW into a legally binding instrument. They emphasized that a law that is fair to all people should be enacted. Also, they said that the current international law allows countries to have wars if necessary, so wars cannot be ceased with this. They stressed that even people of small and weak countries should be able to live under the protection of the law.