By: Shincheonji Church of Jesus
Over the last ten years, Chairman Lee Man-hee, a 93-year-old peace messenger, travelled around the world 32 times and acquired a countless number of peace agreements signed by the world leaders. On the 18th, a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of these achievements is scheduled to take place in 122 countries around the world.
The Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), led by Chairman Lee Man-hee, is an organization that actively collaborates with political, social, religious, and cultural figures and organizations worldwide, signing MOUs and promoting various initiatives. HWPL is now leading a “Companion Campaign” with over 230 community organizations domestically, reflecting on its past achievements.
An Unprecedented 10-Year Journey
40 Years of Bloodshed Turned into a Platform for Peace
HWPL, established in 2013, has been dedicated to ending wars globally and promoting world peace through its proactive activities. One of its significant achievements came just a year after its founding year, in 2014, when Chairman Lee visited Mindanao, Philippines, and mediated a peace agreement between Catholic and Islamic leaders. Mindanao, Southeast Asia’s largest conflict zone, had seen 40 years of bloody strife, resulting in 120,000 deaths and 2 million refugees. Chairman Lee’s efforts paved the way for reconciliation and peace in the region.
As peace began to settle in Mindanao, local media outlets praised this unprecedented achievement, drawing attention to Chairman Lee’s peace activities. Following the signing of the Mindanao Civil Peace Agreement, further milestones were achieved, such as the establishment of peace schools at Mar Elias Educational Institutions in Israel, the erection of a world peace monument at a Moro Islamic Liberation Front base, and gaining support for international law legislation from international organizations such as the Central American Parliament. These concrete outcomes continue to emerge.
This year, HWPL has further contributed to global peace by training peace educators and holding graduation ceremonies for peace teachers from countries such as Colombia, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, fostering peace citizens worldwide. Moreover, in 2022, a documentary film titled “The Great Legacy”, which captured the peace journey in Mindanao, was screened in 197 locations globally, further spreading the message of peace.
The Proclamation of the DPCW: A Practical Answer for True Peace
HWPL’s peace activities go beyond mere advocacy, presenting practical solutions for achieving complete peace. The Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), which includes 10 articles and 38 clauses, was proclaimed, offering a framework for preventing, responding to, and resolving conflicts globally, with the involvement of governments, international organizations, and civil society.
Countries like Seychelles, Eswatini, Comoros, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have officially supported the DPCW. Notably, the Central American Parliament passed a resolution in support of the DPCW in 2016, and in 2018, the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) of the African Union (AU), which consists of 55 member states, officially supported the DPCW and signed an MOU with HWPL. HWPL is working to develop the DPCW into binding international law and plans to present it as a resolution to the UN General Assembly.
Chairman Lee Man-hee’s Dedication to Peace
At the heart of these remarkable peace activities has been Chairman Lee Man-hee. At the age of 93, Chairman Lee continues to travel tirelessly for peace, having visited 52 countries on 32 peace tours as of 2024.
Chairman Lee’s deep commitment to peace stems from his experience as a veteran of the Korean War (6.25 War), where he witnessed the horrors of war firsthand. He first organized the HWPL 9.18 World Peace Summit in September 2014, stating, “Countless young people have been sacrificed in wars. How long must this continue? Peace cannot be achieved through words alone. Let us leave peace as a legacy for the world.” Even after 10 years, he continues to spearhead practical peace efforts.
Through annual HWPL 9.18 World Peace Summits, Chairman Lee maintains constant dialogue with global partners, positioning HWPL’s peace movement as a major issue in international society. HWPL has also signed over 1,014 MOAs and MOUs with 105 countries, including the Baltic-Black Sea Council, the Philippines Commission on Higher Education, and the UNESCO National Commission of Kenya.
A Growing HWPL Membership
HWPL’s membership continues to grow. As of September, HWPL consists around 500,000 members from 170 countries, with 100,000 new members joining in the past year alone, making HWPL one of the dynamic peace organizations in the world. The International Peace Youth Group (IPYG), a subgroup of HWPL, has also expanded to include over 1,200 organizations from 119 countries, becoming the world’s largest youth peace organization.
Published by: Nelly Chavez
