HWPL Recognized as a Trusted Peace Partner Worldwide

Expanding Global Reach

Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) has become a peace partner recognized by governments and international organizations across the globe. Over the past year alone, its membership grew by 140,000, reaching 580,000 members in 170 countries. HWPL also signed 1,415 peace MOUs in 126 countries, marking an increase of more than 400 partnerships in a single year. Its activities now extend even into welfare, with health services provided through collaboration with Korea Medical Institute (KMI).

From Mindanao to the World

The foundation of HWPL’s peace model can be traced to Mindanao, Philippines, where Chairman Man Hee Lee mediated a civilian peace agreement between Catholic and Islamic leaders in 2014. This agreement ended decades of conflict that claimed over 120,000 lives. Today, January 24 is commemorated annually as HWPL Peace Day, with peace monuments and documentaries ensuring the story continues to inspire the international community.

The DPCW and International Support

At the heart of HWPL’s initiatives is the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), proclaimed in 2016 with 10 articles and 38 clauses. Endorsed by the African Union Pan-African Parliament, the Central American Parliament, and the UN Human Rights Council, the DPCW has steadily gained support worldwide.
This year, the momentum grew further: Parlatino (Latin America & Caribbean Parliament), Paraguay’s House of Representatives, the Dominican Republic Senate, and the U.S. State of Georgia all adopted resolutions backing the DPCW. These actions are building toward the ultimate goal of submitting the declaration as a UN General Assembly resolution.

Interfaith Harmony

HWPL has established 292 Religious Union Offices in 132 countries to foster dialogue among faith leaders. In 2024, this work expanded with the launch of the World Religious Peace Academy, which already counts 2,239 religious leaders from 100 countries as participants. Some governments have even formally hosted the academy, opening the door for ordinary citizens to take part in interfaith peace education.

Peace Education in Action

Education is another pillar of HWPL’s mission. To date, HWPL has partnered with 1,012 institutions in 112 countries, with 315 new schools and universities joining in 2025 alone. A landmark example is East Timor, which introduced HWPL’s peace curriculum at the national level across all universities — embedding peace as part of the education system.

Peace at Home in Korea

Domestically, the campaign “Donghaeng: Connecting Korea” brought together 33 municipalities and over 23,000 citizens through 174 peace activities. By addressing community conflicts and promoting social unity, the campaign has become a model for local-level peacebuilding.

A Step Toward Korean Unification

Marking another milestone, HWPL announced a draft constitution for Korean unification on March 14, 2025, alongside the launch of the Committee for Korean Peninsula Peace and Unification. The initiative includes projects for family reunions and the creation of unification education materials, laying groundwork for reconciliation between North and South.

Youth Leading Change

The International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) continues to grow as the world’s largest youth peace network, connecting 1,549 organizations in 128 countries. In 2025, IPYG signed an MOU with Mongolia’s National Blood Center to support blood donation drives and tree-planting projects. These efforts were formally recognized by the Mongolian government with the designation of “HWPL Blood Donation Day.”

Building Peace Into the Future

Over 11 years, HWPL has transformed from a grassroots peace movement into a global partner for governments, parliaments, and international institutions. With the DPCW advancing toward the UN General Assembly, and peace initiatives rooted in education, interfaith dialogue, and youth action, HWPL is shaping a legacy of peace that future generations can inherit.

Source: https://vo.la/l8SrLTT