[HWPL]

[HWPL] HWPL's Human Rights Webinar in Sierra Leone

Chairman ManHee Lee is the head representative of the global peace organization HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light), which is striving for the enactment and implementation of the international peace law 'Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)'. The  DPCW is a legal instrument comprised of 10 articles and 38 clauses that can end wars and hostilities throughout the world. HWPL is also spreading a culture of peace and implementing peace education.

Chairman ManHee Lee experienced the cruelty and tragedy of war as a veteran of the Korean War. This is one of the reasons why he founded a global peace campaign as the head of HWPL. He has traveled the globe more than 35 times to meet and persuade politicians, legal experts, journalists, professors, peace activists, civil organization leaders, heads of tribes and others to unite them for the work of peace. The significant fruits borne out of his hard work are the World Alliance of Religions' Peace (WARP) Summit and HWPL Peace Committee. The DPCW was drafted and finalised by the HWPL Peace Committee.

How, you may wonder, do I know this? About 10 years ago, when I had just been discharged from military service, I came to know HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee while researching the topic of civil conflicts to satisfy my curiosity in ongoing global issues. At that time, the island of Mindanao in the Philippines was suffering from a major civil conflict that lasted more than 40 years, and Chairman ManHee Lee and HWPL resolved this conflict through non-violent means.

Chairman Lee brought an end to the conflict in Mindanao by holding a peace talk between the warring Catholic and Islamic groups. Before the talk, HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee held a Peace Walk to spread the culture of peace in Mindanao with the many locals who had gathered out of a desire for peace.

Chairman ManHee Lee's pressing appeal today is that humanity unites for sustainable peace in order to pass on the legacy of peace to future generations worldwide. He doesn't just talk peace, but has worked tirelessly for it through practical peace campaigns for over a decade.

I decided to become a supporter of HWPL and Chairman ManHee Lee's peace initiatives because I also desire a world of peace for all posterity.

Today I'd like to introduce an article from HWPL official homepage regarding human rights webinar that was hosted in Sierra Leon.

The Need for Peace for Sustainable Social Development

HWPL held a human rights webinar on December 17th under the theme, “The Need for Peace for Sustainable Social Development.” About 26 people including the head of a youth NGO in Sierra Leone, journalists, religious leaders, and more attended this webinar to discuss practical ways to achieve peace in Sierra Leone’s current national reality.

Sierra Leone’s population has a high proportion of youths. In the midst of this, political polarization according to race and region led to the critical election activities of each party which have spread to bloody violence among young people. This resulted in the sacrifices of many young people’s lives. Also, young people are living in conflict and anxiety taking harmful drugs due to unemployment and other economic problems, and engaging in violence and criminal acts that undermine the nation’s safety.

Experts from various fields who attended this webinar pointed out that taking this unstable reality for granted is a problem in the present society and explained that peace education is needed to improve such problems. In order for the nation and community to develop, peace must be achieved from one’s home first because it must be enforced that peace is an essential fundamental right that everyone must deserve.

Mr. Dauda Ahmid Koroma, the Executive Director of The Needy Today Sierra Leone, suggested a specific way saying, “As an independent nation, what Sierra Leone has lacked is unity. To this end, political tolerance and unity must be provided by Sierra Leone’s leadership. All of this should be protected nobly and without question, such as embracing each other’s wounds, uniting everyone, and inclusion rather than exclusion. In order for this uniting process to not be halted, leadership looking towards peace in every region in Sierra Leone must create an exercisable culture of peace.”

Also, he emphasized the need to recognize the current situation through education and create an environment and culture for peace. He said, “As long as conflicts continue to recur, sustainable social development will be impossible. Families, schools, communities, and even the country, we must face the conflicts in our communities and find long-term solutions to resolve them.”

Mr. Reverend Joseph Lamboi, the Pastor of Church Saint Michael and All Angels Parish Baiima, said, “Nations without peace always spring from a state of anarchy that hinders the peaceful coexistence of its citizens. As quickly as the Sierra Leonean election period is approaching, for the citizens of Sierra Leone, especially for the peaceful coexistence of our youth, we need to build a peace community. It will improve the public’s perception about the importance of maintaining peace and harmony between fellow citizens and this education of citizens will also help maintain peace.”

Mr. Musa Robinson, the President of Saint Michael Youth Fellowship in Baiima Mandu, said, “Peace is justice for the sustainable development of all nations. For our own personal growth and survival, practical measures must be taken to promote peace. The global community should be free from violence and abuse of human rights. Complete weapon disarmament of weapons and respect for human rights giving equal opportunities for all is needed in achieving this goal.”

HWPL will continue to discuss specific action plans with local experts so that what has been presented at this webinar can be realized in Sierra Leone.

HWPL Official Homepage

https://www.hwpl.kr/language/en/home-hwpl-_en/