International Law Webinar: On War, Peace, and Human Rights Theme: “DPCW: The Answer to Peace”

This webinar was held in commemoration of Human Rights Day and to raise awareness on the protection of humanity and environment, and to understand the need to enforce a new international law which is DPCW to end war, and recognize the impact of every individual in achieving sustainable peace. At the same time, to gather peace letters and DPCW signature support.

 

 

“We hope that one day, IHL will be considered nugatory or inapplicable because of the absence of war, that’s our dream, but right now we have war [and] armed conflicts, so at the very least, IHL limits the use or resort to weapons or the means and methods of warfare.”

 

-Atty. Ismael Sarangaya Jr.

 

Introduction Webinar

 

On December 5, 2022, HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light), in collaboration with PCU-College of Law (Philippine Christian University-College of Law) hosted the International Law Webinar: On War, Peace, and Human Rights, with the theme: “DPCW: The Answer to Peace”.

The webinar was held to raise awareness on the protection of humanity and environment, and to understand the need to enforce a new international law which is DPCW to end war, and recognize the impact of every individual in achieving sustainable peace. At the same time, to gather peace letters and DPCW signature support.

The two actors from PCU-College of Law, Atty. Ismael Sarangaya Jr. and Atty. Kristoffer James Purisima, gave a speech about “International Humanitarian Law: Rules Governing War” and “Negotiating Resilience: Climate Crisis and Human Rights”.

 

Background Information

 

Defending human rights and our environment and encouraging the participation of every individual especially the students of colleges of law can be a positive impulse to make the world a better place. As an agent of change and future law practitioners, they have the power to influence their immediate environment and change the global order to achieve more equal and peaceful societies. However, knowledge about humanitarian law and the urgency of saving ourselves and our environment is often overlooked and neglected.

Through this forum, the speakers talked about the international humanitarian law focusing on rules governing war and negotiating resilience focusing on climate crisis in relation to the human rights and peace process and the necessity to enforce a new international law which is DPCW to ensure and to achieve complete and sustainable peace.

 

 

Points of discussion

 

The first speaker is Atty. Ismael Sarangaya Jr., Associate Dean of PCU-College of Law, who presented “International Humanitarian Law: Rules Governing War”. According to him, the UN Charter prohibits use of force among state members but there is one exception–a state under attack has a right to self-defense. He discussed the IHL including the four Geneva Conventions that provide protection to the wounded and sick armed forces in the field and shipwrecked at sea, prisoners of war and civilian population in times of war. He emphasized that the IHL makes war “more compassionate than it ought to be.”

 

“We hope that one day, IHL will be considered nugatory or inapplicable because of the absence of war, that’s our dream, but right now we have war [and] armed conflicts, so at the very least, IHL limits the use or resort to weapons or the means and methods of warfare,” he added. Some of the weapons banned by treaties are bullets that expand or flatten in the human body, poison and poisoned weapons, chemical and biological weapons.

 

The second speaker is Atty. Kristoffer James Purisima, Professor at PCU-College of Law, who discussed the topic “Negotiating Resilience: Climate Crisis and Human Rights”. He presented statistics revealing that the Philippines is the fourth most affected country by climate change and the top 1 country with highest disaster risk according to the 2022 World Risk Index Report. This highlighted the importance of disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) and its institutionalization.

 

He enumerated the threats to human security brought by climate crisis including poverty, unemployment, famine, diseases, lack of access to basic care, pollution, violence and human rights abuses. He concluded by emphasizing the “urgency of how we must act and save ourselves and our environment from extinction”.

 

The last presentation was made by Mr. John Rommel Garces, HWPL Philippines Chief Branch Manager, on the topic “The Legislate Peace Project: Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)”. The DPCW is a document with 10 articles and 38 clauses drafted by the HWPL International Law Peace Committee. It is being submitted to the United Nations to be implemented as a legally-binding document to strengthen the existing provisions on global peace.

 

At the end of the program, the participants were encouraged to sign their support for the DPCW as part of HWPL’s Legislate Peace Project. They also wrote peace letters addressed to heads of states particularly the Philippines, Russia, and Ukraine, to urge for cessation of war and campaign for the institutionalization of peace.

 

 

Highlight

 

Atty. Ismael Sarangaya Jr.: “We hope that one day, IHL will be considered nugatory or inapplicable because of the absence of war, that’s our dream, but right now we have war [and] armed conflicts, so at the very least, IHL limits the use or resort to weapons or the means and methods of warfare.”

 

Atty. Kristoffer James Purisima: He concluded by emphasizing the “urgency of how we must act and save ourselves and our environment from extinction”

 

Mr. John Rommel Garces: At the end of the program, the participants were encouraged to sign their support for the DPCW as part of HWPL’s Legislate Peace Project. They also wrote peace letters addressed to heads of states particularly the Philippines, Russia, and Ukraine, to urge for cessation of war and campaign for the institutionalization of peace.

 

Next step

 

Our next step is to conduct more human rights seminar and DPCW education involving other colleges of law and youth, integrate DPCW in the subjects of colleges of law, and collect more DPCW signature support to raise awareness by establishing partnerships through an MOA with Philippine Association of Law Schools (PALS) and MOU with Philippine Christian University – College of Law (PCU College of Law).

 

https://www.hwpl.kr/language/en/

 

#DPCW_1038 #HWPL #IWPG #IPYG #WARP_OFFICE #PEACE_WORLD #UKRAINE #PHILIPPINES #RUSSIA

A conference for the peaceful resolution of conflicts is held

Various types of disputes have arisen that violate the international order, despite efforts such as the establishment of international organizations for peace and security and the United Nations Charter. A conference entitled “Role of Civil Society in the Peaceful Resolution of Disputes” hosted by HWPL, a non-government organization under the UN Economic and Social Council, was held on November 25th.

 

💖

This conference, held at Palaissaal Hall in Hotel Adlon Berlin, Germany, under the theme of “The Meaning of the Human Chain Movement and Its Implementation in the Present” was attended by 120 people, including Professor Ciaran Burke, an international law professor at Jena University in Germany, and Mr. Teodor Melescanu, a former Romanian foreign minister, to address the need for peaceful conflict resolutions.

Burke, who attended the event as a guest speaker, is one of the international law experts at the HWPL International Law Peace Committee and cooperated with HWPL to draft the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) on March 14, 2016. The DPCW is a document that consists of 10 Articles and 38 Clauses for the prevention of war and for sustainable peace and presents the role of people from all walks of life, including citizens as well as the state.

🎤

Professor Burke, who is also the lead author of the DPCW Handbook, explained, “DPCW is founded on ‘the conviction that judicial and other dispute resolution measures can replace the rule of war with the rule of law’ and aims to pass on to successive generations an invaluable inheritance of a world free of wars,” saying, “recent decades have seen a number of serious conflicts around the world, costing millions of lives, and reflecting a system of international law – designed, amongst other things, for the preservation of international peace – that is plainly not working as well as it should or perhaps could. The DPCW, backed by HWPL, is presented as a first step in remedying these problems, and bringing us toward a more peaceful future.”

🎤

“We are in a world of international realignment and competition, and it is clear that we need to reset the international community. The largest states alone can adopt rules. That is why we must encourage regional organizations in Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America and Arab countries,” said former Romanian foreign minister Teodor Melescanu, adding, “It is necessary for these regional organizations to support the mechanisms of the UN, and to have a collaboration based on mutual respect.”

 

On this day, HWPL members expressed their hearts hoping that peace based on civil society will be achieved in the European society and emphasized the importance of it. This will be the main player in the spread of peace culture by performing a group chorus and an action performance symbolizing the human chain.

 

An official from HWPL said this event was planned to reflect on the meaning of the 3 Baltic states’ human chain movement, which achieved peaceful independence in 1989, to recreate the performance in the hope for peaceful conflict resolutions within Europe today, and to examine our role for peace with young people and leaders in Europe.

 

 

https://www.hwpl.kr/language/en/

 

#HWPL #DPCW_1038 #PEACE #PEACE_WORLD #INTERNATIONAL_COOPERATION

#JOURNALISTS #IPYG #IWPG #WARP_OFFICE

 

DPCW_1038 : Peace Journalism Studies

 Peace Journalism Studies embarks on a cruise around the world with international journalists who demonstrate their expertise and perspective on peace to overcome the contemporary threats from violence and conflict. In order to develop initiatives and endorse constructive implementation, understanding the structural issues stemming from cultural and historical setting, backgrounds and causes is the starting point to find solutions tailored to each community or society for sustainable peace. This first volume offers some of the ideas with the eyes of journalists in different parts of the world.

 

Rev Dr. Kitiona Tausi analyzes issues of climate change discussed in the country of Tuvalu where the life style of every society including trade and economy to a large degree depend on the contemporary system of production, distribution, supply chain and consumption of fossil fuels as major energy source. This sheds light on our attention to our daily routine and issues deeply connected with “how the world should work”.

 

Ms. Frieda Sila Kana dedicates her focus on sorcery superstition involving violence against unspecified persons targeting women and children (and sometimes men) committed in Papua New Guinea and reconciliation efforts that brought about peaceful approaches to the social conflict. Her storytelling gives tremendous insight on civilian-led peacebuilding efforts for the foundation of a just, fair and peaceful society.

🌸

Mr. Mohammed Abdelshakoor (Shakoor Nyaketo), Founder of Journalingual Press, describes peacebuilding efforts from the 50 years of long-term conflict led by the country combined with the international society. His analysis in the real world of conflict emphasizes a practical, strategic development of peace initiatives with the combination of national institutional mechanism and international support.

 

Mr. Supalak Ganjanakhundee introduces the intra-state conflict in Thailand whose southern provinces bordering Malaysia with Muslim communities have suffered from violence for decades. With this case study, he suggests that the peacebuilding approach with national and international actors with both government and non-governmental organizations can be more effective for long-term peace, as seen in the case of Mindanao, the Philippines.

 

Experiencing the war between Ukraine and Russia at a close distance, Mr. Ihor Shevyrov highlights the foundation of global peace as a common goal based on the UN-led initiatives in international relations, which can be supported by additional instruments including the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) drafted and proposed by HWPL to allow development of society through a culture of peace.

 

Along with the contributions from journalists, this volume also includes special space with a speech delivered by Mr. Man Hee Lee, Chairman of HWPL. In the words, important ideas on the cause of international cooperation for peace under his expression

 

“We Are One”

 

will provide rich motivation for our dedication in our times for our future generations.

 

I hope this publication leads to making all our efforts in an innovative way to creating a good place to live. We are one under peace.

📌

https://www.hwpl.kr/language/en/

 

#HWPL #DPCW_1038 #PEACE #PEACE_WORLD #INTERNATIONAL_COOPERATION

#JOURNALISTS #IPYG #IWPG #WARP_OFFICE

Great Heritage in Philippines

A documentary film about the international peacebuilding efforts for Mindanao in the Philippines, one the world’s long-term conflicts sparked by violence that left over 120,000 deaths and millions of displaced persons since the 1960s was released and screened in the Philippines.

 

In celebration of the National Peace Consciousness Month, a peace documentary titled “Great Legacy” premiered in a cinema in Davao City on the evening of September 6, 2022. Around 500 representatives from the government, education sector, media, as well as civic society leaders, religious leaders across the country and peace advocates from Mindanao have attended.

🌈

 

The documentary was produced by SMV Media Group, a broadcast company based in Seoul, South Korea, in collaboration with Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), an international non-profit organization affiliated with the UN ECOSOC advocating for global peace. The film showcased HWPL and actors who engaged in peace-related activities in Mindanao.

🔵🔵🔵

Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte congratulated by saying, “By showing people documentaries and films on peace, we may encourage more to be one with us in our peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts for our communities.”

 

HWPL’s peace movement in the Philippines started when HWPL Chairman Lee Man-hee, a Korean war veteran and peace activist, visited Mindanao several times since 2013. 

 He mediated a civilian peace agreement signed by Archbishop Emeritus Fernando Capalla and then Maguindanao Governor Esmael “Toto” G. Mangudadatu on January 14, 2014 in General Santos City. Before the audience of 300 people including politicians, university professors, religious leaders, and students, the representatives on that day promised to cooperate in ceasing the conflict and building peace especially in the Mindanao region which has long suffered the aftereffects of war.

 

This agreement became the starting point of HWPL in raising public awareness about peace not only in Mindanao but throughout the Philippines, based on the universal principles of mutual understanding, respect, and harmony. HWPL’s peace initiatives include law enactment for peace, interfaith dialogues, peace education, and youth and women empowerment, which has brought leaders in different countries to support peace in Mindanao.

 

In the film, Martin Lee Hojian, former chairperson of the UN Human Rights Commission of the United Nations, praised HWPL led by Chairman Lee, and the Filipino people who had a keen passion for peace. Also, Nabil Tirmage, Asia Pacific Broadcasting Development Organization program manager, said that the civil peace agreement in 2014 is an “amazing case of realization of peace that the world should study”.

 

“The conflict in Mindanao has been a major variable in not only in Southeast Asian but global situation. The establishment of peace in Mindanao was a global task and required constructive intervention from the international community.

 

In particular, it will be possible to understand through this documentary film that the efforts at the private sector, like HWPL in Mindanao, are the foundation for peace to settle down,” said an official of HWPL. SMV Media Group announced that the documentary film will be accessible through various channels in different countries including broadcasting stations and multiplex theater.

 

🔵🔵🔵

Sourced by :

'Great Heritage' ver. Philippine

 

Documentary on International Cooperation for Peace in Mindanao Premieres in the Philippines

https://bit.ly/3r5Z3sM

 

🦋

https://www.hwpl.kr/language/en

 

#HWPL #DPCW_1038 #PEACE #WARP_OFFICE #IPYG #IWPG

#WORLD_PEACE #RELIGIOUS #ZAMBIA #PEACE_CAMP

 

What is the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)?

On 14 March 2016, HWPL proclaimed the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), which was drafted with the participation of international law experts from 15 countries.

 

This declaration, comprised of 10 articles and 38 clauses, aims to restore the spirit that served as the basis for the establishment of the United Nations and to achieve sustainable peace by promoting the universal values of the global community.

 

The DPCW embodies the principles and measures for preventing and resolving conflicts and sustaining a peaceful global society.

https://www.hwpl.kr/language/en

#HWPL #DPCW_1038 #PEACE #WARP_OFFICE #IPYG #IWPG

#WORLD_PEACE #RELIGIOUS #ZAMBIA #PEACE_CAMP

 

The ten articles of the DPCW contain three important values

 

First, prevention of conflict (Article 1-5)

Call upon States to cooperate towards gradual disarmament, repurpose weapons manufacturing facilities to serve purposes that are beneficial to humanity, and develop friendly relations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples

Second, settlement of conflict (Article 6-7)

Reaffirm the role of international supervisory bodies in maintaining global peace and security and call for arbitration, mediation, and conciliation as means of settling disputes peacefully

Third, maintenance of peace (Article 8-10)

Address the principles and conduct that can maintain a peaceful global society once it is established

 

DPCW_1038 : The 1st HWPL Religious Youth Peace Camp in Zambia

The 1st HWPL Religious Youth Peace Camp in Zambia

Religione: Breaking Boundaries

 

On September 22, the first Zambian Religious Peace Camp, hosted by HWPL, was held at the Taqwa Islamic Center Trust located in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia under the theme of

“Religione: Breaking Boundaries.”

 Religious leaders and youth organization members gathered in one place to resolve conflicts through religious and cultural exchanges.

https://www.hwpl.kr/language/en

✿❀✿

Around 140 people, including 7 leaders from Islam, Catholicism, and Hinduism who support religious peace, attended the camp, and experienced and learned the scriptures and culture of Islam.

The camp started with the greetings of each religious leader, then people were split into groups regardless of their religion. Then there were ice breaking and peace-related recreational activities, an introduction to Islamic religion, and a mosque tour. The participants were able to personally experience the Islamic religion and culture. There was also a program to broaden the understanding of religions, such as learning the history of world religions and finding solutions to the root causes of religious conflicts.

 

Swami Guneshananda, the Spiritual Director of Ramakrishna Vedanta Center in Lusaka, said in an interview, “Each and every religion is talking about peace, love, and cooperation. People in the world are fighting about the small things, as well as geographical and economical gain. Let us love each other, and to do that, we must become one.

WE ARE ONE.”

 

Another participant, Father Benjamin Itungabose, a Priest at Good Shepherd Kabawata Parish Church, shared, “For me, the most wonderful moment was when I met with my colleagues at the online WARP Office meeting. Also, what is more important is the warm welcome we received in this amazing mosque. Communication between the religious leaders was good, especially the host who taught us about Islam shared many things, including what Islam is. Spiritually, it is like a religion, because we all teach peace, mercy, love and harmony.”

 

Christian Nation Radio reporter Betty Kakoma said, “Today, I was very happy to see religious leaders and believers gathered to talk about peace and how to work together as one humanity. I learned that together, we can have a stronger voice. I learned a lot from other religions. These are some of the things that I can collaborate with HWPL as a journalist.”

Most religious scriptures all contain the values of peace, justice, human dignity, respect, and harmony. The Religious Peace Camp was more meaningful in that religious people can achieve harmony between religions by focusing on and understanding the values contained in different scriptures.

 

The Zambian Religious Peace Camp was hosted to promote the importance of religious harmony emphasized by HWPL to end the ongoing religious conflicts, eradicate discrimination and persecution by resolving misunderstandings and conflicts arising from ignorance between religions, and spread the culture of peace based on a correct understanding of each religion and ideology.

Aside from the Religious peace Camp, the HWPL WARP Office Meetings, a scriptural comparison discussion to achieve religious peace, have been hosted once a month in Zambia since 2015.

 

#HWPL #DPCW_1038 #PEACE #WARP_OFFICE #IPYG #IWPG

#WORLD_PEACE #RELIGIOUS #ZAMBIA #PEACE_CAMP

 

2023 Greetings from HWPL

 

Greetings from HWPL,
A new year of hope has dawned.

In the year 2023, let us march on together with a firm commitment to encompass the world with peace. Transcending national borders, ethnicities, and religions, let us become messengers of peace for the sole purpose of ceasing wars and establishing peace.

Family of peace worldwide,
We wish safety and good health to you, who have been devoting time and efforts to the work of peace out of sincere love for humanity and future generations. These endeavors of peace will shine as a lasting light onto the world.

We are one.

Let us continue to become one for peace this year.
We are one✓

https://www.hwpl.kr/language/en

▲

▲

▲

 

Lee Man-hee
Chairman
Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL)

 

♬♪♬

#HWPL #DPCW_1038 #PEACE #WARP_OFFICE #IPYG #IWPG

#WORLD_PEACE