Throughout the month of March, the 9th anniversary of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War(DPCW), proclaimed by the international peace NGO HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light), was celebrated in 93 countries around the world.
In East Africa, nations including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi actively participated in regional events aimed at promoting peace through civil society engagement and institutional cooperation.
On March 30, a commemorative event was held at the Kenya Meteorological Department Auditorium in Nairobi, co-hosted by HWPL, the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG), and the Metropolitan Amani Club.
The gathering brought together approximately 400 participants, including leaders from political, religious, civic, educational, and media sectors.
Under the theme “The First Step Towards Institutionalizing Peace: LP with Citizens”, the event began by introducing the historical background and objectives of the DPCW.
First proclaimed by HWPL in 2016, the DPCW consists of 10 articles and 38 clauses aimed at ending armed conflict, fostering interfaith harmony, and promoting peace education.
The highlight of the event was the official launch of the HWPL Peace Culture Realization Council in Kenya, envisioned as a collaborative platform to strengthen sustainable peace efforts with the involvement of civil society.
The council currently comprises of four advisory members and aims to address social challenges in Kenya through the collective efforts of key figures across law, religion, and education—aligning with HWPL’s three core initiatives: the enactment of international peace law, interfaith dialogue and peace education.
An HWPL representative stated, “The establishment of this council reflects our commitment to building a culture of peace led by the community, and we look forward to enhancing citizen participation in sustainable peace building.”As part of the event, six schools in Nairobi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to implement HWPL’s peace education curriculum.
In addition, representatives of HWPL and IPYG delivered a collection of “Peace Letters” written by citizens urging the local government to adopt peace-centered policies, which were formally submitted to officials of the Nairobi City Council.
In Uganda, a commemorative event was held on March 15 at the Kalerwe Market in the Kawempe region of Kampala, under the theme “HWPL with the Community, Realizing Peace through the DPCW”Co-hosted by HWPL and BioVision Africa, the event focused on raising awareness of environmental protection by addressing the city’s waste disposal challenges through a community cleanup campaign.
Around 360 participants attended, including the Buganda Kingdom’s Minister of Lands and Environment, local government officials from the market, environmental NGOs, and members of HWPL and IPYG.
A representative from HWPL remarked, “While we may not resolve the waste issue overnight, we will continue to promote environmental education and civic participation to help create a cleaner and more sustainable Uganda.”
The Together Campaign’s “Connect Korea Challenge”
Within 10 days, participants from 243 cities across 72 countries contributed over 1,350 pieces of content, demonstrating global interest in a peaceful unification on the Korean Peninsula.
