The 11th Annual Commemoration of the Declaration of World Peace Held in Cape Town

Cape Town, South Africa – 18 May 2024 – an international peace NGO, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), held the 11th Annual Commemoration of the Declaration of World Peace under the theme of “30 Years of Democracy: Promoting Youth Participation in Elections and Envisioning the Next Three Decades of Freedom”.

As conflicts erupt worldwide that threaten global security and coexistence bringing about the need for peace among citizens, the purpose of this event was to promote youth participation in elections, address critical developmental challenges such as unemployment, gender-based violence, inequality, and social justice through the culture of peace.

This year’s event was held in Cape Town, attended by over 200 participants including the Western Cape Premier candidates Mr. Khalid Sayed Mohammed of the ANC party, Mr. Axolile Notywala of the Rise Mzansi Party and citizen demonstrators.

Mr Khalid Sayed shared how although the struggles faced in various countries and in Palestine may seem far, they are relevant to local South Africans who still have not had freedom afforded by peace due to previously mismanaged resources.

Mr. Axolile Notywala encouraged the youth to participate and commended the dialogue as a platform where one can be more informed as a voter. He raised the concern of the single mother demographic in South Africa, who many a time are unable to attend such events.

In an interview with Mr Andrew Bateman,a member of the Democratic Alliance, he shared “in regards to our own nation, we are aware of the high levels of crime, gender based violence and it is simply unacceptable what South Africans are facing everyday in our communities”.

This annual event commemorates the 2013 proclamation of the Declaration of World Peace at the Peace Gate in Seoul Olympic Park with 30,000 global youth advocating peace. This declaration outlines the roles of individuals from all walks of life in achieving peace and urges a united global effort.

At the 10th annual commemoration last year HWPL Chairman Lee Man-hee said, “Since we pledged to work together for world peace 10 years ago, we have been calling for peace all over the world. We have advocated that peace should be taught at home and at school, and that everyone should become messengers of peace.”  He also emphasized, “Everyone should be one under the title of peace and work together to create a good world and make it a legacy for future generations. This is what we need to do in this era in which we live.”

Membership registration, information about peace projects, and reading the full text of and supporting the DPCW are available on HWPL’s official website at www.hwpl.kr.

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