Organizers with the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) and the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) worked alongside a group called Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) to host the 5th Anniversary of the World Alliance of Religions Peace Summit.
Founded in 2013, HWPL has conducted a number of peace campaigns and educational events around the world. The HWPL held its first event in Myanmar in 2015, and has been active in Yangon and Mandalay.
Saturday’s event Titled “Legislate Peace – Implementation of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) for Sustainable Development”, drew a crowd of over 200 participants to the Taw Win Garden Hotel, in Dagon Township of Yangon.
Attendees included representatives from government departments and religious associations, including U Maung Maung Soe Mayor of Yangon , U Naing Ngan Lin, Minister of Social Affairs Yangon Region, U Tin Hlaing, former Minister of Home Affairs and Patron of Myanmar Psychology Association, Dr. Tha Nyan, Vice President of Yangon YMCA, Dr. Hla Tun, Professor of State Pariyatti Sasana University, and Ven. Dhammika, Lecturer of Sitagu Buddhist Academy in Thanlyin.
Representatives from different religious groups including Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Muslim, were also in attendance according to Daw Yin Yin Mya, a member of IWPG. “We invited all different religious groups. This is to have mutual respect among religious communities and among groups. So, it is important to be like we are the one,“said Daw Yin Yin Mya, adding there were also women and youth groups in attendance.
Respective representatives and officials gave speeches stating that having peace is essential to all.
“All the speakers during the event agreed that peace is an important word to all of us and … that HWPL’s work is really important and all the citizens and government should agree and support the DPCW. It was an impressive event even for me, when all people wanted to work for peace in one mind as a peace messenger. And I’m happy to see all their bright happy faces enjoying the peace festival” said Ben Kim, the General Director of the International Law Department of HWPL.
Singer Saw Poe Kwar also delivered a performance to celebrate peace.
Kim noted his organization will continue to write letters informing the President and government of Myanmar about the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) and seek support for their initiative to become an international law.
HWPL World Peace Summit organizers will host a second Summit event on September 7, in Mandalay.
