The Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), proclaimed on 14 March 2016 by the international peace organization HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light), was created in response to a fundamental question facing humanity: if conflicts are unavoidable, must they always lead to war?
The initiative emerged from the personal experience of HWPL Chairman Man-hee Lee, who witnessed the devastation of the Korean War as a young soldier. Convinced that future generations should not continue to suffer the consequences of armed conflict, he promoted international dialogue on peace and conflict prevention. This effort culminated in the drafting of the DPCW by the HWPL International Law Peace Committee, a group of international legal experts who developed a framework consisting of 10 articles and 38 clauses.
Rather than replacing existing international law, the DPCW seeks to strengthen and clarify principles already recognized by the international community. It promotes the peaceful settlement of disputes, international cooperation, collective security, and the participation of civil society and religious communities in peacebuilding efforts. Its central idea is that conflicts should be managed through institutions, dialogue, and agreed procedures rather than through military confrontation.
Over the past decade, the DPCW has received growing international support. Regional parliamentary organizations in Africa, Central America, Latin America, and the Caribbean have endorsed the initiative, while hundreds of thousands of citizens around the world have expressed their support. This demonstrates that the aspiration for peace extends beyond governments and is increasingly shared by civil society.
At the same time, the declaration recognizes the complexity of today’s world. Wars and geopolitical tensions continue to exist, and the transformation toward a more peaceful international order remains an ongoing challenge. The DPCW therefore represents not a final solution, but a long-term effort to build stronger institutions, promote cooperation, and encourage a culture of peace.
Ultimately, the declaration invites humanity to reflect on its future. While conflicts may never completely disappear, societies can choose whether to address them through violence or through dialogue, law, and cooperation. The DPCW offers a vision of a world where peace is not merely an ideal, but an objective gradually embedded within international institutions and human relationships.
