In celebration of the 5th Anniversary the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), HWPL Philippines held an online conference on March 7, 2021 under the theme “Building a Peaceful World through DPCW” to raise awareness about the importance of the DPCW as a basis for a legal framework to achieve sustainable peace in the society.
The DPCW is a document in the form of a Preamble with 10 articles and 38 clauses to be implemented as international law for the cessation of war. It was drafted by the HWPL International Law Peace Committee which is comprised of prominent international law experts from 15 different countries.
The DPCW, which is drafted upon the foundation of the values stipulated in the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, contains ideas to bolster the current international law for the rapidly changing world and harbors the fundamental spirit to pass onto the next generation a world without war.
Congratulatory messages were received from the government, education and media sector including Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Senator Risa Hontiveros, Senator Kiko Pangilinan, DILG Undersecretary Marjorie Jalosjos from Mindanao Affairs and Special Concerns, Dr. Concepcion F. Balawag, the Schools Division Superintendent in Cotabato City, and Olive Tiu, Regional Director of the Philippine Information Agency.
The event was also held in celebration of the International Women’s Day in partnership with the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) and International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG). Women leaders from the Girl Scout of the Philippines Pila District, Women Lawyers Association of the Philippines, National Federation of Women’s Clubs, and Rotary Club Pearl of the Orient Quezon City have expressed their support for the DPCW acknowledging the role of women in peacebuilding.
“As an advocate for peace and as Local Chief Executive of the Municipality of Kapalong, I am looking forward to empower people and encourage all women to support Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) and to always uphold the highest ideals of brotherhood among men, and work together to ultimately attain worldwide peace,” Mayor Maria Theresa Timbol of Kapalong, Davao Del Norte said in her speech.
Danilo Mocsin, Founder and Chairman of Kutawato Greenland Initiatives (KGI), promoted the “Planting the Trees of Peace Campaign” where KGI will be taking part. Through this campaign, peacemakers are raising their voices in support of the DPCW, as a promise to establish peace monuments by 2022. This project is being carried out in conjunction with the Greening Planet project that aims to plant 1 million trees in 100 countries within the year 2021.
“We plant a tree as a promise to establish peace garden and peace monument. Moreover, its symbolic purpose is to remind all of us citizens that we can also be living trees of peace who will embody the values of peace, and spreading it to the people surrounding us.”
After the keynote speeches, an official of HWPL presented the Achievements and Plans for 2021 in the Philippines including the progress of the Peace Tree Campaign, City Resolutions and Individual Resolutions for DPCW, and media partnership with PAGEONE Group.
Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) is an international non-governmental organization associated with the UN ECOSOC and UN DGC, which is committed to the achievement of peace and cessation of war across the globe.
