On September 21, 2024, Cape Town joined 122 countries in celebrating the 10th anniversary of the HWPL World Peace Summit. Held at the Civic Centre’s Council Chambers, the event was part of a global initiative to promote peace, with over 200 participants discussing the need for regional cooperation to address local and global challenges. The celebration highlighted South Africa’s role in the broader peace movement and coincided with the launch of HWPL’s “Together” campaign, which aims to build a global network for peace.
The Cape Town event, organised by various local and international partners, such as the Lady of Peace Community Foundation (LOPECO) and Africa Unite, opened with speeches from local leaders, including Hon. Khalid Sayed, and featured break-out sessions focused on the role of women, youth, and religious leaders in promoting peace. Fredalene Booysen of Sonke Gender Justice emphasised the role of women in peace-building, while Monique Hansen of GunFreeSA highlighted the importance of youth engagement.
A key moment was the address by two religious leaders, Moulana Nolan and His Holiness Swami Vedanand Saraswati Singh, who emphasised interfaith dialogue as a foundation for sustainable peace. Both highlighted the significance of HWPL’s Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) as a global legal framework for resolving conflicts. Moulana Nolan shared his experiences with HWPL’s World Alliance of Religions’ Peace (WARP) Office, which fosters understanding among faiths.
This Cape Town gathering reflected the spirit of HWPL’s international 10th-anniversary celebrations, which began just days earlier, on September 18, 2024, with the “HWPL 9.18 Peace International Conference” in South Korea. This global event attracted over 100,000 participants and featured the “Together” campaign launch, an initiative involving over 230 civil society organizations. The campaign aims to bridge generational and cultural divides by encouraging citizens from all backgrounds to become “Messengers of Peace.”
Chairman Lee Man-hee, founder of HWPL, expressed his hope for a united global effort, stating, “We must work together to create a world of peace and leave it as a legacy for future generations.” His message resonated with participants in Cape Town, where discussions also emphasized the importance of regional partnerships.
The “Together” campaign, inspired by South Korea’s transformative Saemaul Movement, will mobilize local communities worldwide to foster solidarity and mutual understanding. This mission mirrors the success of regional cooperation seen in Cape Town’s peace efforts, as highlighted by partnerships with organizations like the G7+ and Parlatino, which were formalized during the HWPL international event.
As the world celebrates a decade of peace initiatives, the events in Cape Town and across the globe underscore the enduring commitment to peace-building through dialogue, education, and cooperation—echoing HWPL’s vision of a world united in love and peace.
