International Peace Seminar Highlights DPCW as Key to Achieving Global Peace

On February 22, 2025, the Heavenly Culture World Peace Restoration of Light (HWPL), an international peace NGO, hosted an inspiring online seminar titled “How to Achieve Peace: The Answer Lies in the DPCW.”

The event brought together over 70 peace advocates, educators, and journalists from 13 countries—including Timor-Leste, Cameroon, and South Sudan—to discuss the importance of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) and explore practical ways to implement it for lasting peace.

The DPCW, a peace framework created by HWPL in collaboration with international law experts, was drafted on March 14, 2016. It aims to end global conflict and establish sustainable peace.

With 10 articles and 38 clauses, the declaration focuses on conflict prevention, resolution, and the promotion of a peaceful, cooperative global society.

HWPL has been actively working toward making the DPCW a legally binding international framework, building on the principles of the United Nations Charter.

The seminar kicked off with a presentation on HWPL’s mission and the vital role of the DPCW in shaping a world of peace.

This was followed by powerful messages from esteemed leaders, including Dionísio da Costa Babo Soares, the Permanent Representative of Timor-Leste to the United Nations, and Peter Lomude Francis, a member of Parliament from South Sudan.

Ambassador Soares shared his nation’s inspiring journey toward peace, noting, “Timor-Leste has experienced the pains of conflict and has fought fiercely and desperately to secure peace. We hope our history can serve as a beacon of hope for nations still suffering.” He highlighted how the core values of the DPCW were reflected in Timor-Leste’s peaceful referendum and disarmament initiatives.

Peter Lomude Francis from South Sudan echoed these sentiments, pointing to his nation’s significant progress in peacebuilding. “South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit signed the national declaration for peace based on the DPCW in 2024, with the support of high-ranking officials across the government. This declaration has inspired hope and cooperation among political leaders and civil society,” he remarked.

Throughout the seminar, HWPL leaders provided a detailed explanation of each DPCW provision, underlining its relevance as a roadmap for sustainable peace.

The parallels between Timor-Leste’s peace process and the DPCW’s principles highlighted the practical feasibility of such a framework, with further insights shared by Jorge Soares Cristovao, Timor-Leste’s Secretary of State for Arts and Culture.

The event offered participants the chance to reflect on the importance of international peace laws and their role in preventing conflict.

A lawyer from Myanmar emphasized the urgency of implementing practical peace measures like the DPCW, stating, “With conflicts and wars occurring frequently around the world, frameworks such as the DPCW must be put into action to address these global challenges.”

HWPL continues to advocate for the DPCW through peace seminars, initiatives, and global outreach, working tirelessly toward a world where peace is not just a dream, but a reality.

As the seminar concluded, attendees left with a renewed sense of hope and determination to contribute to the creation of a harmonious global society.