Lafaek News–On May 24, a Peace Walk commemorating the 12th anniversary of the HWPL Declaration of World Peace was successfully held at the plaza in front of Essen City Hall, Germany. The event was organized by the Essen branch of HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light), an international peace NGO, and brought together citizens who long for peace from various fields.

Essen, once known as the “Armory of Germany,” gained prominence in the 19th century for its steel and arms industry. In particular, the Krupp Steel Company, established by the Krupp family, played a key role in the German military industry. As a result, Essen became a primary target of bombing by the Allied forces during World War II, and much of the city was destroyed. However, the city quickly recovered its function through rapid economic development and has recently tried to transform itself into a new symbolic peace city.

The event began with a reading of a letter from HWPL Chairman Man Hee Lee, followed by welcoming remarks from the senior branch manager in Essen and a peace message delivered by a youth representative.

Chairman Lee called on people around the world to take part in the work of peace. In his letter, he wrote:

“Respected family of peace, The cause of peace is a calling for us living in this time that must be fulfilled. Humanity has yet to experience peace in history fully, and we must do the work now to ensure that our children will live in lasting peace. When every member of the global community becomes a peace advocate, peace will surely come true. Your names will be an everlasting light.”

During the main program, the Peace Walk, youth participants sang songs of peace as they marched through downtown Essen alongside citizens from diverse cultural backgrounds. After the march, the event concluded with creating a “Peace Tree,” made from 204 fingerprints, symbolizing the citizens’ wishes.

Naim, a student of Religious Studies and History at Ruhr University Bochum, shared his impression of the event.  “The peace walk was a wonderful experience. As we walked through the city, many people witnessed our activities, which made me feel that we were truly spreading awareness. The message from Chairman Lee was inspiring, and I would love to participate in more events like this in the future.”

The HWPL Essen branch has consistently carried out youth workshops and activities to promote the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) at the center of this culturally diverse city. The branch plans to continue the efforts, cooperating with the local community to help transform Essen into a city of peace.

The DPCW embodies the principles and measures for preventing and resolving conflicts and sustaining a peaceful global society. On 14 March 2016, HWPL proclaimed the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), which was drafted by international law experts from 15 countries. This declaration, comprised of 10 articles and 38 clauses, aims to restore the spirit that served as the basis for establishing the United Nations and achieve sustainable peace by promoting the universal values of the global community.