WARP Summit Africa 2015

In September 2014 HWPL, the parent organisation of IPYG, hosted the World Alliance of Religions: Peace Summit in Seoul, South Korea.  Governmental and religious leaders, youth organizations, and women groups gathered to attend the world’s largest peace summit, where a sustainable solution to peace was presented, as well as methods and programs for the cessation of war.

The Summit was held at the Gate of Peace, Jamsil Sports Complex Stadium and 63 Building Convention Centre. Approximately 200,000 people attended. Among those attending were 1,500 leaders including international heads of states and leading representatives of world religions such as Catholicism, Protestantism, Eastern Orthodox Church, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism, as well as organizations working in collaboration with the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) and the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG). Over 100 national broadcasting companies from around the world also covered the events of the WARP summit.

A delegation of 40 South African leaders from various spheres of society also attended the summit including Former South African President, Honourable Kgalema Motlanthe, HRH Queen Mother Semane Molotlegi from the Royal Bafokeng and representatives from the National Interfaith Council of South Africa (NICSA).

The outcomes of this Summit were two agreements which were signed by more than 2,000 VIP guests at one sitting: “The Agreement to propose the Enactment of an International Law for the Cessation of War” and the “Agreement for the Alliance of Religions” to bring about inter-faith harmony. Participants have gone back to their countries and are working closely together with HWPL to find practical ways to make these two agreements a reality in their regions.

This WARP Summit and Chairman Lee will now come to African soil. Africa is a continent rich in resources, embedded with gold and crowned with ivory. A land where great men like Archbishop Desmond Tutu and President Nelson Mandela fought for the peace of the people of South Africa which resonated to inspire the rest of Africa and the world. However, peace has not yet been achieved. The continent is one which is still plagued with religious wars, a lack of cohesion between peoples and culture, underlying racism and xenophobia. Being the cradle where life was birthed and where diversity, culture and traditions are the cornerstone, the International Peace Youth Group will bring together leaders of this generation to discuss these persisting challenges and to find clear objectives and ways forward.

Through collaboration and the uniting of civil society, religious leaders and interfaith movements, the government sector, youth leaders and women leaders, the International Peace Youth Group believe that this reality is one which can be achieved together.