What year? What do you think the most important things were in this year? Maybe, I think 2018 is the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN on 10 December 1948. Also, there had been various incidents over the world, but there had been progress in inter-Korean relations, the only divided nation.
When can we enjoy peace in full? Like Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said “Recent memory is replete with multiple examples of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.” There is still much to be desired. The human rights of millions are still being violated on a daily basis.
What should we do? How nice it would be to get rid of the war?
However, there were people who made a lot of efforts for peace between the two Koreas.
Blue House PHOTO
When the leaders of the two Koreas were having their third summit, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) chairman Man Hee Lee brought together more than 1,500 world-class political and religious leaders as well as peace activists in Incheon, South Korea, to reunite the two countries. Influential people from all over the world gathered to discuss how to achieve peace at the2018 HWPL World Peace WARP Summit.
ex) Participants: former presidents Viktor Yushchenko from Ukraine, Croatia’s Ivo Josipovic, Romania’s Emil Constantinescu and Sierra Leone’s ex-vice president Samuel SamSumana.
The Chairman Man Hee Lee said “It’s embarrassing to see the country is still divided. I believe the president of South Korea [Moon] and the leader of North Korea [Kim] know about this conference and I urge them to support us to achieve peace.” Is he a high-ranking civil servant? Nope. But it makes sense for him to say so. Because he is a veteran of the Korean War. It is unprecedented for a civilian to do such a thing.
Mr. Man hee Leeof HWPL is awarded the Seoul Peace Culture Award. It’s a prize for people who contribute greatly to mankind and his influence is worldwide. It began in 2007 and was established to leave the people’s will and belief in the eternal peace of the world’s human welfare and the global village.
In their acceptance speech, The Chairman Lee asked “HWPL’s proposal to end the war effectively through international law prohibiting the production of weapons and war is now recognized by the international community as an effective alternative to ending the war,” And he continued, “Now, please cooperate with HWPL to achieve a peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula.”
In particular, through a joint discussion with legal professionals around the world, a campaign is underway to establish an international law for peace, in which one million people from 170 countries participated, based on the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW).
On September 19th, ‘2018 IWPG International Women’s Peace Conference’ was held by female leaders from around the world as part of the 2018 HWPL World Peace Summit: 4th Anniversary of the WARP Summit. In the conference themed, ‘The Role of Women to Realize Peace in the Korean Peninsula and World Peace’’, Former President, Professor, current and former heads of state and First Ladies, ministers, members of the National Assembly, and 380 female leaders gathered to find practical solutions for peace.
Lastly, Chairman Lee of HWPL gave a special request to those in attendance stating, “The strength of one person, is only that one person’s strength. But if we come together for this work of peace, then it will become a great power. Everyone woman living in the global village should become one through the common objective and shout together with a common voice. You should write letters to former and current presidents. We need to write not only to our president but to those all over the world.”
He then continued, “Also you should tell not only the people of your own countries but the people from other countries as well about the method of becoming one together with the women of the IWPG. Two is more powerful than one, but if there are many it will never be broken. Since the goal is peace, nothing is more precious and important than the work of making the world of peace that can be left as a legacy for future generations. I believe in the women’s group and the youth group.” After finishing, he shouted “We are one!”, urging all participants to become one.
He is a really qualified person to say these words when we think Man Hee Lee biography. Now, what is left is our action! We Are One!
The International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) held several memorial services across the world in honour of the late Ji-In Gu – a young South Korean woman who passed away while being forced conversion. The memorial service took place 49 days after Gu’s death (December 2017) which is a Korean tradition and was held in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, Harare, Zimbabwe, as well as in Windhoek, Namibia. On January 28, 120,000 South Koreans also protested in major cities against coercive conversion program by the Christian Council of Korea. (More info) Not only in South Africa, the memorial service has been held in the LA, United Kingdom, and other parts of the world for a year.
Especially during November and December this year, New York Times and other leading press reported with the headlines “Ban Coercive Conversion,” and shared the events of the late Ji-in Gu.
As we celebrate the first anniversary of memorial, why is it reported by the leading foreign press? Why is the memorial continuing? That’s because nothing has changed in a year and the government hasn’t responded. Why?
First, the Coercive Conversion Program is still underway.
Sometimes religious suppression occurs in war and emerging countries, but no one would think that Murder by coercive conversion occurred in the South Korea, K-pop’s home country. So far, the number of victims is over 1,000. 52 percent of them claimed they were imprisoned. (The AVCCP statistics) In addition, 42 percent of the victims were taken to coercive religious conversion program by kidnapping. After this anti-humanitarian act, one conversion pastor of the CCK even received up to $894,425 USD. How can this illegal thing still happen?
Second, Conversion pastors cowardly evade the law by using the excuse of ‘counseling’.
They claim that these consultations on “cult issues” are carried out voluntarily at the request of the family members of the victims and with the consent of the victims. However, victims report that the “conversion education agreements” are written by force while they are under confinement. So Human rights activists and IWPG members around the world have continued to petition for the Korean government to enact a special law against coercive conversion program.
In a similar case, 1,000 Pakistani girls are kidnapped and forced to change religion every year. Muslims only just said “It was to encourage cults to accept the Islam.”Many human rights activists spoke out, and in the end the government made a anti-conversion law.
In November 2016, the Sindh province passed a law criminalizing forced conversions to, according to the law, ‘provide protection for those who are victims of this abhorrent practice.’ Under the law, those convicted of forcibly converting others receive a punishment from five years’ imprisonment to a life sentence.
Because the Christian Council of Korea (CCK) is trying to hide the truth, not only by neglecting the law and looking the other way, but by supporting its affiliated pastors’ illegal activities. Politics and religion have the cozy relations, which violates Article 20-2 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, “Religion and politics are separated.” Who will console the pain that 1,000 victims of coercive conversion in Korea have experienced? Who can compensate for Ji-in’s death?
Furthermore, HWPL has already vehemently protested against the CCK, which has abandoned its function as a religious organization, and its affiliated pastors for conducting anti-nation, anti-society, and anti-peace acts that violate human rights. The CCK must to be disbanded for throwing the Korean people, as well as the international community, into chaos, and the pastors who took part in coercive conversion must receive the proper punishment for their actions.
Reverend Thamsanqa Mvambo, President of the NICSA, said, “This is a terrible outrage that such people who claim to be believers in Jesus Christ would act in this way using the weapons of the devil against fellow Christians. The CCK and Conversion Pastors should repent immediately.”
He added,“I ask the CCK and pastors who practice and profit from the conversion programmes to immediately and permanently cease such activities. We also call on the lawmakers in the Republic of Korea to make a law prohibiting the coercive conversion programmes and holding pastors who profit from this unaccountable action.”
IPYG is a ‘International Peace Youth Group.’ IPYG is affiliated with 805 organizations and has its branches in 110 countries. The number of memeber is 4,600,000. IPYG Peace Story is being known all over the world. To give you a brief definition, I can say this.
IPYG, 2017 callender
WE YOUTHS, SHARE the love given from above. GATHER as one. PRODUCE works of true peace.
The bottom line of IPYG is based on the Declaration of World Peace (Full text) of HWPL. “For World Peace to become a reality, this is the duty of all youth, everywhere.” IPYG believes in the main role of 1.4 billion All Youth. If 1.4 billion youths around the world are united as one for peace, it can and will be a reality.
IPYG Peace Story
IPYG, “I Present Your Gifts” Christmas Free Hugs Campaign
As you can see in the above video, the lively youth have a positive effect around the world. The City needs something special. Perhaps… A Gift? We should be united, no matter of the age, race and religion. With a simple act of kindness, We all have the power. To Spread: Peace Unity Happiness. We Share, Gather, and Produce.
IPYG Peace Project
IPYG Peace Walk on May 25th, 2018
IPYG Peace Walk : Making a change starts with a movement. Turn your 216,262,500 Steps in your lifetime into Peace Walk!
Peace Zone : Peace Zone where only peace exists. Establish peace, one by one
525 Hi five : Spread digital love : one hashtag at a time
Signing Campaign : Until the word “war” disappears and only peace is left as a legacy
The International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) called on the current and former presidents of Africa with a series of peace letters, to engage in a round-table discussion to trun the culture of violence into the culture of peace in South Africa.
Local youth of the IPYG in the Gugulethu area gave the wall a fresh coat of paint in cleaning up around the NY116 sports field. This project was part of the ‘IPYG Peace My City campaign’ which make Peace Zone.
On the 16th of September, The ‘Goseong Peace Conference’ was attended by the International Centre for Black Sea-Baltic Studies and Consensus Practices (Centre BBS) and the UN-affiliated NGO HWPL. Why did they get together? The purpose is ‘the Adoption of the DPCW in the UN and the Peaceful Unification of the Korean Peninsula.’ It is a hot topic in the world. Today, I introduce you HWPL peace quotes with Man Hee Lee.
H.E. Viktor Yushchenko, Former president of Ukraine, said “If a country is attacked, no one is safe, because we are all one. What we are going to talk about is solidarity. We need to get the signatures of a million people because it can bring many people to unite and affirm the solidarity. I think Chairman Lee of HWPL is doing great work to gain support from many people in various countries. We are becoming one. The work we are doing is the way we can unite.”
What is HWPL in a word? I think the next sentence contains the spirit of HWPL. “When the light of heaven shines in the hearts of people, it becomes the light that never fades away.”
The core values of HWPL is to bringing world peace and cessation of war through the establishment of an legally-binding law compatible with the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) and the World Alliance of Religions’ Peace(WARP)offices.Today I’m going to introduce you to the simple things of HWPL and the WARP Office.
HWPL is a world-class international NGO which has 170 branches all over the world. Peace-loving people are all gathered here. HWPL has 158 Members of HWPL Advisory Council, 506 Publicity Ambassadors and 705000 Legislate Peace Campaign Signatures. Also, it has two wings of IPYG and IWPG. It is why Mr. Man Hee Lee is called the messenger of peace. Because 3.6 billion Women and 1.8 billion Youth support the Chairman Lee.
It can make ‘Alliance of Religions.’ Why do we need this? 80% of the causes of war in human history are religion. Shouldn’t religion admit difference? How can this be possible? Shouldn’t religion admit difference? How can this be possible? Here, a groundbreaking method of HWPL is presented. ‘To compare the scriptures of each religion.’ Then, the fight & war stops and the conversation begins.
It began from the World Alliance of Religions’ Peace (WARP) Summit in 2014 where representative leaders from 12 religions, along with 950 participants, signed the Unity of Religion Agreement. At that time, the WARP Office Meeting was established and it has been actively practiced worldwide since then. Peace has already begun!! Each of you is very important. Because nothing happens without us. Please become a messenger of peace!
On the 16th of September, The ‘Goseong Peace Conference’ was attended by the International Centre for Black Sea-Baltic Studies and Consensus Practices (Centre BBS), which is headed by a group of former European national leaders.
Mr. Man Hee Lee was stressing the responsibilities of global leaders to work together for peace according to the pledge contained in this peace agreement.
Also Chairman Man Hee Lee of HWPL said, “I hope this talk would create a new future and form a peaceful world. We know that everyone wants peace and the end of war. I haven’t seen anyone who wants war. When we achieve peace, our future generation will remember us forever.”
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone document in the history of human rights. You already know. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which marks the 70th anniversary of this year, still holds great significance for us all over the world. Especially this year, the UDHR is asking us, ‘The UDHR don’t have a separate article on ‘Right to Peace’ yet, what does “The Right to Peace” mean to you? I wrote a posting.
Today, we are going to find out more questions about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and what UDHR and DPCW have in common. I was really curious, too. “Is the UDHR legally binding?” It’s a globally recognized document and a declaration cited everywhere. It’s so natural to see it. What is the correct answer?
The Universal Declaration is not a treaty, so it does not directly create legal obligations for countries. However, it is an expression of the fundamental values which are shared by all members of the international community. And it has had a profound influence on the development of international human rights law. (Thanks, google)
So what is the exact meaning of being legally binding? Legally binding treaty. This means that states which ratify the treaty are legally bound by it, while states that do not are neither bound by the treaty obligations or entitled to invoke those obligations against other state parties. The HWPL’s DPCW is just walking down this road. The international law so far allowed war in part. So HWPL will make the DPCW a legally binding law to bring it to the United Nations to make a world without war.
What do the UDHR and the DPCW have in common?
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and The DPCW
DPCW Article 1 – Prohibition of the threat or use of force
2. States should refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of military force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations Charter or international law in general.
DPCW Article 3 – Friendly relations and the prohibition of acts of aggression
1. In accordance with United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2625 (XXV), States should develop friendly relations based upon respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and should take appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace.
DPCW Article 4 – State boundaries
1. In accordance with United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2625 (XXV), every State has the duty to refrain in its international relations from military, political, economic, or any other form of coercion aimed against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations. This is without prejudice to instances when such forms of coercion may be lawfully applied, inter alia, to induce states to cease internationally wrongful acts, or when sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council.
DPCW Article 7 – Right to self-defence
2. Measures taken by states in the exercise of their right to self-defence should be immediately reported to the Security Council and should not in any way affect the authority and responsibility of the Security Council under the United Nations Charter to take, at any time, such action as it deems necessary in order to maintain or restore international peace and security.
DPCW Article 10 – Spreading a culture of peace
1. States should recognize and engage with groups and organizations that seek to further the cause of peace as a global movement. States should facilitate such groups in their awareness-raising activities, including providing tuition in human rights and peace studies, as provided for, inter alia, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1999 UN Declaration on a Culture of Peace.
4. States should promote a culture of peace including ensuring conditions in which- (d) the right to development of peoples, including the achievement of the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs), can be realized; and
We found out more questions about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and what the UDHR and the DPCW have in common. As much as the UDHR, the DPCW is a milestone document in the history of human rights.
Do you know why people say ‘Mr.Man Hee Lee is a messenger of peace’? Because he has the definite answer to peace. I will tell you the coolest Man Hee Lee Quotes. He is a Korean War veteran, knows the horrors of war than a person ever knew. Also, he is the chairman of Heavenly Culture, World Peace and Restoration of Light (HWPL).
HWPL is an international peace nonprofit organization which is the most influential in the world, especially for young people and women. In his biography, It’s clear who he is. ‘I received many rewards from around the world—certificates of awards, plaques, and medals. However, these are not the true rewards. The true reward is the establishment of world peace. This is an eternal reward.‘ This is why he moves for peace.
Man Hee Lee Quotes
HWPL PHOTO/Man Hee Lee Quotes
The signing of a Joint Statement as well as the MOU signing ceremony between HWPL and 13 supporting media outlets followed the presentations.
After signing the MOU, Chairman Lee pleaded earnestly to those in attendance, “Achieving peace and cessation of war is an impossible task without media professionals like yourselves because we cannot meet everyone in person to deliver this message. The media and press must constantly report on the news of peace-building efforts to make a peaceful society. Let us achieve our goal of peace by doing it. Rather than waiting for tomorrow to come, let us bring forth tomorrow and work steadily to accomplish our goal. I trust each and every reporter here to hold the media accountable.”
New York times Human rights advertisement on 28 November
“Hello. I’m Ji-in Gu. Mr. President, Please listen to my story. Stop the painful kidnapping, detention and endless assaults in 44 days.”
On January 18, 2018, a flower fell to the ground in a pension in Korea. The late Ms Gu, who had a lot of dreams and had a lot of career ahead, was only 25 years old. In my first posting, we looked at the story of late Ji-in Gu, who seriously violated human rights despite human’s desperate efforts to protect human rights.
We still have two questions. Why did she have to die of suffocation? Why did parents keep their adorable daughter in custody?
The Answer is… ‘Religion’
Report on the Freedom of Religion in the World
In the Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), ‘Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom.’ How much freedom of religion is being guaranteed in human rights?
According to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) ‘s report on religious freedom in 2018, 16 countries classified as “countries of particular concern” include North Korea, as well as Burma, China, Eritria, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Central African Republic, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Syria and Vietnam. Terrorism, murder, slavery, rape, incarceration, forced migration, coercive conversion, intimidation, property confiscation, women’s alienation, and ban on religious activities are still happening in these countries.
New York times Human rights Ad on 28 November, 2018 ‘Ban Coercive Conversion Program’
In Pakistan, for example, 1,000 girls are kidnapped and forced to change religion every year. Usually, girls in religious minorities, sometimes teenagers are kidnapped and forced to convert to Islam, and marry kidnappers or his accomplices. The daughters are forced to be educated in captivity, and when the police come to them, criminals who kidnap, detain and assault her are evading all legal responsibilities because they are her husband, her family. That’s why her parents can never see their daughter for the rest of my life, even when her parents went to find daughters with the police. Therefore, Human rights activists around the world spoke out wholeheartedly, but the criminals were hiding behind the name of religion.
Present State of Coercive Conversion Programs
‘The 1,000 victims of coercive conversion.. 77.4% of them have sever trauma’
Even in Korea, the country of Kpop, where religious freedom was stipulated in the Constitution, violations of religious freedom are taking place. The reason why Ms. Ji-in Gu had to die of suffocation is ‘Coercive Conversion Programs‘. The reason why parents kept their adorable daughter in custody is ‘Coercive Conversion Programs‘. All things were because of illegal coercive conversion that allowed kidnapping, incarceration and murder in the name of religion. Was there a parent who wanted to kill his beloved daughter? Nope. Someone else must be behind all this. They are the ‘coercive conversion pastors’ who ordered everything and asked for lots of money.
Coercive conversion pastors instigate anxiety of parents and use their love to manipulate them behind. At the dictation of pastors, parents handcuffed her hands and feet, lock her in a pension and force her to convert. This is how they get away with the law. Through the coercive conversion program, one Christian Council of Korea (CCK) minister even received up to $894,425 USD, for their guidance.
According to Human Rights Association for Victims of Coercive Conversion Programs(HAC), The victims of coercive conversion programs numbered about 1,000 from year 2003 to 2017. 96 victims were confirmed in the first half of this year alone. In a survey of 900 people from 2003 to March 2015, 52 percent of the victims were imprisoned, 42 percent of them were taken to coercive conversion program by kidnapping. It was even reported that 10 people were hospitalized in psychiatric hospitals for not being converted. More seriously, their pain didn’t end there. 77.4 percent of the victims felt extreme fear caused by a violent environment. And 65 percent of the victims suffered from mental disorders and stress due to the coercive conversion program.
After Kim was beaten to death by a hammer (by her husband) in 2007, Ms. Gu made a petition to the president, but nothing changed. As a result, Ms. Gu died of suffocation on January 18, 2018. Then, 1 year anniversary has come, and the sad thing is, nothing has changed. The voices of her friends keep ringing in my ears. “She petitioned the president for help, but nothing changed! and she died! Will you take action after I die!!!”
The Cry of the World’s Human Rights Activists
The Unanswered Government and the President, the Coercive Conversion Pastors who cleverly shirk their legal responsibilities.
There is widespread condemnation of the human rights abuses of coercive conversion program all over the world. Ms. Gu’s death resounded through the world. The 221 U.S. media outlets including NBC, Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), and ABC has reported extensively on the human rights issue under the title of ‘South Korea: The Olympic Games Amid Large-Scale Human Rights Protests.’ In Korea alone, there were countless protests and 120,000 citizens from each cities participated nationwide for human rights. Religious groups and politicians from all over the world hold rally voluntarily to denounce the coercive conversion program of the CCK Korea. And U.N. headquarters and Washington condemn it as an act of giving religion a bad name. Korea’s dark truth was covered in about 600 reports in 41 countries.
“Recently, very recently, one young lady was killed by a hard attack while she was taught by a preacher who converted her religion by compulsion. My condolence please accept on this tragic loss of the young lady. It is too bad that this accident happened among Christians who spread the spirit, just as the spirit of love. Who are these people? Are these people pure for their religion? They are religiously violent and extremists.”
One Hindu High Priest
With nearly a year approaching, protest rallies against the violation of religious freedom continue from Los Angeles to South Africa, France, the Philippines, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco, and the world’s media poured out many reports. Thanks to an advertisement in the New York Times on the tragic death of Ms. Ji-in Gu, human rights activists’ voices have became louder. After hearing the unfortunate news, Ms. Jenifer (New York) began a fund-raising campaign through the GoFundMe. So the New York Times ad on 28th November can be possible. The sad news is that Ms. Jennifer, who started the fundraiser, died of cancer and the Jennifer’s family took the money to run an ad in the New York Times. Because it is her wish.
New York times Human rights Ad on 28 November, 2018 ‘Ban Coercive Conversion Program’
Despite the media’s help and criticism of human rights activists around the world, why has nothing changed in a year? Why is this happening in South Korea, the home of K-pop, which hosted the Pyeongchang Peace Olympics? Let’s find out at the next posting.
Even in Korea, the country of Kpop, where religious freedom was stipulated in the Constitution, violations of religious freedom are taking place. The reason why Ms. Ji-in Gu had to die of suffocation is ‘
The Unanswered Government and the President, the Coercive Conversion Pastors who cleverly shirk their legal responsibilities.
