In celebration of the 12th Anniversary of the Declaration of World Peace, youth-led peace events were organized across multiple cities in Bangladesh, echoing a global call for unity and harmony.
The events were part of a worldwide initiative by Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), a South Korea-based international peace NGO. Held across 94 locations in 61 countries—86 offline and 8 online—these events engaged more than 1,600 public figures and 10,000 citizens globally.
The Declaration of World Peace was originally proclaimed by HWPL Chairman Man Hee Lee on May 25, 2013, at the Peace Gate in Seoul, with 30,000 youth joining to advocate for an end to war and a future rooted in peace. The annual Peace Walk that began with that first event has become a global symbol of collective action for peace.
In Bangladesh, events were held in Chapainawabganj, Chattogram, and Mirpur-Pallabi. Youth-led initiatives such as peace campaigns and environmental activities aimed to localize the spirit of the declaration.
On May 20, the NextGen Youth Alliance organized a peace campaign in Chapainawabganj in partnership with the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG). About 30 youth attended the event, which featured a presentation on the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), followed by a city Peace Walk. The campaign served as a platform for young people to engage with the values of global peace and law-based solutions to conflict.
In Chattogram, around 60 students from Karal Girls' High School participated in an "Eco Ten Minute" environmental cleanup on May 25. Organized by HWPL and the Youth Empowerment Peace Workshop (YEPW), this brief yet impactful activity educated students on the connection between environmental responsibility and peacebuilding.
Similarly, in Mirpur-Pallabi, the Obhizatrik Foundation led a community environmental campaign as part of HWPL’s "Legislate Peace" (LP) initiative. The LP program aims to institutionalize peace through public support for the DPCW and related educational activities worldwide.
The "Eco Ten Minute" campaign, rooted in HWPL’s peace education principles and inspired by India’s Vision 2030 environmental policies, promotes practical, community-based solutions. By committing just 10 minutes to local cleanups, participants experience the value of small actions contributing to a larger peace-driven mission.
These events in Bangladesh reflected the growing role of youth in advancing sustainable peace and showed how local actions can align with global movements.
