Civil Society Unites to Make Frankfurt a City of Peace

 

 

On March 25, HWPL Frankfurt invited various people to the event ‘Peace City Night.’ Frankfurt is the fifth largest city in Germany, and is an international city in Europe with citizens from about 180 countries. The city embraces the value of diversity and inclusiveness while various cultures and religions coexist.

Based on the characteristics of the city, HWPL Frankfurt Branch has been working to create a peaceful city where cultural and religious diversity and universal human rights are respected. To this end, the branch has been continuously carrying out parent education, peace camps, religious youth peace programs, youth leadership education, and volunteer activities for the local community.

 

 

The purpose of the event was for citizens to discuss and interact with each other to make Frankfurt a more peaceful city. Participants had the opportunity to actively exchange opinions in a pleasant atmosphere and share various perspectives on realizing peace. The discussion was divided into five topics: family peace, religion and diversity, youth issues, and peace cities and innovation. Participants freely joined the tables based on their topics of interest and shared their opinions. At the end of the event, representatives from each table summarized the discussion and presented the result. The results will be reflected in the action plan proposal (solution paper) to be submitted to the Frankfurt city government in the future.

 

 

The event also commemorated HWPL’s 9th Anniversary of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW). The participants had the time to understand that the Peace City Project is based on DPCW Article 8, regarding freedom of religion, DPCW Article 9, regarding religion and ethnic identity and peace, and DPCW Article 10, regarding spreading a culture of peace. There was also an opportunity to participate in signing the DPCW support petition.

“I was impressed by HWPL’s Peace City project and the message that We Are One gives, and I would like to invite HWPL as a partner for my party’s event,” said Mrs. Senayte Kesete, SPD Frankfurt Human Rights Ambassador who attended the event.

HWPL Frankfurt Branch will continue to work to ensure that the Peace City Project does not end with mere institutionalization, but rather that the values ​​of articles 8, 9, and 10 of the DPCW are practically implemented within local communities through cooperation with civil society and the government.