4th August, 2022 at 43 Lancaster Gate, London, W2 3NA, United Kingdom

You are welcome to join us for this European Universal Peace Federation Conference promoting a global culture of peace and the reunification of the Korean peninsula. 

10:30 (11:30 CET) Session III: Exploring the Strategy of the Seoul Declaration for Peace and Reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia

The Seoul Resolution (link) was signed by participants at the World Summit 2022 for Peace on the Korean Peninsula , co-chaired by former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen. It promotes a multi-sectoral approach that embraces ‘current and former Heads of State, parliamentarians, high-level representatives, religious leaders, academicians, business and media leaders, women leaders, and artists’, bringing a wide range of wisdom and experience to the search for peace, as well as figures from across the political spectrum and the geopolitical divide. Supporting a “Two States Toward One Nation: One Peninsula, One People, One Culture” initiative, it promotes people-to-people ties and cultural assets and heritage to serve as a bridge of trust connecting the two Koreas. This session will explore the strategy of the Seoul Resolution and its application on the Korean Peninsula and in the wider region.

Moderator: Mr. Humphrey Hawksley Author, Broadcaster, Former BBC World Correspondent 

Speakers: Mr. Keith Best, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, UPF UK; former Member of Parliament 

Mr. Keith Bennett, Deputy Chairman, The Kim Il Sung Kim Jong Il Foundation 

12:00 (13:00 CET) Lunch Will be Provided for Those Attending

13:30 pm (14:30 CET) Session IV: Conflict Resolution and the Role of Faith-Based Organizations and NGOs: Creating an Interreligious Council at the United Nations 

Since its founding in 1945, the United Nations has been an inestimable force for peace in the world. However, despite its many achievements, it remains far from being fully effective. In 2000, UPF's Founders have proposed the establishment of an “Inter-religious Assembly” at the core of the UN. Harnessing the wisdom and capacity of the World's Religions for holistic thought and action, this would enhance the focus on higher-level values within the U.N. and raise its effectiveness in fulfilling its mandate to create lasting world peace. The session will bring together faith leaders and experts on the U.N. and in international affairs to examine the proposal for such an assembly and its potential to avert and resolve conflicts more effectively.

Moderator: Heiner Handschin, Director UPF Office for UN Relations

Ján Figeľ : Former European Commission Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion (tbc)

Amb. Makarim Wibisono, Former Perm. Rep. of Indonesia to the UN in Geneva, New York, Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (tbc)

Cllr. Canon Ann Easter: Commissioner For Interfaith Dialogue, London Borough of Newham and Former Chaplain to the Queen (tbc)

Dr. Lakshmi Vyas: President of the Hindu Forum of Europe

15:00 pm (16:00 CET) Break 

15:30 pm (16:30 CET) Session V: Conflicting Narratives and Values - Perspectives for a Common Vision and Culture of Peace

Despite its many challenges, epitomized by Brexit, the European Union is the most progressive framework of regional security, peace and prosperity to date, and countries are still lining up to join. Yet, its expansion has caused a final explosion between Russia and Ukraine, sending the entire region into a quagmire worse than any crisis during the Cold War period. Analysts focus on the conflicting geopolitical and security interests driving this political, economic and military power struggle, speaking of a new Cold War. This panel will explore the conflict from a different angle: What are the ideological underpinnings of this new East - West conflict? Even within the EU, there are tensions and different perspectives between liberal democracies in the West and some former Eastern Bloc countries. Two trends can be observed in Europe: promoting individual rights to overcome discrimination vs. maintaining traditional values and defending national sovereignty. Can these trends be harmonized? What cultural assets and heritage could serve as a bridge to overcome the gaps, thus leading to a peaceful resolution of the conflict and presenting a model for a culture of peace?"

MC: Ms. Chantal Chetelat Komagata Coordinator, UPF Central Europe

Dr. Willy Fautre: CEO and Director of Human Rights Without Frontiers by Zoom (TBC)

Caecilia van Peski: Netherlands (TBC)

Paul Gutteridge: Former UK Director of Initiatives of Change, Honorary Fellow Edward Cadbury Centre University of Birmingham 

Hon. Nina Nováková, Member of Parliament, Czech Republic (zoom)

5:00 pm (6:00 pm CET) Closing

You are welcome to join us for this conference. Register through the button above. 

Yours sincerely,

Robin Marsh and Margaret Ali