OUR PEACE · YOUR FUTURE
OUR PEACE · YOUR FUTURE
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Five initiatives
Each initiative addresses a lever where peace prevention can take effect, from binding international law to volunteer presence in the neighbourhood. Together they form a coherent programme for Austria.
From Vienna, active nationwide.
At a glance
Click through the areas, each initiative stands for one concrete lever of impact.
In detail
Jump directly to a specific initiative on the left, or read through all five levers top to bottom.
International peace law through the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), a concrete draft of international law with 10 articles and 38 clauses.
The Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) was drafted on 14 March 2016 by 19 international jurists in the HWPL International Law Peace Committee. The draft contains 10 articles and 38 clauses, from a prohibition of aggression and gradual disarmament to peaceful dispute settlement, freedom of religion and a culture of peace. The global "Legislate Peace" campaign gathers citizens' endorsements to move governments to support it. So far the Pan-African Parliament (55 AU states), PARLATINO (23 Latin-American and Caribbean states), and national parliaments in Paraguay, the Dominican Republic and South Sudan have passed resolutions on the DPCW.
What we do
Translating the DPCW into German, bringing it into academia and engaging members of parliament.
What matters
Binding international law instead of non-binding declarations, that is the lever.
How you can contribute
Co-sign letters, organise talks or help with translation.
On the ground
In Austria
From Vienna, host to numerous international organisations and a UN duty station, HWPL Austria works to make the DPCW known across the German-speaking world. The association mediates between civil society, academic institutions and political decision-makers and coordinates the Legislate Peace campaign in Austria.
Activities
4 FormatsPARLATINO passes DPCW resolution
PARLATINO, the parliament of 23 Latin-American and Caribbean states, formally recommended all member states to adopt the DPCW as a peace-law framework, the largest multilateral legislative step to date.
International Framework · HWPL
10 articles, 38 clauses, the legal framework draft behind our international-law work.
Interreligious dialogue in the WARP Office format: comparing sacred scripture together, not debating but discovering peace as a shared foundation.
Since the first summit in September 2014, clergy of different traditions worldwide have been meeting in the WARP Office (World Alliance of Religions' Peace Office) to systematically compare scripture on specific topics, forgiveness, life after death, justice. The goal is not conversion but identifying a shared foundation for peace. Today, 292 WARP Offices operate in 132 countries. In January 2025, the 3rd International Religious Peace Academy (IRPA) gathered 1,212 participants from 100 countries, a record. In September 2025, the new Solidarity of Religions' Peace Committee (SRPC) was founded as a formalised structure for religious cooperation.
What we do
Organising WARP sessions, moderating scripture comparisons and connecting religious actors.
What matters
Compare instead of debate, make the shared foundation for peace visible.
How you can contribute
Bring in your community, attend a session or help as a bridge person.
On the ground
In Austria
Vienna is a historic bridge between East and West and home to many religious institutions as well as the KAICIID Dialogue Centre. HWPL Austria initiates local WARP sessions, regularly hosts scripture-comparison rounds and interreligious peace prayers, and cooperates with parishes, mosques, synagogues and Buddhist communities in the Vienna region. An Austrian Religious Peace Academy is currently in preparation.
Activities
4 FormatsSolidarity of Religions' Peace Committee (SRPC) founded
10 senior religious leaders founded the SRPC as a permanent structure for institutionalised religious cooperation, around 100 participants from various world religions were present.
Peace Education for all age groups, a structured 12-lesson curriculum, from primary school to university.
HWPL Peace Education conveys values such as respect, conflict resolution and global responsibility in 12 structured lessons, adapted to every age group. Worldwide, over 1,820 certified peace educators from 66 countries teach at more than 1,012 educational institutions in 112 countries. The Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHED) set a historic milestone: by Memorandum Order, HWPL Peace Education was made mandatory at all Philippine higher-education institutions in 2019. Zambia announced a nationwide rollout to public schools in 2025.
What we're building
German-language materials for the 12 Peace Education lessons, currently in preparation.
Where it's going
Pilot workshop with Viennese teacher-training colleges and gymnasiums, then scaling within civic education.
How you can contribute
Are you an educator? Write to us, we're looking for pilot partners for 2026.
On the ground
In Austria
Peace Education in Austria is currently being built up. Together with educators we are developing first German-language teaching materials, exploring partnerships with University Colleges of Teacher Education, NMS schools and gymnasiums, and planning a pilot workshop for teachers. The goal is recognition of Peace Education as a supplementary module in civic education, first dates will follow in 2026.
Activities
4 FormatsZambia: MOU with 11 schools, nationwide rollout planned
In Lusaka, HWPL signed MOUs with 11 schools. Zambia's Ministry of Education announced a nationwide introduction of Peace Education, another national breakthrough after the Philippines.
International Peace Youth Group, a global youth network with over 1,700 partner organisations from 131 countries for a culture of peace and activism.
The International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) was founded in 2013 alongside HWPL and today connects more than 1,700 youth organisations from 131 countries under the motto "Peace in Action". Concrete programmes turn young people into peace-makers: the annual Peace Walk on 25 May, the Peace Letter Campaign (over 1 million hand-written letters to heads of state from 176 countries) and the Youth Empowerment Peace Class (YEPC) with participants from 57 countries.
What we're building
An Austrian IPYG crew built around empowerment trainings, cleanups and Peace Walks.
Where it's going
A training and mentoring format that equips young people to lead their own peace projects.
How you can contribute
Are you 16–35, or young at heart? Join the first generation and help shape the focus.
On the ground
In Austria
IPYG Austria is being built up. We are setting up the youth structure, gathering first contributors from Vienna and beyond, and are currently planning our Youth Leader Empowerment Program, a training and mentoring format that equips young people to lead their own peace projects. In parallel we focus on peer-to-peer workshops and shared cleanups. Anyone who wants to shape it is invited to become part of the first generation.
Activities
2 Formats500+ youth actions worldwide in one year
In 2025, IPYG groups in over 130 countries organised more than 500 peace events, from peace walks to letter campaigns to heads of state.
Local volunteer work in Vienna, cleanups, community events and a culture of peace in everyday life.
HWPL International (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light) was founded in Seoul on 25 May 2013 and is active in over 170 countries today; it holds UN ECOSOC Special Consultative Status and is associated with the UN Department of Global Communications (DGC). Peace work starts in your own neighbourhood: HWPL Austria organises volunteer activities that combine low-threshold engagement with a culture of peace, open to everyone, regardless of religion, background or prior experience.
What we do
Cleanups, peace cafés and informal gatherings in Vienna, low-threshold, regular, open to all.
What matters
Peace is also practice in the neighbourhood, not a lecture, but rolling up your sleeves.
How you can contribute
Bring in your skills (language, social media, logistics), we'll find the right role.
On the ground
In Austria
In the Vienna region, HWPL cooperates with district initiatives, MA48 and local associations. Volunteers contribute what they can, as translators, at events, in the social-media team or in event organisation. The network is growing steadily, currently more than 30 volunteers are active.
Activities
4 Formats11th HWPL World Peace Summit, 800+ leaders
At the summit in Cheongju (September 2025), more than 800 heads of state, parliamentary speakers and sector leaders from 170 countries gathered, the largest HWPL summit to date.
Upcoming dates
Current events, workshops and actions by HWPL Austria, open to members and everyone interested.
Featured · Next event
Join us for a WARP Office Meeting, where leaders and representatives of different faiths come together to read their scriptures side by side and seek the shared truth beneath them. Guided by the HWPL Peace Education curriculum, our current theme "Broken Peace: The Origin of Conflict and War" invites reflection on two questions: whether humanity is currently in a state of harmony according to your scriptures, and what your scripture names as the root cause behind the greed and selfishness that have destroyed peace. We gather not to debate or change one another's beliefs, but to understand each other more deeply and discover how, across our differences, we can build peace together. If you are a religious leader who would like to take part, please contact us to join the conversation.
Peace Education for all age groups, a structured 12-lesson curriculum, from primary school to university.
