Representatives from 30 Nations Affirm Shared Values in Seoul Declaration
Leaders from government, business, academia, the volunteer sector and the faith community affirmed the need for close collaboration in addressing problems of conflict and underdevelopment at the 2011 Global Peace Convention (GPC), convened in Seoul, Korea on November 28-30, 2011. The Global Peace Foundation, founded by Hyun Jin Moon, hosted the 2011 GPC.
The Convention concluded with the formal signing of the Seoul Declaration by the assembled delegates.
The Declaration emphasized that collective action among all sectors of society was a precondition for sustainable peace and development on the Korean peninsula, in East Asia and throughout the world. The Declaration stated that remarkable advances in nations across Asia have “created an opportunity and expectation that those nations and peoples will exercise greater leadership in conflict resolution and peace building,” and that the universal aspiration for freedom, peace, prosperity, and happiness are a proper guide for the healthy development of families, communities, institutions and governments.
Ten resolutions, based on the ideal of “One Family under God,” urged governments and civil society organizations to foster social cohesion through character education, sports and cultural exchange programs for youth; arts and environmental initiatives; and other creative means of citizen diplomacy.
The Declaration also called for cooperative efforts among international parliamentarians and global business leaders to build peace in Northeast Asia and on the Korean Peninsula, an initiative begun at the Global Peace Leadership Conference in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in September 2011.
The joint statement promoted the establishment of a research institute to provide academic support for effective partnership among government, the business sector, nongovernmental organizations and academia to achieve measurable results in improving living conditions in underdeveloped regions of the world.