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Peace Summit 2023: Session VII-C: Focus on Parliamentarians
Written by Cindy Pfeiffer, North America Regional Coordinator, IAFLP
Thursday, May 4, 2023
20230504 - Peace Summit 2023 - International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace Session from UPF Europe and Middle East on Vimeo.
Seoul, South Korea—Session VIIC, the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP) session, of UPF’s Peace Summit 2023 was held on May 4, 2023 at the Lotte Hotel World in Seoul, Korea. Current and former parliamentarians from 10 countries, including Bolivia, Germany, India, and the U.S.; Swaziland’s speaker of parliament; a former Taiwanese vice president; a government minister; and a faith leader were among the speakers at the event.
Dr. Michael Jenkins, president of UPF International and international coordinator of the IAPP, served as the moderator. He highlighted that there are approximately 7,300 parliamentarians in the IAPP and that the members of congress of many nations have the power to make change.
Hon. Dan Burton, member of the U.S. Congress (1983-2013) and international co-chair of the IAPP, brought to the audience’s attention the importance of the IAPP, with its network comprised of legislators and parliamentarians representing countries all over the world who are given the ability to address their countries’ problems.
Hon. Annette Lu, vice president of Taiwan (2000-2008), spoke of how a peace movement has been launched to protect Taiwan and encouraged collaboration between Korea, Japan and the U.S. so that a democratic Asian union would be in place. She added that throughout history nearly all wars were started by men.
Pastor Paula White-Cain, senior pastor of the City of Destiny Church, USA, remarked that as parliamentarians are elected by the people, they have great importance. She went on to point out that the life of UPF co-founders Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon has been one of loving their enemies. Pastor White also spoke about overcoming evil with good. The power of good is stronger that evil and the only source of that good is God. Human beings’ basic rights do not come from government but from God. She elaborated that the Trump administration saw that the way to true success was to establish prayer and appoint spiritual leaders in all areas: in funding programs, faith-based organizations and all organizations. In total, 10,000 faith leaders were appointed to work side by side in all projects.
Hon. Betty Beatriz Yaniquez Lozano, assemblywoman, Bolivia, said legislators are the representatives of the people who have been chosen to do their best to bring peace. They have to work for peace and democracy and for human rights worldwide.
Hon. Petros Vusi Mavimbela, speaker of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Eswatini, explained that the UPF platform is a gateway, offering leverage for families in nation-building and for economic benefit. Peace is a state of tranquility where there is no war. UPF promotes collaboration in all sectors, from civil society to media, even through arbitration.
Hon. Charan Jeath Singh, minister of multi-ethnic affairs and sugar industry of Fiji, said that there have been coups in Fiji and underscored that peace starts at home. He further said that after the coups, the government promoted a multicultural society, overcoming racial discrimination, and cooperation in the areas of climate change, risk and regional security.
Hon. Dr. Malte Kaufmann, member of the parliament of Germany (Bundestag), said that coming from Germany, a country that was once divided, it is heartbreaking to see Korea still divided. What happened in Germany after 40 years—reunification—could also happen in Korea. He continued, saying that we must know that peace “with God” is the way of peace. Laws, rights and responsibilities should be made to reflect the image of God and that a renewal of ethics and morals is necessary, as decadent philosophies lead to more destruction than climate change. Governments should protect the institutions of marriage and family and fight evil in our society, being guided by the Prince of Peace.
Hon. Ajay Dutt, member of the Legislative Assembly of Delhi, India, highlighted that India has a population of 1.4 billion. It is a peaceful land and there are great people who sacrificed their lives for Indian freedom, peace and human rights. The model was created to sacrifice your life for others, and we are responsible for creating the peace-building processes in our countries. For example, Hon. Dutt’s party wants rights such as free education and free transportation for women, as society has paid taxes and it should come back to them. We need mutual trust, openness and freedom, and our greatest responsibility is to solve conflicts peacefully and through dialogue. The IAPP has 7,200 parliamentarians in its network and if we move in one direction, the world can as well.
Hon. Maimouma Yombouno, first vice-president of the National Assembly of Guinea, said that the key factors for peace are parliamentarians, media and civil society. “I’ve worked in all these fields before working in government. We represent all people and control even the actions of the government, as people come to us to represent them. The President even consults with us. The media and the press can shake all other powers, especially that of social media and Internet, so we have to involve ourselves in the peacemaking process.” Dr. Hak Jan Han Moon still fought for peace even when her husband was called to God. Hon. Yombouno proposed a resolution of the UN: women should be put on the “round tables of negotiation” and involved in the peacemaking processes.
Hon. Iroshka Lindaly Elvir Flores Nasralla, vice president of the National Congress of Honduras, spoke about equal rights for women and said that China is not suffering the consequences of their actions to the environment and various injuries to others.
Speakers at the session also included Hon. Victor Oswaldo Fuentes Solis, senator in Mexico; Hon. Hamidou Traore, sixth vice president of the National Assembly of Mali; Hon. Francis Mbelande Sade, premier of Guadalcanal Province, Solomon Islands; and Hon. Lawrence Songa Biyika, member of the Parliament of Uganda.
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