Looking back on the 2014 World Alliance of Religions’ Peace Summit, Mindanao’s peace process, and peace education — from a mother’s perspective
As the day goes by, something suddenly comes to mind.
When I talk to my child about peace, I sometimes find myself reflecting on whether I am truly living by those words.
The article I read this time covered the 2014 World Alliance of Religions’ Peace Summit and the peace activities that followed.
Looking at it again after some time, it felt a bit more concrete.
The article emphasized that the event, held at the Olympic Main Stadium in Jamsil, Seoul, was attended by former and current heads of state from 170 countries, along with leaders from religious, women’s, and youth groups.
The article went on to explain that they had come together with the shared goal of leaving a world without war for future generations.
As I was reading, I paused briefly at the section about Mindanao in the Philippines.
It explained that this became a decisive turning point, leading to the 2014 peace agreement that ended 40 years of bloody conflict.
It also highlighted that, in this process, local stakeholders took part directly and shared firsthand accounts of the changes.
Although it was only a brief summary, thinking about the time and circumstances behind it made it hard to just move on.
This was not something that ended in a single moment.
The article explained that through 32 peace tours, proposals were made to establish international law to end war and to promote harmony among religions.
As a result, the “Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)” was proclaimed in 2016, and it continues to be presented to the international community to this day.
Another part that stood out to me was about religion.
It explained that efforts such as comparative scripture discussions and interfaith coalition activities have been ongoing to reduce conflicts between religions.
It’s an effort for people with different beliefs to find common ground through dialogue, and it made me realize how difficult that process must be.
The article mentioned that various efforts are ongoing to institutionalize peace education through agreements with educational institutions in different countries.
It also introduced examples showing that children have begun to change, reducing violence and conflict in their daily lives.
As I was reading, I suddenly thought of my family—the way we speak to each other, how we treat one another, and how small moments come together to shape the values a child grows up with.
The phrase “peace education” in the article felt somewhat closer and more relatable to me.
At the same time, there were also parts that I found myself looking at with some distance.
Topics like international conferences, declarations, and participation from various countries made me realize that the bigger the scale, the more diverse the perspectives can be.
That made me even more curious about whether this trend will continue and how much it will actually lead to real change.
Still, one thing remained clear:
As the article repeatedly emphasized, efforts are not stopping at simply talking about peace, but are continuing to put it into action.
Looking back on a day spent with my child, peace does not feel as distant as it might seem.
Reaching out first, listening closely to each other, and making small compromises—these little actions seem to build up and create peace in everyday life.
After reading the article, my thoughts became a little clearer.
What once seemed like a distant story turned out to be connected to our own lives as well.
So today, I’m going to try speaking to my child a little more slowly and gently.
I believe that if days like this keep adding up, they may one day grow into a small but meaningful kind of peace.
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