IPYG Hosts Human Rights Day Peace March in Pietermaritzburg
University Students walk together for peace
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa In commemoration and raising awareness for the 21st of March Human Rights Day in South Africa, International Peace
Youth Group (IPYG) hosted a peace march at Freedom Square, Pietermaritzburg. More than 150 youth from different local
organizations and community members participated dressed in South African colors.
The event was opened by the speech of youth leaders such as Mr. Victus Mthembu representing the KwaZulu-Natal Christian
Council (KZNCC), Mr. Sphelele Nguse, President of Student Representative Council, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN),
Mr. Sfiso Vilakazi from Peace Maritzburg and Mr. Hans Foalher from IPYG.
After the speech, the youth with faces full of hope started their peace march. During the march, the youth shouted in
one voice “We want Peace!” with an urgent message to deal with the society's most controversial issues xenophobia,
racism and human rights.
One of the participants Mr. Freedom Duba said, “Pietermaritzburg should become a peace hub where human rights are
practiced. Everyone here should share the same right to equality life, liberty, personal security, asylum in other
countries and freedom from discrimination and persecution,” and continued, “The youth of today share the responsibility
and desire to be united. We will work together to leave a peaceful world as a legacy for the future generation.”
After the march, three guest speakers signed IPYG Membership Forms to collaborate with IPYG. Other participating
organizations also showed their willingness to hold similar events together with IPYG in Pietermaritzburg.
As one of the two wings of Heavenly Culture World Peace Restoration of Light (HWPL, Chairman Man Hee Lee), IPYG’s aim is
to combine people from different walks of life in an attempt to create unity and tolerance amongst all people within our
diverse community. Recently, IPYG has hosted a xenophobia awareness campaign with four Pietermaritzburg schools where
they portrayed their views on Xenophobia.
Meanwhile, HWPL held the Proclamation Ceremony of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War on March 14, 2016 where
over 1,000 internationally-renowned figures including chief justices, judges, minister of justice, legal
representatives, and media attended. HWPL has worked together with representatives of diverse legal and cultural
backgrounds to create the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War which signifies that peace is possible yet urgent.
The declaration will continue to develop as the most widely accepted and cited document to ensure international security
and worldwide enjoyment of peace.
ENDS