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Seoul, September 18, 2024: His Excellency the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Culture (MESCC), Dr. José Honório, accompanied by the Director-General of Higher Education and Science, Mrs. Maria Filomena Lay Guterres, along with his delegation, participated in the event celebrating the 10th anniversary of HWPL (Heavenly Culture World Peace Restoration of Light), held in Seoul, South Korea, with participants from a total of 122 countries.
The theme of the event was “Creating World Peace Community Through Regional Collaboration,” aimed at providing an opportunity for leaders of member countries to discuss past and future strategies to promote global harmony. Additionally, another objective of the MESCC delegation, through the presence of His Excellency the Minister, was to demonstrate Timor-Leste’s commitment to promoting a culture of peace through education, aligning with HWPL’s mission to promote peace at all levels, individually.
During one of the event’s sessions, which included various activities, His Excellency the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Culture also participated as a speaker. In his speech, representing the government of Timor-Leste, he stated that, in Timor-Leste, the Ministry, along with eight higher education institutions, has partnered with HWPL to introduce peace education in the country: “I believe that peace education will play a crucial role, not merely as a simple discipline, but in helping students become global citizens in the future and building a foundation for peace and stability throughout society.”
Furthermore, His Excellency the Minister participated in the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding between HWPL and the G7+, signed by the Secretary-General of G7+, Dr. Helder da Costa, aimed at enhancing cooperation to promote peace and stability in conflict-affected regions. The focus was also on creating a collaborative framework for advocacy for peace, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), strengthening institutions through the sharing of experiences, facilitating dialogue and national reconciliation processes, and empowering communities through peace education initiatives. This strategic alliance seeks to leverage the strengths of both organizations to promote peace and sustainable development in fragile states.
The activities formally participated in by the delegation during the HWPL’s 10th Anniversary Celebration Summit included a courtesy meeting with the President of HWPL, Mr. Lee Man-Hee, to discuss the future implementation plan for promoting Peace Education in Timor-Leste.
Thus, on July 15, 2024, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Culture of Timor-Leste (MESCC) had already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with HWPL, involving several higher education institutions. The objective of this agreement is to promote peace education, empowering Timorese citizens to contribute to a peaceful environment and collaborate on initiatives that reinforce the values of citizenship and inclusion.
