DUBAI: Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) held the 2026 Middle East Online Peace Summit on October 30, bringing together peace leaders, experts and stakeholders to discuss regional cooperation and joint initiatives.
Held under the theme “Strengthening Regional Cooperation for Sustainable Peace Through Shared Experiences and Collective Action”, the summit provided a platform for participants to share peacebuilding experiences from the past year and explore initiatives addressing the specific challenges and needs of individual countries and communities.
The first session featured opening and congratulatory remarks, presentations on the achievements of HWPL Global 02 Branch over the past year, and discussions on peacebuilding activities in the Middle East. Participants also shared successful practices from other branches and explored how these experiences could support regional cooperation.
The summit also highlighted the 2026 International Youth Peace Conference, held in the Republic of Korea from September 17 to 19. A video presentation and reflections from participants provided insights into how international experiences could contribute to local peacebuilding efforts.
Participants further discussed social issues and peacebuilding priorities in their respective countries, identifying opportunities for joint initiatives based on local needs and their professional expertise.
Alwand Talaat Jawhar Caluri, Programme Director of the Public Aid Organization in Iraq, said peace was built through the efforts of ordinary people willing to volunteer, connect and work together.
Reflecting on young volunteers he met during his visit to South Korea, Caluri encouraged participants to join the Middle East Peace Implementation Committee’s six implementation teams and translate their experiences into practical activities within their communities.
The committee introduced six teams established during its first follow-up meeting. These focus on external event participation and networking; direct engagement with city council members and senior officials; in-person event planning and co-hosting; membership development and alliance building; government and public institution partnerships; and special initiatives and flexible support.
The teams aim to expand networks, participate in external peace events, engage officials on resolutions supporting the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), and organise joint peace activities.
Their responsibilities also include encouraging individual and organisational participation, developing partnerships with government and public institutions, and proposing initiatives that reflect participants’ availability, expertise and capabilities.
Barween Mohammed Amin, founder of ASUDA for Combating Violence Against Women in Iraq, stressed the importance of cooperation with HWPL in ways that address the specific needs of individual countries and communities.
She highlighted the role of the Middle East Peace Implementation Committee and its six teams in promoting collective action and stronger partnerships. Amin also called for peaceful coexistence to begin at the individual and family levels before extending to wider society.
The second session brought together stakeholders involved in establishing the HWPL Iraq Branch to discuss local peacebuilding priorities, potential initiatives and future cooperation, with the aim of laying the foundations for sustained activities in the country.
The summit sought to link shared experiences with practical cooperation and collective action, while encouraging cross-sectoral partnerships through the Middle East Peace Implementation Committee to advance peace initiatives across the region.
