Focus groups were held based on IPYG’s three main focuses: Cultural diversity, mental health and climate change, held at the Fale O Samoa in South Auckland
International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) is a volunteer-based NGO working in 111 countries including New Zealand dedicated to the implementation of peace and cessation of war. IPYG is an affiliate of Heavenly Culture World Peace and Restoration of Light (HWPL) that was founded on May 25th, 2013 in South Korea. IPYG aims to empower and unite young people of different backgrounds, beliefs, cultures, and religions through giving them a voice to advocate for peace, while actively working to protect themselves from the horrors of war.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the Shincheonji Church, a new religious movement in Korea, were blamed for a mass outbreak, which eventually led to Man-hee Lee, the leader of the Shincheonji Church and founder of the international peace organization HWPL to be put on trial and even imprisoned.
When the outbreak began, the church cooperated with health officials to the best of their ability by quickly closing all church locations and banning meetings among the members, as well as encouraging those with suspected symptoms to actively participate in tests. Nonetheless, the Korean government, civic officials, and powerful conservative Christian groups continue to target the group and blame them for the outbreak.
Last July, 7 months after the initial outbreak of COVID-19, a report from the head of the Korean Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) proved that the root of the outbreak in Korea originated from China, confirming that the Shincheonji Church is a victim of the virus, not the cause.
Regardless of these claims, the Korean government has effectively shut down the Shincheonji Church and its related organisations for nearly six months. Furthermore, 89-year-old Chairman Lee, and other key church figures have been arrested and detained on charges of the obstruction of the quarantine law.
Contrary to the charges levelled by the prosecution, a church official said, “The sudden order to submit the list of all church members was delayed by one day to the authorities, because the church was worried about the potential consequences if the personal information was leaked. The chairman did not intend to cover up the list but rather conveyed his intention to actively cooperate with the quarantine authorities”.
IPYG and other cultural groups gather for their annual 525 Peace Walk under the theme of “We are One”, held in Howick
The government’s discriminatory actions against the Church Group have drawn criticism from the USCIRF and NGOs around the world through the letters sent to the Korean government and news reports.
Due to IPYG’s parent organization, HWPL, sharing the same chairman as the Shincheonji Church, the Korean Government has revoked the NGO status of both HWPL and IPYG. They have also sought to have HWPL’s special consultative status with UN ECOSOC revoked, claiming that it is an organization with an evangelical purpose.
In New Zealand, the main focuses of IPYG include mental health, cultural diversity, and climate change, which are focal areas for youth today. Last year, IPYG held workshops with content creators and journalists exploring how media affects mental health. They also collaborated with local MP Michael Wood and various youth-led climate action groups to put on an event that would educate the community on climate change. IPYG also held an annual peace walk event with the theme of ‘We Are One’ where many groups from different cultures and religions participated and raised their voices for peace. Additionally, they volunteered in their local communities and ran several campaigns on social media. Furthermore, IPYG has been working with HWPL to promote the implementation of the DPCW Peace International Law and have provided lectures and textbooks on peace education by signing MOUs with a number of educational institutions around the world.
New Zealand members of IPYG are calling on the Korean Government to end these unjust and discriminatory actions against the Church of Shincheonji and the peace organizations of HWPL and IPYG in order to restore values of justice and human rights.
IPYG are also asking for support from New Zealand politicians, civic leaders, and fellow NGOs. A New Zealand IPYG volunteer shared, “As an IPYG volunteer I’ve seen first hand the positive impact IPYG has on communities. It would be a tragedy to see it all halted because of something beyond our control.”
– from the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) New Zealand Branch
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