Asunción, Paraguay—The vice president of Paraguay and dignitaries from South America attended the UPF International Leadership Conference (ILC) in Paraguay.
Among the 150 guests attending the ILC and the launching of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP) were parliamentarians, former presidents, former first ladies and government officers from 13 countries.
The two-day conference took place from October 10 to 12, 2016 at the Bourbon Asunción Convention Hotel, under the title, “Addressing the Critical Challenges of Our Time: The Role of Governments, Civil Society and Faith-Based Organizations.”
At the opening session, welcoming remarks were given by the vice president of Paraguay, Hon. Juan Eudes Afara Maciel, and the president of the Chamber of Deputies of Paraguay (the lower house of Paraguay’s Congress), Hon. Hugo Adalberto Velázquez Moreno.
On October 11, all the participants attended a special session at the Congress of Paraguay, where the South America branch of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP) was launched. The president of the Congress, Hon. Roberto Acevedo Quevedo, welcomed the Paraguayan and international parliamentarians.
Speakers of the session included Paraguayan Senator Hon. Emilia Alfaro de Franco; Congresswoman Diaz; Mr. Kwon Jin Moon, who read the Founder’s Address on behalf of UPF co-Founder Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon; Dr. Thomas Walsh, president of UPF International; and Rev. Shin.
Among the other speakers at the ILC were former President of Paraguay (1995-2000, 1985-1990) Hon. Don Julio Maria Sanguinetti; former President of Paraguay (2012-2013, 2008-2012) Hon. Luis Federico Franco Gómez; and Deputy Hon. José Domingo Adorno Mazacotte.
National and international media, including from the United States and Korea, covered the event.
At the end of the ILC, 16 parliamentarians – from Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay – were appointed as Ambassadors for Peace, and the Congress recognized the work of Rev. and Mrs. Moon with an award, which was received by Mr. Kwon Jin Moon, Rev. and Mrs. Moon’s son.