South Asia Peace Initiative
In various nations of South Asia, UPF is promoting peace and cooperation through leadership consultations and grassroots activities. Bringing youth from diverse backgrounds together to build bridges of understanding respect and serve a local community are the focus of programs in Afghanistan, Nepal, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. In Nepal, programs focus on reconciling political divisions, addressing conflicts, and cultivating the spirit of one family under God. In India, leadership consultations promote interreligious cooperation and encourage good governance. In Bangladesh, promoting interreligious dialogue and strengthening marriage and family are ongoing programs. Scroll down for reports.
- Written by: UPF - Nepal
Kathmandu, Nepal - Celebrating the seventh anniversary of Nepal's peace process, UPF-Nepal held rallies in Kathmandu and seven other cities on November 22. In 2005, Rev. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon arrived in Kathmandu to found UPF, and the Maoist insurgents and the government's Seven Party Alliance signed a 12-point Memorandum of Understanding, beginning Nepal's peace process.
- Written by: UPF - Nepal
Kathmandu, Nepal — "Building peace is not a spectator sport," the Vice-President of Nepal explained at the opening of a two-day International Leadership Conference in Kathmandu Sept. 1, 2012.
- Written by: Dr. Robert S. Kittel, Director of Education, UPF-Asia; Photo-journalist, Segye-Ilbo
Chitwan, Nepal - A Nepalese Ambassador for Peace called a conference on Transformational Leadership and Good Governance on Feb. 18, 2012, because he believes that “through UPF’s principles of peace we can overcome the strong barriers that have divided our country."
- Written by: Dr. Robert S. Kittel, Director of Education, UPF-Asia; Photo-journalist, Segye-Ilbo
Kathmandu, Nepal –UPF-Nepal partnered with The Universal Times, a weekly Nepali-language tabloid, to hold a training on June 2 for key leaders and secretariat staff from affiliated peace organizations.
- Written by: Dr. Robert S. Kittel, Director of Education, UPF-Asia; Photo-journalist, Segye-Ilbo
Participants from seven of Nepal's political parties attended a South Asia Peace Initiative conference on “Promoting Human Security Through Transformational Leadership: Common Challenges of South Asia” in Kathmandu on April 28, 2011.
- Written by: Dr. Robert S. Kittel, Director of Education, UPF-Asia; Photo-journalist, Segye-Ilbo
Kathmandu, Nepal - In a cordial atmosphere of honest dialogue the 10th South Asia Peace Initiative (SAPI) brought together political leaders from seven parties to discuss issues of common concern focusing on human security and leadership transformation.
- Written by: Dr. Robert S. Kittel, Director of Education, UPF-Asia
Kathmandu, Nepal - UPF-Nepal hosted a conference on the fifth anniversary of the beginning of the peace process in Nepal.
- Written by: Dr. Robert S. Kittel, Director of Education, UPF-Asia
Kathmandu, Nepal - The Vice President of Nepal, Rt. Hon. Parmanand Jha, said his heart was “deeply touched” during his recent visit to Korea, where he addressed the Interfaith Assembly sponsored by the Universal Peace Federation.
- Written by: UPF - Nepal
Kathmandu, Nepal - A new book written by Dr. Robert S. Kittel entitled Two Paths to Peace was presented to the Constitutional Committee of the Constituent Assembly on April 12. The book offers valuable insights, principles, and experiences to the committee members.
- Written by: Amb. K.V. Rajan, President, Association of Indian Diplomats
Nepal is crying out for leadership with vision, governance, with sensitivity, an environment free of violence and instability. It also needs a minimum of trust between various groups who were until recently fighting each other—principally the Army and the Maoists—but who now simply have to work together in order to create a new Nepal. The UPF must lead international efforts to create that kind of conducive environment through new peace initiatives. The road map must naturally be a combination of idealism and realism.
- Written by: Robert Kittel, UPI Correspondent and Amb. K.V. Rajan, Chairman, UPF Regional Peace Council-Asia
Kathmandu, Nepal - The president of Nepal cut the ribbon to inaugurate the “International Conference for Solidarity with Nepal” organized by UPF and the Parliamentarians’ International Forum in Kathmandu July 17-19, 2009.
- Written by: Gokul Thapa, UPF-Nepal, interviewed by Robert S. Kittel
The Mt. Everest expedition was for a noble cause: to support the government, to unite all the political parties and all the religions around the mission of writing a new constitution for our nation, and to help bring peace to all nations. This was a very challenging time for the climbers; we literally risked our lives.