Paris, France—The French chapters of UPF and the Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) inaugurated a new education center.
Conceived as a place dedicated to international and intercultural exchange, the center, called Espace Barrault, will allow UPF and WFWP, an affiliated organization, to organize forums, debates, and cultural programs with Ambassadors for Peace and guests on an ongoing basis.
The gathering on July 12, 2016, brought together about 50 participants, including longtime Ambassadors for Peace such as Monsignor Jacques Gaillot, the bishop of Partenia; Patricia Lalonde, head of the women’s rights NGO known as MEWA; Mohamed Larbi Haouat, head of ASILEC, a UNESCO-affiliated NGO; Mr. Chamsamone Voravong, president of the FORIM organization; Venerable Michel Thao Chan, president of Cercle des Nations, and others
UPF-France Vice President Patrick Jouan warmly welcomed the guests to the newly renovated conference room. He introduced UPF-France President Jacques Marion, who gave an overview of UPF activities and perspectives for 2016 and the coming three years.
One of his main topics was the UPF Parliamentarians for Peace initiative, which was inaugurated in Seoul in February 2016 at the Republic of Korea National Assembly. The launch of this initiative for Europe, the Middle East and Eurasia will take place at a conference in London from September 7 to 9. Mr. Marion also thanked Ambassadors for Peace for proposing candidates for the annual million-dollar Sunhak Peace Prize to be awarded next February at the World Summit 2017 in Korea.
Brigitte Wada, president of WFWP-France, then gave a brief review of her organization’s activities, from international conferences in the Middle East to educational programs for women and “Bridge of Peace” ceremonies promoting reconciliation among women of different nationalities, religions and races. She reported about European WFWP youth representatives attending the UN Department of Public Information annual summit, held in June in Korea, and the recent conference at the European Parliament in Brussels on “The Role of Women and Mothers in the Prevention of Youth Radicalization.”
The evening concluded with friendly talks around a standing buffet, and great expectations for a new level of UPF and WFWP activities in France.