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International Leadership Conference
African Leaders Visit Hawaiian Coffee Farms
December 10, 2017
Kona, United States—In December, UPF convened a special International Leadership Conference (ILC) for African leaders dedicated to the theme “Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development: The Responsibility of Business Leaders,” in Kona, Hawaii.
2017 Interreligious Leadership Conference—Executive Summary
November 13, 2017
Seoul, Korea—About 400 religious leaders and representatives of faith-based organizations concluded the 2017 Interreligious Leadership Conference.
UPF Leaders Convene in Albania
May 19, 2017
Tirana, Albania—European-level leaders of UPF completed a very productive tour of Albania, meeting both high-level dignitaries and grass-roots supporters.
UPF-USA Hosts International Leadership Conference
December 1, 2016
Washington, D.C., United States—More than 200 leaders from 54 nations attended an International Leadership Conference (ILC) which featured the launch of a parliamentarians’ peacebuilding association known as the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP).
Argentine Parliamentarians Share Experiences from Paraguay ILC
November 17, 2016
Buenos Aires, Argentina—Argentine parliamentarians and professionals from different sectors shared their experiences participating in the International Leadership Conference (ILC) in Paraguay at a UPF meeting in Buenos Aires.
UPF-Japan Holds Forum on Refugees, Terrorism, and Nationalism
November 11, 2016
Tokyo, Japan—UPF-Japan held its 28th Peace Diplomats Forum on “Refugees, Terrorism, and Nationalism in Europe and the Future Prospects.”
Parliamentarians for Peace Launched in Cambodia
November 3, 2016
Phnom Penh, Cambodia—Cambodia’s chapter of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace was launched at the Cambodia Leadership Conference, held at the Royal School of Administration.
Parliamentarians for Peace Launched in London
September 9, 2016
London, United Kingdom—The third of a series of regional conferences launching the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP) was held from September 7 to 9, 2016.
International Leadership Conference Held in Korea
February 16, 2016
Seoul, Korea—A special International Leadership Conference was convened to discuss the theme “Addressing the Critical Challenges of Our Time”. More than 340 international delegates, including more than 140 current parliamentarians, attended the conference.
Reflections from the International Leadership Conference
February 16, 2016
Seoul, Korea—A selection of reflections from the International Leadership Conference held on Feb. 12 to 16, 2016, in Seoul, Korea, with the theme “Addressing the Critical Challenges of Our Time: The Role of Governments, Civil Society and Faith-Based Organizations.”
Press Release - International Leadership Conference Opening
February 16, 2016
More than 600 delegates from over 60 nations—including over 140 current members of parliament and six cabinet ministers—gathered in Seoul, Korea, from February 12 to 16, 2016, for the International Leadership Conference (ILC) titled “Addressing the Critical Challenges of Our Time: The Role of Governments, Civil Society and Faith-Based Organizations.”
Press Release - Call for a Fifth UN Office in Korea at the National Assembly
February 15, 2016
Against a background of strained ties and escalating tension between North and South Korea, parliamentarians from around the world who were in Seoul to attend an International Leadership Conference (ILC) joined approximately 20 Korean lawmakers at the National Assembly to call for the United Nations to establish a fifth office on the Korean Peninsula to ease tension on the peninsula and reduce fears in Northeast Asia.
UPF-Japan: Promoting Marriage and Family Values
September 29, 2015
Tokyo, Japan—UPF continued its focus on addressing the declining birth rate in Japan through its most recent International Leadership Conference.
Tokyo, Japan—UPF-Japan and its Council of Ambassadors for Peace continued their focus on addressing the declining birth rate in Japan through their most recent International Leadership Conference, “Crisis in Families and Visions for their Revitalization-Emergency of Japan's Dwindling Childbirth and Possible Countermeasures,” which was held in Tokyo on September 29, 2015.
The keynote speaker of the half-day event was Ms. Cheryl Wetzstein, a veteran journalist with the American newspaper, The Washington Times. She has covered news on family and society, including the U.S. Supreme Court’s legalization of same-sex marriage in June.
She said a cultural war over same-sex marriage is intensifying in America, and cited several examples of it. A local U.S. official was imprisoned because she had refused to issue marriage licenses on the grounds of her religious faith, and a baker was sued when he had refused to make a wedding cake for a homosexual couple.
Speaking on the Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage, Ms. Wetzstein said the judges who opposed the ruling said the ruling was based on “a wrong concept of freedom” and if “same-sex marriage was legalized, it would be hard to deny legalizing polygamy.”
She said the legitimacy of same-sex marriage would be evaluated by the adult children raised by homosexual couples. Already some children have spoken out on homosexual parenthood, saying that they did not have a sound childhood or lost their right to have a mother and a father.
Representing the organizers, Mr. Hiroo Suzuki, professor emeritus of the Tsukuba University and president of the Council of Ambassadors for Peace, said that he was happy "[this] meeting [of] Ambassadors for Peace who share a similar sense of mission and are engaged [in advancing] peace” took place.
Mr. Seiichi Kikuya, secretary general of UPF-Japan, spoke on the event theme. He warned that if same-sex marriage was legalized in Japan, it would erode Japan’s marriage system and accelerate the population decline in the country.
A lively panel discussion followed, where representatives of civil society, including a member of one of Tokyo’s wards and an intermediate school teacher, exchanged views on the theme’s topic.
The event closed with UPF-Japan president, Dr. Eiji Tokuno, pointing out that Japan's numerous social problems stem from a breakdown of the family. He said over half of all homicide cases in Japan are committed by relatives of the victims, and encouraged the participants to promote the national campaign for marriage and family values.
Ambassadors for Peace Hear UPF Peace Principles
April 11, 2015
Parnell, New Zealand—About 40 Ambassadors for Peace and guests had the chance to listen to an in-depth exposition of the UPF Peace Principles at a recent meeting.
Conference in Seoul on “Transforming the Society, Nation and World”
March 4, 2015
Seoul, Korea — Approximately 150 leaders from around the world gathered in Seoul, Korea, from February 28 to March 4, 2015, to discuss multidimensional solutions to present-day crises and global conflicts.
International Leadership Conference Schedule
March 4, 2015
Seoul, Korea - An International Leadership Conference on the theme "Beyond the Challenges of Our Time: Transforming the Society, Nation and World" brought participants from 50 nations to Korea Feb. 28 - Mar. 4, 2015.
Malaysian Parliamentarians Attend Peacebuilding Conference in Hawaii
October 2, 2014
Kona, Hawaii - Members of the Malaysian parliament and their spouses attended a conference on "Building a Nation and World of Peace" in Kona, Hawaii Sept. 25-Oct. 2, 2014.
International Leadership Conference Held in Uruguay
April 23, 2014
Montevideo, Uruguay - An International Leadership Conference in Montevideo April 21-23, 2014, on the theme of “Toward a New Paradigm for Peace and Human Development in Latin America” brought together leaders from government, academia and civil society.
Seoul Conference Explores Paradigms for Peace and Human Development
February 14, 2014
Seoul, Korea - “Toward a New Paradigm for Peace and Human Development” was the theme of an International Leadership Conference that drew people from 50 nations to Seoul, Korea, Feb. 9-13, 2014.
International Leadership Conference Presentations
February 13, 2014
Seoul, Korea - An International Leadership Conference on the theme "Toward a New Paradigm for Peace and Human Development" brought participants from 50 nations to Korea Feb. 9-13, 2014.