World Interfaith Harmony Week 2013
For a PowerPoint overview of UPF observances, click here.
- Written by: UPF - Brazil
Sao Paulo, Brazil - The Sao Paulo Municipal Chamber passed legislation on March 13, 2014, declaring World Interfaith Harmony Week, the first week of February, to be an annual observance. UPF-Brazil has organized UN World Interfaith Harmony Week events at the Sao Paulo City Hall in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
- Written by: Royal Aal Al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought, Jordan
Amman, Jordan - The Royal Aal Al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought in Jordan announced on March 18 their selection of the three most notable World Interfaith Harmony Week programs. The prizewinning events took place in Nigeria, the Philippines, and Malaysia.
- Written by: UPF - Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - UPF-Malaysia organized an observance of World Intefaith Harmony Week at the Peace Embassy in Kuala Lumpur on March 2.
- Written by: Genie Kagawa, UPF Office of UN Relations
United Nations, New York - A celebration of World Interfaith Harmony Week took place at the UN General Assembly on Feb. 14, 2013. The theme was "United for a Culture of Peace through Interfaith Harmony."
- Written by: UPF - Slovakia
Bratislava, Slovakia - Despite the bad weather conditions, there came more people than expected to the Interfaith Harmony Week event organized by UPF-Slovakia on Feb. 13, 2013 in the chapel of the Czechoslovak Hussite Church.
- Written by: UPF - Austria
Vienna, Austria - UPF-Austria organized a World Interfaith Harmony Week event at the International Center in Vienna Feb. 8, 2013, on the theme of Cooperating among Religions for a Culture of Peace.
- Written by: Dr. Robert S. Kittel, Director of Education, UPF-Asia, and photojournalist
Kathmandu, Nepal - UPF-Nepal partnered with Religions for Peace and Nepal Anuvrat Samiti (Nepal Commitment Society of the Jain tradition) to hold a UN World Interfaith Harmony Week celebration in Kathmandu on February 7. An essay competition focusing on students was held with the theme, "Celebrating Interfaith Harmony for Love and Service to One Another." The venue was a local government school.
- Written by: UPF International
UN World Interfaith Harmony Week was observed in 16 nations in 2013 with interfaith prayers, forums, reports, essay contests, debates, and sports tournaments.
- Written by: UPF - Brazil
Sao Paulo, Brazil - Religious leaders gathered at the City Chamber of Sao Paulo on February 7 to discuss the possibility of creating an interreligious council to help the city councillors build a culture of peace.
- Written by: UPF - Indonesia
Jakarta, Indonesia - UPF-Indonesia organized celebrations of World Interfaith Harmony Week at the SMAN 6 Government High School on February 6 and at the auditorium of the Hanura (People's Conscience) Party on February 7.
- Written by: UPF - Ukraine
Kiev, Ukraine - Ambassadors for Peace gathered in Kiev on Feb. 7, 2013 on the occasion of World Interfaith Harmony Week.
- Written by: UPF - Ecuador
Quito, Ecuador - An observance of World Interfaith Harmony Week took place with friendly religious leaders at the Peace Embassy in Quito on February 7. The participants were representatives of the Catholic Church, Episcopal Church, Evangelical Church, the Hebrew Community, Hinduism (the Vaisnava Culture Center and Brahma Kumaris), and the Ecuador Family Church.
- Written by: UPF - Thailand
Bangkok, Thailand - The Chairman of the Committee of Religions, Art and Culture of the House of Representative of Parliament of Thailand gave the keynote address at a Feb. 7, 2013 conference in Bangkok on "Interreligious Principles for Strengthening Families."
- Written by: RYS - Pakistan
Multan, Pakistan - Religious Youth Service-Pakistan observed World Interfaith Harmony Week in Multan from February 1 to 7 with interfaith ceremonies, a concert, and essay, poster, and debate competitions.
- Written by: UPF - India
New Delhi and Lucknow, India - A student debate competition on the theme of "Religion and Modernity: Complementary or Contradictory?" marked World Interfaith Harmony Week at Ram Lal Anand College of the University of Delhi in New Delhi, India, on February 7. Dr. Dinesh Sharma, Mayor of Lucknow, and Mrs. Bharati Gandhi, founder of the largest Montessori school in the world, were featured speakers at a World Interfaith Harmony Week program in Lucknow.
- Written by: UPF - Russia
Novosibirsk, Russia - A roundtable on "Promotion of intercultural understanding for creating a peaceful and inclusive society in Novosibirsk" on Feb. 7, 2013 adopted a resolution about interreligious harmony.