UN International Day of Families 2011
The UN International Day of Families is celebrated each May at the United Nations headquarters and around the world. The Universal Peace Federation joins in commemorating this day because it considers the family as a microcosm of the global community and because sustainable peace is grounded in the family as the most intimate social unit, the school of love. The theme of the 2011 observance was "Confronting Family Poverty and Social Exclusion." For a PowerPoint overview of UPF observances, click here.
- Written by: Nancy Bulow, UPF-Washington, DC, USA
Washington, DC, USA - The UN International Day of Families was commemorated at The Washington Times’ Beech Room in the District of Columbia on June 17. Diplomats, media representatives, community activists, and NGO leaders made up the one hundred guests. The six speakers represented a wide spectrum of thinkers dedicated to supporting and strengthening families worldwide.
- Written by: kito
New York, USA - The Permanent Missions to the UN of Angola, Iraq, Nigeria, Qatar, and Tunisia, and the NGO Committee on the Family, in partnership with the Universal Peace Federation, co-sponsored a program on “Addressing Poverty by Strengthening Families” at the Office of the Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations, New York on May 16. The program was directed by Mrs. Genie Kagawa, Deputy Director of the UPF Office of UN and International Relations. [See report.]
Download: PowerPoint Report at sideshare, Program Booklet
- Written by: UPF - Rwanda
Kigali, Rwanda - UPF-Rwanda, together with other partners, joined the rest of the world in marking the UN International Day of Families with a June 5 event in Kigali on the theme "The Family, a Building Block for World Peace."
- Written by: UPF - Slovakia
Bratislava, Slovakia - On the occasion of the UN International Day of Families, the Slovak chapters of the Universal Peace Federation and the Women's Federation for World Peace organized an event in the Zichy Palace located in the old town of Bratislava.
- Written by: UPF - Colombia
Bogotá, Colombia - The International Day of Families was celebrated in Bogotá on May 22 with a presentation on the theme of "The Family as the School of Love."
- Written by: UPF - Gabon
Libreville, Gabon - The International Day of Families was observed in Libreville on May 22.
- Written by: UPF - Kazakhstan
Almaty, Kazakhstan - A celebration in support of the UN International Day of Families took place in the city of Almaty on May 22 at the Peace Embassy of the Kazakhstan Republic.
- Written by: UPF - Georgia
Tbilisi, Georgia - UPF-Georgia organized several events between May 13 and May 18 in commemoration of the International Day of Families.
- Written by: UPF - Canada
Montreal, Canada - UPF-Montreal's observance of the International Day of Families on May 18 began with a reading of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for this year that concludes with a resolution to “support families as they nurture the young, care for the old and foster strong communities built on tolerance and dignity for all.”
- Written by: UPF - Australia
Victoria, Australia - UPF-Australia hosted a family evening on June 2 at the City Hall in Victoria.
- Written by: UPF - Uruguay
Montevideo, Uruguay - Awards were presented to couples who have been married 25 years or more at a May 17 ceremony at the Radisson Montevideo Victoria Plaza Hotel.
- Written by: UPF - Italy
Bergamo and Milan, Italy - International Day of Families events are scheduled for Milan on May 15 and Bergamo on May 20 and 21.