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: UPF - Netherlands
The Hague and Amsterdam, Netherlands - UPF-Netherlands organized two commemorations of the International Day of Families in The Hague: on May 14 at the Hobbel YMCA club house and on May 15 at the Sewa Dhaam Hindu Center. An additional observance took place in Amsterdam on May 15.
- Written by: Djimadoum Fabrice, UPF-Zambia
Lusaka, Zambia - UPF-Zambia observed the UN International Day of Families on May 14 in Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia. The event took place in the hall of the Peace Embassy Building. The celebration gathered about 35 people from different fields: Ambassadors for Peace, teachers, students, clergymen, business people, couples, and members of UPF-Zambia.
- Written by: UPF - Ecuador
Quito, Ecuador - UPF-Ecuador organized a celebration of the International Day of Families on May 14.
- Written by: UPF - Austria
Vienna, Austria - UPF-Austria hosted a forum on May 14 in honor of the International Day of Families. Six speakers addressed the topic of "Confronting Family Poverty and Social Exclusion." A buffet and concert by Slovakian musicians closed the event.
- Written by: UPF - Japan
Tokyo, Japan - UPF-Japan organized a commemorative event for the International Day of Families on May 14 in Tokyo. The event was supported by the Association for the Promotion of True Families, and more than 50 participants including several international couples and families living in Japan attended.
- Written by: UPF - Armenia
Yerevan, Armenia - An International Day of Families observance on May 14 at the Prestigious Middle School (No 194) featured a speech, dances and other activities. On May 15, speakers at a Family Values Seminar discussed the connectedness between spiritual values and strong families and between religion and personal development.
- Written by: UPF - Taiwan
Taipei, Taiwan - Ambassadors for Peace came to support International Day of Families program on May 14 at the Peace Center in Taipei that featured programs of HIV/AIDS prevention and helping AIDS victims.
- Written by: UPF - Moldova
Chisinau, Moldova - The UN International Day of Families was celebrated in Chisinau under the slogan “The Traditional Family Guarantees Future Prosperity” in a variety of events from May 9 to 14. NGOs drew the attention of the community to the challenges facing the traditional family and ways to address them.
- Written by: UPF - Israel
Daliet El-Carmel, Israel - Twenty-five Ambassadors for Peace as well three former presidents of Women's Federation for World Peace-Israel and their family members gathered on May 14 at the village of Daliet El-Carmel for the annual celebration of the UN International Day of Families.
- Written by: Trevor Jones, UPF-Peru
Lima, Peru - Families in Lima celebrated the UN Day of Families on May 14 with speeches, games, and music, closing the day by sharing a meal together.
- Written by: UPF - Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland - The Chapel of the World Council of Churches in Geneva was filled to overflowing with an exciting intergenerational, international, and interreligious mix to explore the theme "A New Paradigm for Global Family in a Culture of Peace" on May 13. It was wonderful to see young people in their late teens and early twenties, some parents themselves with young children of their own, and older couples filled with maturity and wisdom accrued through parenting, grandparenting, and a lifelong practice of spiritual principles all gathered in this international place of worship to explore the importance of family for peace.
- Written by: UPF - Argentina
Buenos Aires, Argentina - A moving celebration of recognition to couples who have been married more than 25 years was held on May 12 in Buenos Aires by the Universal Peace Federation, in support of the International Day of Families. Dialogue, comprehension, communication, patience, tolerance, faith, love, and God were mentioned as fundamental values by the couples as they shared some experiences of their lives.