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UN International Day of Families 2015
International Day of Families Observed in Argentina
Written by UPF-Argentina
Friday, May 15, 2015
Buenos, Aires, Argentina—Under the theme, “Family: A Peace Foundation,” UPF-Argentina celebrated the UN International Day of Families 2015 with events in the cities of Corrientes, Buenos Aires and Mar del Plata. Couples who have been married for more than 25 years were recognized and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's message for this year’s International Day of Families was shared at the events.
Corrientes
On May 15, the International Day of Families celebration was held in the historic area of Paseo Franciscano in Corrientes city in Corrientes province, the birthplace of José de San Martín, an Argentine general who led Argentina, Peru and Chile to independence from Spanish colonial rule. Mr. Don Aldo Argentino Berdón, who served as host for the event, welcomed the guests.
Mr. Carlos Varga, director of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification in Argentina (FFWPU Argentina), spoke about “love as the highest value,” and reaffirmed the family as “society’s basic cell, divine institution and value transmitter.” He also said that “love has to be protected and nurtured within the family, in the development process of the four realms of love: brotherly, filial, conjugal, and parental realms.” After his brief message, he and Mr. Miguel Werner, secretary general of UPF-Argentina, recognized couples who have been married for more than 25 years and awarded them with certificates.
Mr. Berdón gave the couples and some guests copies of the autobiography of UPF founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon, “As a Peace-Loving Global Citizen.”
Ambassador for Peace Ms. Sonia Mariel López read UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's message for the International Day of Families 2015. Mr. Berdón then read UPF-Argentina’s statement for the International Day of Families (which follows this report).
A UPF pin was also given to Ambassadors for Peace.
Buenos Aires and Mar del Plata
In Buenos Aires, the UN International Day of Families celebration was also held on May 15. A festival took place in Colegio Bernasconi, which was organized by Parque de los Patricios’ Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce and Services. Mr. Sergio Castellón and Ms. Rosetta Conti, members of the Peace Council of UPF-Argentina, recognized Ambassador for Peace Mr. Horacio Daboul and four couples who have been married for more than 25 years who work at different civil society organizations. Ms. Alba Luz Tangarife gave UPF-Argentina’s anthology, “Sentido y Paz” (“Sense and Peace”), and other materials, as a gift to each couple.
The International Day of Families celebration was held on May 23 in Mar del Plata. Ambassadors for Peace Mr. Jorge Moisano and Ms. Mirta Zangaro served as hosts. Ms. Elsa Correa, a local representative of FFWPU Argentina read UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's message for this year’s International Day of Families and UPF-Argentina’s statement for the International Day of Families. This was a good opportunity to focus on the importance of family values as a peace foundation.
Statement for the International Day of Families
The Universal Peace Federation (UPF)-Argentina honors the UN Resolution celebrating the International Day of Families (*) and shares the following statement on this significant date:
FIRST: UPF recognizes the family as the microcosm of the global community. Once the world finally arrives to an age in which sustainable peace and harmony can be enjoyed among peoples and cultures, this coexistence will be based on that basic unit, humanity’s heritage. In other words, a functional family is essential to building a healthy society, and is a significant element for reconciliation and peace.
SECOND: Regardless of any conditions of race, ethnicity, nationality, culture, and religious belief, we are all members of a certain family. Family is universal. Even more important, family is the school of love and ethics. Through experiences in our families, we learn how to value all the other relationships in our society, which is our bigger human family, and with friends, neighbors, coworkers, colleagues, and strangers. Moreover, families can help dissolve the old resentments that fuel civil, tribal and religious conflicts.
THIRD: A faithful marriage between men and women, and a harmonious family, form the foundation for human development and social progress. It becomes essential for the growth and stability of children, character education, social relationships, and civic duties. Solid, healthy and loving families help protect society from moral decline in young people; increase in crime, drugs and corruption; as well as the spread of infections such as HIV/AIDS.
FOURTH: The family has successfully adapted to changes throughout history. It has survived revolutions and empires, and it has prevailed despite economic and social turbulence in societies. This is called adaptability; nonetheless, nowadays it is being threatened by a range of social, economic, cultural, political and ideological situations. This is the time to strengthen the family. To restore the family is a way of addressing the spread of social and civil problems that desolates this world.
FIFTH: Everlasting peace will not be settled just with the establishment of law supported by the State and with the cooperation of social organizations. All of this has to be ensured as a basic human right, promoting awareness of human solidarity as a family, as brothers and sisters that share a moral and spiritual heritage. In short, as one universal family under the same God.
For this reason, UPF-Argentina celebrates the International Day of Families, with 2015 marking the twenty-first anniversary of the International Year of the Family (which was established by the UN General Assembly in 1994 “to promote the importance of families”).
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(*) In 1993, the UN General Assembly designated May 15 as the International Day of Families (resolution 47/237, September 20). In 1989, the General Assembly proclaimed 1994 as the International Year of Families (resolution 44/82) as a way to “raise awareness, increase understanding and promote policies that improve the position and well-being of the family.”
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