Córdoba, Argentina—UPF-Argentina celebrated the International Day of Families1 in Córdoba city by recognizing four couples who have been married for more than 25 years. The event took place on May 29, 2016 at Foro de los Sabios, a cultural, social and educational place, located in Barrio Alta Córdoba.
The celebration opened with remarks by Mr. Miguel Werner, secretary general of UPF-Argentina, who expressed his gratitude for the event, as well as spoke about UPF-Argentina’s initiatives that promote the family. Mr. Jorge Pereyra, a representative of UPF-Argentina, Córdoba, was the emcee. Ms. Alba Luz Tangarife read UPF-Argentina’s statement on the International Day of Families, which was given to all the guests (and follows this text).
Among the couples that were honored were Marcelo Piotto and Silvia Roca (31 years of marriage); Héctor Horacio Lucero and Mirta Clelia Celiz (43 years); Raúl Monge and Inés María Quilez (46 years); and Horacio Juan Fernández and Irma Droz (50 years), who were unable to attend the event. Rafael Cuello and Marcela Palomeque, who celebrate 25 years of marriage this year, received the recognition on their behalf. The couples shared memorable experiences and their reflections on married life, all of which affirmed that it is in the family where love in all spheres develops.
Mr. Ismael Loyola, director of Foro de los Sabios, gave a speech in which he said that values are the foundation of Foro de los Sabios, which is not easy to see in current times, and that there are still some organizations that uplift the flame of love. Mr. Rubén Varga, director of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) in Córdoba, talked about peace building within the family and the different types of bonds that arise in the family: fraternal, filial, conjugal, and paternal/maternal. He also said that people have the chance to change, build families, and raise children and grandchildren. Building a family requires conviction and commitment, and overcoming differences. He concluded by saying that we could talk about many things, but “we are here to spread love,” and shared a personal reflection: “Before, I wanted to change the world, but now I want to change myself.”
At the end of the event, members of the Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles (CARP), who helped support the event, sang “Sueños” and “Un hogar para todos.” All the honored couples then cut a cake and afterwards everyone enjoyed snacks.
(1) The theme of this year’s International Day of Families is “Families, Healthy Lives and Sustainable Future,” which focuses on the third goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): to “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.”
Statement For the International Day of Families
The Universal Peace Federation (UPF) honors the UN Resolution celebrating the International Day of Families2 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 many 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 laws 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 2016 marking the twenty-second anniversary of the International Year of the Family.
(2) In 1993, the UN General Assembly designated May 15 as the International Day of Families (Resolution 47/237, September 20th). 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.”