UN International Day of Peace 2011
The theme chosen by the UN for 2011 was "Peace and Democracy: Make Your Voice Heard." For a PowerPoint overview of UPF observances, click here.
- Written by: UPF International
Overview of activities organized by UPF chapters in 67 nations on the International Day of Peace, Sept. 21, 2011.
- Written by: UPF - USA
UPF chapters throughout the United States celebrated the Day of Peace with a wide variety of program, many featuring representatives of different faiths speaking of shared values.
- Written by: UPF - Russia
Yekaterinburg, Russia – Several activities took place in commemoration of the International Day of Peace in Yekaterinburg.
- Written by: UPF - Burkina Faso
Nangreongo, Burkina Faso - The International Day of Peace was celebrated in Nangreongo in the central plateau on September 24 under the sponsorship of His Majesty Mogho Naaba and the Managr Naaba Sanem Peace Association.
- Written by: UPF - Colombia
Bogota, Colombia - Ambassadors for Peace carried out various activities during the month of September in observance of the International Day of Peace to promote interreligious dialogue and cooperation.
- Written by: UPF - Senegal
Casamance, Senegal - UPF-Senegal organized a commemoration of the International Day of Peace in Casamance, southern Senegal on the theme: "Let's unite in heart."
- Written by: UPF - Moldova
Chisinau, Moldova - The Universal Peace Federation-Moldova and related groups organized several public presentations, conferences, and seminars in commemoration of the International Day of Peace in order to stimulate awareness about the need for peace.
- Written by: UPF - Thailand
Students in schools throughout Thailand opened the school day on the International Day of Peace, September 21, by observing one minute of silent prayer and meditation for peace and by listening to readings of peace messages from the UN Secretary General and the Prime Minister of Thailand.
- Written by: UPF Thailand
Bangkok, Thailand - UPF-Thailand organized video clip contest on the theme "Peace is ... what is peace in your mind?" to raise awareness of the UN International Day of Peace. The contest was promoted on university campuses, the mass media, and social networking sites. Prizes were awarded at the International Day of Peace commemoration in Bangkok on September 21.
- Written by: UPF - Seychelles
Victoria, Seychelles - UPF-Seychelles commemorated the International Day of Peace on September 25 with a program at the National Theater on the theme ‘’Community Building for the Betterment of the People.’’
- Written by: UPF - Russia
Women's organizations, including the Women's Federation for World Peace, organized programs in commemoration of the International Day of Peace in Moscow, Perm, and Yekaterinburg.
- Written by: UPF - Russia
UPF-Russia collaborated with various organizations to hold conferences and forums on topics related to peace in Chelyabinsk, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, and Novosibirsk.
- Written by: UPF - Russia
UPF chapters throughout Russia organized a variety of educational and cultural events related to peace at schools in Khabarovsk, Kondopoga, Kostomuksha, Pokrovskoye, Saratov, Serov, Tyumen, and Volgograd.
- Written by: John D.S.Samura, Secretary General, UPF-Sierra Leone
Freetown, Sierra Leone - Joining the whole world on September 21, to celebrate World Peace Day, UPF-Sierra Leone embarked on an attitudinal change by cleaning at the Connaught Teaching Government Hospital.
- Written by: UPF - Australia
Melbourne, Australia - The UPF commemoration of the UN International Day of Peace was held at the headquarters of the Federations for World Peace in Victoria.
- Written by: UPF - Rwanda
Kigali, Rwanda - The International Day of Peace program at the New Hope Technical Institute on September 24 included prayers, ceremonies, traditional dances, and songs. This was the first time that the UN International Day of Peace was celebrated in the Central District of Kigali.
- Written by: Mai Hsien Chai, Secretary General, UPF-Taiwan
Taipei, Taiwan - UPF-Taiwan commemorated the International Day of Peace on September 18 with a seminar on the proposal for an interreligious council at the United Nations co-organized with the Professors World Peace Academy, ROC.
- Written by: Chihiro Midorikawa, President, UPF-Solomon Islands
Honiara, Solomon Islands - UPF-Solomon Islands organized events at two schools in Honiara commemorating the UN International Day of Peace.
- Written by: UPF - Albania
UPF-Albania and the Family Federation for World Peace commemorated the International Day of Peace by distributing school supplies to Roma orphans in Tirana on September 27 and in Shkodra on September 28. Eleven volunteers spent a month raising the funds to purchase the supplies.
- Written by: UPF - Finland
Helsinki, Finland - A seminar on “Peace and democracy - Let your voice be heard!” took place on September 21 in Helsinki featuring speakers from the Loviisa Peace Forum and the Women's Federation for World Peace.
- Written by: Rahman Ali “Jawed,” Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission-Kabul Office
Kabul, Afghanistan - UPF members met in Kabul to commemorate the International Day of Peace with a recitation from the Qur'an, speeches and a concert of Afghan music.
- Written by: UPF - Congo
Brazzaville, Republic of Congo - Over 400 people attended the celebration of the International Day of Peace in the Auditorium of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation on September 21. Participants included Ambassadors for Peace, state officials, representatives of international organizations and local NGOs, representatives of churches, students, the media, and members of the police.
- Written by: HENYON Kokou, UPF - Togo
Lome and Kara, Togo - To commemorate the International Day of Peace, UPF-Togo organized two conferences on September 21: one in Lome, the capital, attended by 350 people, and the other in the region of Kara attended by 150 people.
- Written by: Dominique Li, Women's Federation for World Peace-Mauritius
Quatre Bornes, Mauritius - The Women's Federation for World Peace organized a celebration of the International Day of Peace at the Municipal Hall of Quatre Bornes on September 18. Participants included parents, sponsored children, WFWP members and tutors, and special guests including government officials, educators, religious leaders, and NGO representatives.