UN International Day of Peace
Each year on September 21, the UN invites all nations and people to honor a cessation of hostilities and commemorate the International Day of Peace through education and public awareness on issues related to peace. In the quest for peace, UPF and its Ambassadors for Peace around the world organize commemorations of the International Day of Peace each year.
- Written by: Rahman Ali Jawed, UPF-Afghanistan
Kabul, Afghanistan - UPF-Afghanistan celebrated the International Day of Peace in Kabul on September 21 with more than 160 people from different categories of the society attended. This fabulous event was held at the Gharjistan Institute of Higher Education. The program consisted of speeches, messages, cultural presentations, and refreshments.
- Written by: UPF International
Inspired by the theme "Sustainable Peace for a Sustainable Future" of the UN International Day of Peace, Sept. 21, 2012, UPF chapters in 33 nations organized programs ranging from academic forums to interreligious ceremonies to poetry contests.
- Written by: UPF - Czech Republic
Prague, Czech Republic - To commemorate the UN International Day of Peace, a UPF conference under the title "Sustainable Peace for the Future" was held in Prague on September 21. The conference was convened in the European House. The 25 participants represented the fields of academia, local and European politics, and NGOs.
- Written by: Office of Embassy Relations, Washington, DC, USA
Washington, DC, USA - Eighty-five guests from the diplomatic, NGO, and business communities filled The Washington Times' Beech Room to overflowing for an October 18 observance of the UN International Day of Peace. While words of peace offered by historical figures were shown on the screen, people engaged in conversation over lunch.
- Written by: UPF - India
New Delhi, India - To mark the UN International Day of Peace 2012 and the UN Sport for Development and Peace program, UPF-India joined hands with the United Nations Information Centre for India and Bhutan and St. Stephens College to organize an Intercollegiate Peace Football Tournament under the theme “Play Soccer, Make Peace” from October 10-12 at the football field of St. Stephens College, North Campus, University of Delhi. Eight teams from eight different colleges under Delhi University took part in the tournament.
- Written by: UPF - Taiwan
Taipei, Taiwan - A Consultation regarding the establishment of an Interreligious Peace Council took place at the Peace Center in Taipei on September 22, in commemoration of the International Day of Peace. This followed up on a previous consultation held on August 25.
- Written by: UPF - Zambia
Lusaka, Zambia - The International Day of Peace was observed by UPF-Zambia at the Peace Embassy in Lusaka on October 15. More than 30 people, including religious leaders, students, Ambassadors for Peace, and UPF staff gathered to commemorate the event.
- Written by: UPF - Italy
Monza, Italy - For the eighth consecutive year, UPF promoted an an interfaith prayer vigil in the square in front of the Monza Town Hall on the International Day of Peace, September 21. The event had the support and patronage of the Municipality and the Province of Monza Brianza.
- Written by: UPF - Sri Lanka
Colombo, Sri Lanka - UPF-Sri Lanka celebrated the “UN International day of Peace” on September 23 at the Youth Parliament of Sri Lanka in Colombo. The Youth Parliament was established in 2011 to strengthen social harmony and build mutual understanding among the youth of the nation after the heart-breaking decades of conflict. Thus it was very fitting to celebrate the UN International Day of Peace at the Youth Parliament.
- Written by: UPF - Israel
Jerusalem, Israel - During of the Jewish Sukkot Festival, UPF-Israel opened a special stand on a pedestrian street in the center of Jerusalem dedicated to celebrating the UN International Day of Peace 2012.
- Written by: UPF - Ukraine
Kiev, Ukraine - UPF volunteers organized a project named "Sustainable Peace for a Sustainable Future" on September 21 dedicated to the International Day of Peace. It was held at Kiev boarding school №2 for children with special challenges of physical and intellectual development. Seven UPF volunteers and 35 children from 5th and 7th grades participated in the program.
- Written by: UPF - Australia
Events commemorating the UN International Day of Peace 2012 took place in Sydney, Victoria, and Brisbane, Australia.
- Written by: UPF - Japan
Tokyo, Japan - A Peace Family Volunteer program on Sept. 22, 2012 demonstrated that family ties and the familial culture in an extended society are the keys for sustainable peace.
- Written by: UPF - Dominican Republic
San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic - The Santo Domingo State University Branch at San Juan partnered with UPF-Dominican Republic to host a celebration of the International Day of Peace on September 21. The audience in the Sinecio Ramirez Auditorium numbered 346 people.
- Written by: UPF - Malaysia
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia - An observance of the United Nations International Day of Peace took place at the Kinta Riverfront Hotel in Ipoh on September 23. The theme of this year's observance was Sustainable Peace for a Sustainable Future.
- Written by: UPF - Russia
International Day of Peace 2012 programs took place in eight cities, with Ambassadors for Peace, partners, and activists organizing a variety of activities promoting inner peace, peace in families, and peace between neighboring communities, peoples, and nations.
- Written by: UPF - Moldova
Chisinau, Moldova - A training about principles of peacebuilding took place on September 22 in honor of the International Day of Peace.
- Written by: UPF - Malaysia
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia - UPF-Malaysia held a planning meeting on July 28 for a celebration of the International Day of Peace in Ipoh.
- Written by: UPF - Latvia
Riga, Latvia - UPF-Latvia marked the International Day of Peace on Sept. 22, 2012, by inviting a professor from the military academy, Gen. Karlis Kreslins, to speak on “Prospects for Peace and Security for a Sustainable Future.”
- Written by: UPF - Georgia
Tbilisi, Georgia - UPF-Georgia organized two events for the UN International Day of Peace: a conference at the David Aghmashenebeli University of Georgia on September 21 and a celebration at the Rabat fortress in Akhaltsikhe on September 22.
- Written by: UPF - Ethiopia
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - UPF-Ethiopia participated in a forum on the International Day of Peace September 21 at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa. The theme was the role of African women in bringing about peace.
- Written by: UPF - Norway
Oslo, Norway - The European Leadership Conference in Oslo on 'Sustainable Peace for a Sustainable Future' featured the launch of the documentary, 'Within the Eye of the Storm' in the Norwegian Parliament, the Stortinget, to coincide with International Day of Peace, September 21.
- Written by: UPF - India
New Delhi, India - A Peace Club was inaugurated at the Jamia Millia Islamia, India's national Islamic university, on September 24 as part of a commemoration of the International Day of Peace. Dr. Abid Hussain, the university's Program Officer of the National Service Scheme, delivered welcoming remarks.
- Written by: UPF - Argentina
Buenos Aires, Argentina - “Es tiempo ya…” and “Para la paz es esta poesía,” by Irma Droz (Santa María de Punilla - Córdoba province) and Raúl Oscar Ifrán (Punta Alta – Buenos Aires province), respectively, shared the first prize in UPF-Argentina's fourth annual International Poetry Contest on the theme "Words of encounter and universal awareness," at the celebration of the International Day of Peace on September 21.