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: UPF - Russia
Moscow and Zelenograd, Russia - "We Pursue Peace" was the theme of the September 21 International Day of Peace celebration at the Russian State Humanitarian University, with support of the Universal Peace Federation and the Model UN Secretariat. On September 20, UPF participated in the "March for Peace organized by the Federation of Peace and Concord in Moscow. In nearby Zelenograd, students in school No. 1923 honored the International Day of Peace by observing a Minute of Silence.
- Written by: Tomiko Duggan, Director, Office of Embassy Relations, Washington, DC
Washington, DC, USA - The Embassy of Ghana in Washington DC hosted an International Day of Peace celebration on September 23, co-sponsored by the Universal Peace Federation-DC chapter. Among the 120 people in attendance were the Ambassadors of Ghana and Gambia.
- Written by: UPF - Belarus
Orsha, Belarus - The District Executive Committee, the Belarus Peace Foundation, the UN Representative, and UPF organized celebrations of peace and brother-cities from September 19-21 in Orsha, one of the biggest cities of Belarus. Among the guests of honor were mayors of cities and districts of Belarus, Lithuania, Moldova, and Russia. This was the first celebration of its kind in Orsha.
- Written by: UPF - Russia
Medvezhiegorsk and Kostomuksha, Russia - UPF-Russia organized a variety of creative activities on the International Day of Peace for students in the towns of Medvezhiegorsk and Kostomuksha in the Karelia region of northeast Russia.
- Written by: UPF-Moldova
Chisinau, Moldova - On the UN International Day of Peace, UPF-Moldova and its NGO partners organized presentations in schools and colleges on the theme “Youth for Peace and Development” as well as one conference.
- Written by: UPF-Georgia
Tbilisi, Georgia - UPF-Georgia and the Association of Russian-Speaking Journalists of Georgia held a “Brain Ring” intellectual competition on September 20 for high school and university students of different nationalities living in Georgia. In addition, lectures about a culture of peace were given at high schools for Russian and Georgian-speaking students.
- Written by: UPF-Tajikistan
Dushanbe, Tajikistan - On the International Day of Peace, UPF-Tajikistan representatives Alexander Fedorov gave a talk on “My responsibility in building peace” at a program at the Tajik National Conservatory.
- Written by: Johann Hinterleitner, UPF-Estonia
Tallinn, Estonia - On the International Day of Peace, UPF-Estonia Secretary General Johann Hinterleitner gave a presentation about a proposed interreligious council at the UN at the UPF Peace Embassy in Tallinn.
- Written by: Masumi Schmittat, UPF-Cambodia
- Written by: Jeremy Jordan, Secretary General, UPF-Israel
- Written by: Sokol Rexhepi, Secretary General, UPF-Albania
Tirana, Albania - A beautiful program was held on September 21 in which 70 school packages were given to orphans referred by the Institute of Albanian Orphans. People participated in a water ceremony that symbolized the unity of humankind.
- Written by: John D.S. Samura, Secretary General, UPF-Sierra Leone
Freetown, Sierra Leone - UPF-Sierra Leone organized a seminar for high school students on September 21 on topics related to the theme of the International Day of Peace: “Youth for Peace and Development.”
- Written by: Remy Taupier, UPF-St. Lucia
Castries, St. Lucia - UPF-St. Lucia and six other local organizations signed a joint declaration to mark the International Day of Peace 2010. It was published in the two main newspapers, and excerpts were read on the radio.
- Written by: Jesus Navarro, UPF-Venezuela
Caracas, Venezuela - UPF-Venezuela worked with the Lions Club of Petare and the Committee on Legislation of the Caracas City Hall doing repairs at the St. Edmund Kids' Corner Foundation in Caracas on the International Day of Peace 2010.
- Written by: Christopher Davies, UPF-Netherlands
Utrecht, Netherlands - During the week leading up to September 21, UPF-Netherlands hosted a conference on development aid and supported projects of Ambassadors for Peace.
- Written by: Rev. Kenichi Ito, UPF-Marshall Islands
Majuro, Marshall Islands -UPF-Marshall Islands organized a celebration of the UN International Day of Peace with students at the College of the Marshall Islands.
- Written by: Ute Lemme, UPF-Stuttgart
Stuttgart, Germany - UPF-Stuttgart organized an event for the UN International Day of Peace on September 18. During the event we collected donations for disaster relief in Pakistan, which we forwarded to the United Nations Foundation.
- Written by: Rev. Bosako Iyolangomo, UPF-Zimbabwe
Harare, Zimbabwe - The UPF Secretary General worked with the UN Information Center, Iranian Embassy Cultural Department, Zimbabwe Olympic Committee, The Voice of Revival Ministry, and Fatima Zahra Women's Organization to organize a sports tournament and celebration of the UN International Day of Peace.
- Written by: Steinar Murud, UPF-Norway
Oslo, Norway - Around 70 people attended the UN International Day of Peace celebration at the Islamic Cultural Center in Oslo. The theme of the day was "Peace, Future, Youth and Development."
- Written by: Chihiro Midorikawa, President, UPF-Solomon Islands
Honiara, Solomon Islands - The Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation organized a radio forum on September 19 on the theme of "Youth for Peace and Development" with the UPF Secretary General as one of the panelists.
- Written by: Shri Karma Yougyal, UPF-Sikkim
Gangtok, India - UPF-Sikkim commemorated the UN International Day of Peace on September 21 at a gathering in the Forest Department Conference Hall in Gangtok.
- Written by: Carletto Nesti, UPF-Italy
Monza, Italy - UPF-Italy organized activities for a "Week of Peace" in honor of the UN International Day of Peace September 21-28 with activities in Monza, Milan, and Bergamo.
- Written by: Mercedes González, UPF-Spain
Madrid, Spain - UPF Spain's Marriage and Family Initiative hosted a seminar about peace in honor of the UN International Day of Peace on September 19. Five presentations about peace were given, followed by appointments of new Ambassadors for Peace and interreligious prayers.
- Written by: Trevor Jones, UPF-Peru
Lima, Peru - The UN International Day of Peace was celebrated in one of the rooms of the National Congress of Peru, in coordination with UPF-Peru. Similar meetings took place in the provincial capitals of Trujillo and Puno.