UN International Day of Families
The International Day of Families, May 15, is celebrated at the United Nations headquarters and around the world. The Universal Peace Federation joins in commemorating this day because it considers the family as a microcosm of the global community and because sustainable peace is grounded in the family as the most intimate social unit, the school of love.
- Written by: UPF - New Zealand
Parnell, New Zealand - UPF and the Women's Federation for World Peace organized a celebration of the International Day of Families on May 12 at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell, a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand.
- Written by: UPF - Venezuela
Caracas, Venezuela - A celebration of the UN International Day of Families in the Credicard Tower of Chacaito on May 22 brought together about 50 leaders from various fields of society. The theme was: "Marriage and Family: World Peace Is Close at Hand."
- Written by: Susan Fefferman
Washington, DC, USA - Universal Peace Federation’s May 29 program on the UN International Day of Families 2012: Ensuring Work Family Balance, was co-sponsored by The Washington Times Foundation.
- Written by: UPF - UK
London, UK - The UN International Day of the Family was commemorated in the House of Lords on May 15.
- Written by: UPF - Zimbabwe
Harare, Zimbabwe - UPF-Zimbabwe organized a forum on the International Day of Families on May 19.
- Written by: UPF - Ethiopia
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - UPF-Ethiopia organized a celebration of the UN Day of Families on May 27 in partnership with Ambassador for Peace Ato Getachew Wolde Hanna, founder of the Ethiopian’s Family Association and owner of Tesfa (Hope) primary school in Addis Ababa.
- Written by: UPF - Japan
Tokyo, Japan - International couples, multi-cultural families, and Ambassadors for Peace gathered to celebrate the International Day of Families in Tokyo on May 19. Organized by UPF-Japan, the event also commemorated the first anniversary of the foundation of the committee to promote a “Citizens' Movement for Building Human Capacity, Family and Nation,” a grassroots movement initiated by Ambassadors for Peace.
- Written by: UPF - Suriname
Paramaribo, Suriname - UPF-Suriname celebrated the International Day of Families on May 15 with 35 Ambassadors for Peace in attendance.
- Written by: UPF - Angola
Luanda, Angola - UPF-Angola held a seminar on marriage and family in Luanda on May 25.
- Written by: Albanus Mwololo, Secretary General, UPF-Somalia
Nairobi, Kenya - Somalis living in Kenya celebrated the International Day of Families at the Compit Educational Center located in Eastleigh, Nairobi, on May 15. It was not possible to hold this event inside Somalia due to the violence occurring in the country. However, more than one million Somalis are living in Kenya, and the event in Nairobi attracted an audience of more than 500.
- Written by: UPF - Ireland
Dublin, Ireland - The Irish branch of the Universal Peace Federation celebrated the UN International Day of Family on May 18 at the Lantern Interfaith Centre.
- Written by: UPF - Bangladesh
Dhaka, Bangladesh - The UPF, the Women's Federation for World Peace, and the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Dhaka jointly organized a seminar on the International Day of Families titled “Ensuring Work Family Balance.” The seminar was attended by about 50 people, including religious leaders, educators, social workers, and student leaders. It was held on May 25 at the Dhaka Sundarban Hotel.
- Written by: UPF - Paraguay
Asuncion, Paraguay - An International Day of Families observance took place at the Gran Hotel del Paraguay in Asuncion on May 15.
- Written by: Mercedes Gonzalez
Madrid, Spain - An International Day of Families program on May 20 at the Peace Embassy in Madrid attracted young people, couples, and Ambassadors for Peace. It was an international group, with 24 participants from Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Italy, Japan, Korea, Poland, Germany, the US, and Spain.
- Written by: UPF - Germany
UPF-Germany observed the International Day of Families with two forums. On May 15 in Frankfurt, three presentations that included religious perspectives were followed by a lively panel discussion with many questions and comments from the floor. At the end, three-generation families received certificates of honor. In Stuttgart, a May 12 forum on "The Significant Role of the Family for the Individual and Society" featured speakers with historical perspectives about family policies in the Soviet Union and the Council of Europe. Young musicians entertained the audience.
- Written by: UPF - Turkey
Istanbul, Turkey - The International Day of Families was observed at a forum in Istanbul on May 15. Speakers included two professors from Bosphorus University, one from Yeditepe University, and UPF representative Sevil Naghshbandi. Each covered a different aspect of the family.
- Written by: UPF - Senegal
International Day of Families programs took place in Ziguinchor on May 15 and Dakar on May 19. Approximately 270 participants attended the Dakar program in a school that is under construction.
- Written by: UPF - DR Congo
UPF organized International Day of Families events during May in Kinshasa and Kinzau Mvete, Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Written by: UPF - Afghanistan
Kabul, Afghanistan - UPF Ambassadors for Peace celebrated the International Day of Families in Kabul on May 17. Around 200 people from across the population segments attended this marvelous event at the Bakhtar Institute for Higher Education.
- Written by: UPF - Rwanda
Kigali, Rwanda - UPF-Rwanda Chapter held a commemoration of the International Day of Families at the Alpha Palace Hotel in Kigali on May 19. In the conference Hall were more than 150 people from different walks of life, including politicians, religious leaders, business entrepreneurs, academicians, artists, and ordinary people.
- Written by: UPF - Kenya
Nairobi, Kenya - UPF-Kenya and its network of Ambassadors for Peace and families hosted a celebration of the UN International Day of Families in Nairobi on May 15 with a wide variety of cultural events, educational speeches, and activities.
- Written by: UPF - Korea
Seoul, Korea - An International Day of Families program for diplomats took place at the Unificationism building in Seoul on May 19.
- Written by: Dennis Salmon, UPF-Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica - On Mothers’ Day, May 13, UPF-Jamaica hosted a program at the UPF Lecture Hall in keeping with the United Nations Declaration of May 15 as the International Day of Families. The theme was "Balancing Spirituality and Practical Affairs in the Family."
- Written by: UPF - Ukraine
Kiev, Ukraine - An International Day of Families program took place in the children’s home “Malyatko” in Kiev on May 19 by the efforts of UPF volunteers. Fifteen children participated, along with their teachers and six UPF volunteers.