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: Dr. Robert S. Kittel, Director of Education, UPF-Asia; Photo-journalist, Segye-Ilbo
Saptari, Nepal - UPF-Nepal organized an International Day of Families celebration at a school in Saptari on May 16. A special feature of the event was awarding scholarships to deserving students.
- Written by: UPF - Israel
Daliet El-Carmel, Israel - Twenty-five Ambassadors for Peace as well three former presidents of Women's Federation for World Peace-Israel and their family members gathered on May 14 at the village of Daliet El-Carmel for the annual celebration of the UN International Day of Families.
- Written by: UPF - Estonia
Tallinn, Estonia - UPF-Estonia held an event on the occasion of the UN International Day of Families in the Peace Embassy in Tallinn on May 15. In total 35 people participated, including guests and Ambassadors for Peace.
- Written by: UPF - Cameroon
Bafoussam, Douala, Kousseri, and Yaoundé, Cameroon - UPF–Cameroon celebrated the UN International Day of Families in four regions of the nation with a total attendance of 225 participants. Among the participants in all these conferences there were government delegates, MPs, journalists, academicians, and leaders of NGOs and civil society.
- Written by: UPF - Bangladesh
Dhaka, Bangladesh - The United Nations Information Centre in Dhaka, the Universal Peace Federation, and the Women’s Federation for World Peace jointly organized a seminar on the International Day of Families titled “Family Crisis, Internal and External.” The seminar was attended by about 70 people: religious leaders, educators, social workers, and student leaders. It was held on May 3 at the Dhaka Business & Professional Women’s Club.
- Written by: UPF - Italy
Bergamo and Milan, Italy - International Day of Families events are scheduled for Milan on May 15 and Bergamo on May 20 and 21.
- Written by: UPF - New Zealand
Auckland, New Zealand - A gathering of over 100 people celebrated the UN International Day of Families with musical performances, sacred readings, and fellowship at the Jubilee Hall in Parnell, Auckland, on May 15.
- Written by: Trevor Jones, UPF-Peru
Lima, Peru - Families in Lima celebrated the UN Day of Families on May 14 with speeches, games, and music, closing the day by sharing a meal together.
- Written by: UPF - Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland - The Chapel of the World Council of Churches in Geneva was filled to overflowing with an exciting intergenerational, international, and interreligious mix to explore the theme "A New Paradigm for Global Family in a Culture of Peace" on May 13. It was wonderful to see young people in their late teens and early twenties, some parents themselves with young children of their own, and older couples filled with maturity and wisdom accrued through parenting, grandparenting, and a lifelong practice of spiritual principles all gathered in this international place of worship to explore the importance of family for peace.
- Written by: UPF - Armenia
Yerevan, Armenia - An International Day of Families observance on May 14 at the Prestigious Middle School (No 194) featured a speech, dances and other activities. On May 15, speakers at a Family Values Seminar discussed the connectedness between spiritual values and strong families and between religion and personal development.
- Written by: UPF - Georgia
Tbilisi, Georgia - UPF-Georgia organized several events between May 13 and May 18 in commemoration of the International Day of Families.
- Written by: UPF - Benin
Cotonou, Benin - UPF-Benin held an observance of the International Day of Families on May 15 under the patronage of the Ministry of the Family and National Solidarity. Peace Family Awards were presented to outstanding families.
- Written by: UPF - Croatia
Zagreb, Croatia - UPF-Croatia hosted a forum in observance of the International Day of Families on May 12 at the Matica Hrvatska. Speakers included Mr. Anto Tomas, Dr. Tihomir Domazet, and Dr. Marko Tarle.
- Written by: UPF - Solomon Islands
Honiara, Solomon Islands - UPF-Solomon Islands sponsored a commemoration of the UN International Day of Families on May 15 with families, friends, and Ambassadors for Peace at the New Hope Academy kindergarten in Honiara.
- Written by: UPF - Taiwan
Taipei, Taiwan - Ambassadors for Peace came to support International Day of Families program on May 14 at the Peace Center in Taipei that featured programs of HIV/AIDS prevention and helping AIDS victims.
- Written by: UPF - Russia
Moscow, Russia - UPF-Russia organized International Day of Families events in Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Ryazan, Yekaterinburg, and Perm.
- Written by: UPF - Netherlands
The Hague and Amsterdam, Netherlands - UPF-Netherlands organized two commemorations of the International Day of Families in The Hague: on May 14 at the Hobbel YMCA club house and on May 15 at the Sewa Dhaam Hindu Center. An additional observance took place in Amsterdam on May 15.
- Written by: Helen M. Osei, Secretary General, UPF-Ghana
Accra, Ghana - Three types of events were scheduled for the International Day of Families: on May 13, visits to churches to share the ideal of peaceful families; on May 14, a meeting with Muslim couples from Ghana Muslim Mission to discuss the essence of ideal families in peacebuilding and a visit to an interreligious couple; and on May 15, a celebration of the International Day of Families with 15 families receiving a Peace Family Award.
- Written by: UPF - San Marino
San Marino - The International Day of Families was celebrated in San Marino on May 15 with sharing of personal experiences about the value of the family in various cultures.
- Written by: Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General
Far too many families endure chronic, punishing hardship. Lacking jobs and the means to make ends meet, adults are unable to provide adequate nutrition for children, leaving them with lifelong physical and cognitive scars. Other family members can suffer neglect and deprivation. Poverty continues to claim the lives of hundreds of thousands of women each year in childbirth.
- Written by: UPF - Indonesia
Jakarta, Indonesia - The Universal Peace Federation celebrated the UN International Day of Families at the UPF Peace Center on May 15 on the theme of “Addressing Poverty by Strengthening Families.”
- Written by: UPF - Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - UPF-Malaysia organized an outing in observance of the International Day of Families at the Taman Bukit Jalil Recreation Park on May 15.
- Written by: UPF - Thailand
Bangkok, Thailand - UPF-Thailand and the Family Federation for World Peace-Thailand joined hands with family-related government representatives to celebrate the International Day of Families in Bangkok on May 15.
- Written by: UPF - Gabon
Libreville, Gabon - The International Day of Families was observed in Libreville on May 22.