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: Mercedes González, Coordinator, Marriage and Family Initiative, UPF-Spain
Madrid, Spain - A Family Festival on May 15 marked the International Day of Families in Madrid. Two presentations about the family opened the program at 11:30, followed by lunch, awards of families youth and children, and a dance performance by the "Asociación Todo es Arte" from Peru.
- Written by: UPF International
UPF chapters in 40 nations organized celebrations of the UN International Day of Families, May 15, 2010.
- Written by: UPF-International
The Universal Peace Federation organized over 55 celebrations of the United Nations Day of Families in 31 nations, building on the theme “Creating a World of Peace, One Family at a Time.” The final event of the two-week observation took place May 18 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Read the written report. Download the PowerPoint report (9MB); high-res (25MB).
- Written by: H.E. Mrs. Lila Hanitra Ratsifandrihamanana, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the UN
Africa has its fair of problems and carries the seeds for a solution within its rich family traditions. Our model of the extended family of relations helping and supporting each other is among the strongest in the world.
- Written by: Carolyn Handschin, Director, UPF - UN Office in Geneva
Geneva, Switzerland - In the sixth event in an ongoing “Peacebuilding and Human Rights” conference series, the Universal Peace Federation, together with the Geneva Interfaith Intercultural Alliance and the Women’s Federation for World Peace International, sponsored two sessions at the United Nations in Geneva on May 15 to mark the International Day of Families.
- Written by: Michael Treacy
Pohnpei, Micronesia - Coinciding with the UN International Day of Families, UPF-Micronesia sponsored a one-day seminar for 45 participants. Most guests arrived early and were greeted and treated with the traditional headdress worn at most gatherings and special meetings.
- Written by: UPF-St.Lucia, The Voice
The Voice of St Lucia, one of St. Lucia's national newspapers, published the "Universal Peace Federation Declaration on Families" sent by our UPF media officer Terrence Scott.
- Written by: Mag. Elisabeth Cook and Peter Haider, UPF - Austria
Vienna, Austria - A lecture and round-table discussion were organized by UPF in Vienna on May 15. As an introduction the message of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was read by the MC, Mag. Elisabeth Cook.
- Written by: UPF - Iceland
Reykjavik, Iceland—Rev. Hjörtur Johannsson, pastor of the Free Lutheran Church, hosted a celebration on May 15 promoting the universality of the family and God as the parent of all humankind. A Muslim speaker expressed concern about the degradation of the family and emphasized the equality of all humanity regardless of race, sex, or religion.
- Written by: UPF-Afghanistan
Kabul, Afghanistan - Fifty social and political activists gathered at the Sitara Hotel in the heart of Kabul to celebrate the International Day of Families and report about their activities of service to the community and work to strengthen the families of Afghanistan.
- Written by: Christopher Davies, UPF-Netherlands
Den Haag, The Netherlands – The International Day of Families was celebrated in the Christus Triumfatorkerk in Den Haag on May 15. The program included a video on the Millennium Development Goals and the Role of Women and several speakers.
- Written by: UPF - Ukraine
Ukraine - The “Mom, Dad, Me – Sporty Family” all-Ukrainian Festival finale was held May 14 to 17 in the picturesque Crimean peninsula. The activities were organized by the “Sports for All” all-Ukrainian center for the population’s physical health and by the Universal Peace Federation under the initiative of the Peace Dream Foundation.
- Written by: Rev. Ntoko Nelson Afonso Taty, Secretary General, UPF-Gabon
Libreville, Gabon - The president of UPF-Gabon, Mr. Pierre-Claver OBAME Essone, Adviser to the President of the Republic and Director of Personnel of the Party in power, addressed a gathering of Ambassadors for Peace and invited guests on the topic of "Creating a world of peace, one family at a time."
- Written by: UPF - Cote d'Ivoire
Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire - The UN International Day of Families was celebrated on May 15 in the Abidjan City Hall. More than 200 people attended the ceremony, including three Members of Parliament, the Chief of Cabinet of the Governor of Abidjan, NGO leaders, women leaders, community leaders, and youth leaders.
- Written by: UPF - Bangladesh
Dhaka, Bangladesh - The United Nations Information Centre-Dhaka, UPF, and the Women’s Federation for World Peace organized a seminar on “Creating a World of Peace: One Family at a Time” at the Dhaka Business and Professional Women’s Club to mark the International Day of Families.
- Written by: Jeremy Jordan, UPF - Israel
Jerusalem, Israel - On May 15 the UN International Day of Families was celebrated at the picturesque Rose Gardens in front of the Knesset parliament buildings in downtown Jerusalem, with the theme: "Creating a World of Peace, One Family at a Time."
- Written by: UPF - India
Sikkim and Punjab, India - UPF-India organized an International Day of Families event at a school in East Sikkim and a hospital in Jalandhar, Punjab.
- Written by: UPF - Cameroon
Yaoundé, Cameroon - One hundred and twenty people participated in a celebration of the International Day of Families at the Hotel des Députés in Yaoundé.
- Written by: UPF-France
Lyon, France - The International Day of Families was celebrated in France in partnership among the Universal Peace Federation, the Shekina Evangelical Church, the Aclco Bana Mboka Choir, the Ambassadors for Peace team in Lyon, the African Center for Culture and Development, AJS Kivu, Women's Federation for World Peace, and the SOS Casamance humanitarian association. [en français]
- Written by: Raul Rey Banegas, Secretary General, UPF - Uruguay
Montevideo, Uruguay - The International Day of Families was celebrated at the Radisson Montevideo Victoria Plaza Hotel on May 9 with the theme: “Creating a World of Peace, One Family at a Time.” More than 300 persons participated in this event, including government representatives, diplomats, journalists, academics, leaders of civil society, and distinguished citizens. [en español]
- Written by: UPF - Ecuador
Quito, Ecuador - Four hundred and sixty people attended the International Day of Families celebration on May 16 in the Quito City Hall. A UNICEF official, Dr. Juan Vásconez, gave an explanation about this UN day honoring the family.
- Written by: Miguel Werner, Secretary General, UPF-Argentina
Buenos Aires, Argentina - The International Day of Families was celebrated on May 15 with a variety of educational, cultural, social, and athletic activities under the motto “Creating a World of Peace: One Family at a Time.” Couples married more than 25 years were recognized with a cake and a toast to eternal love. On the following day, the Huracán football club won the International Day of the Family Peace Cup in a championship game certified by First Division of Argentine football.
- Written by: Vadim Bolshakov, Vice President, UPF - Latvia
Riga, Latvia - UPF-Latvia held a special family meeting on the theme of "Successful Families in Modern Days" on May 10 in Riga with the goal of strengthening and uplifting the families in our nation.
- Written by: Michael Balcomb, Communications Director, UPF
New York, USA - UPF organized over 60 celebrations of the UN Day of Families in 34 nations, building on the theme “Creating a World of Peace, One Family at a Time.” The final event, at the UN Headquarters in New York, marked the conclusion of the UPF Global Peace Tour 2009. | Click here for the audio recordings of the speeches and photos| French, 中文