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: Rouchdy Saleh, UPF - Egypt
Cairo, Egypt - On the occasion of the UN International Day of Families, messages about the International Day of Families were circulated to about 75 people. On May 15 ten families (about 43 persons) met for lunch and to listen to a reading of the declarations about this commemorative day.
- Written by: Ronald McGarrell, Secretary General, UPF - Guyana
Georgetown, Guyana - The Guyana Chapter of the Universal Peace Federation hosted a program at the Guyana Girl Guides Pavilion in keeping with the United Nations Declaration of May 15 as the International Day of Families. The theme was "Creating a World of Peace, One Family at a Time."
- Written by: UPF - Macau
Macau - The celebration in Macau of the United Nations International Day of Families took place on May 16 at the Nova Taipa Garden. Co-sponsors included the All Nations Church of Macau, the Macau-Timor Friendship Association, the Unified World of Martial Arts Association of Macau, and the International Educational Foundation.
- Written by: Johann Hinterleitner, UPF - Estonia
Tallinn, Estonia - In support of the UN International Day of Families, the local chapter of the Universal Peace Federation organized an event on May 16 in the Peace Embassy in Tallinn. The program consisted of an introduction of the meaning of the day followed by a PowerPoint presentation on “A Culture of Parental Heart and Love Is the Basis for Peace in the World.”
- Written by: Steinar Murud, UPF - Norway
Oslo, Norway - In partnership with the largest mosque in Norway, UPF celebrated the UN International Day of Families on May 14. The MC introduced the UN program for the day as a wonderful opportunity to organize more activities based on the theme of the family.
- Written by: Dennis Salmon, UPF - Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica - To celebrate the International Day of Families, UPF-Jamaica partnered with the leaders of a character development center founded by the inspiration of a former Governor General of Jamaica. The 60 participants included people from various religions and NGOs.
- Written by: Vitaly and Lena Maximov, UPF - Georgia
Tbilisi, Georgia - On May 15 Universal Peace Federation in collaboration with UN office, the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Abkhazia, and young volunteers organized a celebration of UN International Day of Families for international families.
- Written by: UPF - Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia - "An Ecologically-Friendly Family" was the theme of the International Day of Families celebration on May 15 organized in cooperation with the government of Ulaanbaatar. Its purpose was to promote a state policy of family development and maintaining an ecological balance.
- Written by: Dr. Chula Senaratne, Secretary General, UPF – Sri Lanka
Colombo, Sri Lanka - In collaboration with the Department of Education of the Western Province, UPF-Sri Lanka organized a half-day seminar to mark the UN International Day of Families on May 15 at the main auditorium in Colombo of the Department of Education of the Western Province.
- Written by: Jesús Navarro, UPF - Venezuela
Caracas, Venezuela - During the International Day of Families in Caracas, five couples who have been married more than 20 years were presented with the “Medal of Peace in the Family.” Most of them said that it was their faith in God, love for each other, and shared values what kept them happy and together for many years.
- Written by: Gail Paine, UPF-USA, and Tomiko Duggan, Director, UPF, International-DC Chapter
Washington, DC, USA - Combine the warm and cozy feeling of a family reunion and the cultural splendor of the beautifully exotic nation of the Kingdom of Bahrain and you will arrive at the unique experience had by all who attended the International Day of Families Celebration, Friday, May 15 at the Bahrain Embassy in Washington, DC.
- Written by: Masumi F. Schmittat, Secretary General, UPF-Cambodia
Phnom Penh, Cambodia - UPF-Cambodia celebrated the International Day of Families together with Malaysian and Cambodian students at the Cambodian Mekong University campus in Phnom Penh on May 15-16 in conjunction with the International Youth Leadership Conference on the theme of “Creating One Global Family.”
- Written by: UPF - Lebanon
Beirut, Lebanon - UPF-Lebanon invited Ambassadors for Peace and friends for an event on the occasion of the United Nations International Day of Families on May 15. Approximately 40 persons responded to the invitation and came to the Palm Beach Hotel in Beirut on a fine spring evening.
- Written by: UPF-Russia
Commemorations of the UN International Day of Families took place in Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov-on-Don, Ryazan, St. Petersburg, Tver, Vladivostok, and Yekaterinburg. Events included lectures, service projects, and a fashion show.
- Written by: UPF-United Kingdom
London, United Kingdom - The UN International Day of Families was supported by an enthusiastic, interfaith audience revealing the universal interest and concern for the family. There were presentations on "Preparation and Early Support for Family Life" from Christian, Sikh, Muslim, Hindu, Jain and Unificationists as well as an explanation of the value of Couple Relationship Education.
- Written by: UPF-Nepal
Kathmandu, Nepal - “That’s a very nice way to frame the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals,” Ram Babu Shah, the head of the UN’s Information Center in Nepal said about the theme of the International Day of Families celebration: “Creating a World of Peace, One Family at a Time.”