United Nations Relations
As an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, the Universal Peace Federation promotes interfaith understanding, sustainable development, strengthening of marriage and family, mediation of conflict, the empowerment of women and the revitalization of the UN. UPF supports the goals of the UN with programs on occasions such as:
- World Interfaith Harmony Week (first week of February)
- International Women's Day (March 8)
- International Day of Families (May 15)
- Global Day of Parents (June 1)
- International Day of Peace (September 21)
- Written by: UPF-Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia—UPF-Malaysia’s first “Peace Talks” webinar celebrated World Interfaith Harmony Week and launched the national chapter of the IAPD.
- Written by: Karsten Nielsen, secretary general, UPF-Denmark
Copenhagen, Denmark—People can reach across borders, said five faith leaders at a UPF interfaith webinar.
- Written by: Dr. Sérgio Vieira, president, UPF-Portugal
Lisbon, Portugal—Six religious leaders spoke at a UPF webinar celebrating the UN observance.
- Written by: Maria Nazarova, president, UPF-Russia
Moscow, Russia—A retired military officer told a UPF webinar that different faiths need to find points of unity.
- Written by: Maka Abugbaia, secretary general, UPF-Georgia
Tbilisi, Georgia—UPF marked World Interfaith Harmony Week with a webinar titled “The Importance of Dialogue among Religions.”
- Written by: UPF-Nepal
Kathmandu, Nepal—UPF-Nepal held a second program to celebrate World Interfaith Harmony Week, a “Peace Talks” webinar on the role of academicians in advancing peace.
- Written by: Steinar Murud, secretary general, UPF-Norway
Oslo, Norway—UPF held an interfaith webinar with the theme “Building Bridges across Boundaries.”
- Written by: UPF-Indonesia
Jakarta, Indonesia—The 10th anniversary of World Interfaith Harmony Week was commemorated in Indonesia with a program featuring speakers from different faiths.
- Written by: Dr. Sérgio Vieira, president, UPF-Portugal
Odivelas, Portugal—UPF was invited to participate in the city’s World Interfaith Harmony Week events and activities.
- Written by: Emiljun Rapada, UPF-USA
Honolulu, Hawaii—Representatives of ten religions participated in UPF’s We Are One Water ceremony at UN World Interfaith Harmony commemoration.
- Written by: Steinar Murud, president, UPF-Norway
Oslo, Norway—UPF commemorated UN World Interfaith Harmony Week with a program titled “World Peace through Interfaith Harmony – Cooperation on Common Values.”
- Written by: Peter Haider, president, UPF-Austria
Vienna, Austria—A conference was held at the United Nations offices with the theme “Faith-Based Organizations and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
- Written by: UPF-Moldova
Chisinau, Moldova—The Interreligious Association for Peace and Development was launched in Moldova during World Interfaith Harmony Week.
- Written by: UPF-Taiwan
Taipei, Taiwan—UPF-Taiwan celebrated UN World Interfaith Harmony Week 2019 by holding an event with representatives of different faiths and academia.
- Written by: UPF-Japan
Tokyo, Japan—In observance of UN World Interfaith Harmony Week 2019, UPF-Japan and its Council of Religious Ambassadors for Peace held an interreligious forum in Tokyo.
- Written by: Natalia Chigrina, secretary general, UPF-St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Russia—Poetry, songs, dances and folk art at an interfaith creative evening expressed many ways to relate with God.
- Written by: UPF-United Kingdom
London, United Kingdom—Eminent speakers from Parliament and religious groups attended an interfaith program held with UPF support.
- Written by: UPF-Peru
Lima, Peru—UPF-Peru organized a prayer breakfast for members of the Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD) to celebrate UN World Interfaith Harmony Week.
- Written by: Steinar Murud, secretary general, UPF-Norway
Oslo, Norway—UPF held its annual World Interfaith Harmony Week event in partnership with the largest mosque in Oslo.
- Written by: Natalia Chigrina, secretary general, UPF-St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Russia—In honor of World Interfaith Harmony Week 2019, UPF organized several days of excursions and interfaith creative meetings.
- Written by: Dmitry Samko, chair, UPF-Moscow
Moscow, Russia—About 40 people attended a UPF program dedicated to World Interfaith Harmony Week 2019.
- Written by: UPF-Austria
Vienna, Austria—UPF-Austria organized a conference on the theme of “Migration and Interreligious Understanding in the Age of Globalization.”
- Written by: Dr. Juraj Lajda, president, UPF-Czech Republic
Prague, Czech Republic—UPF co-organized an interfaith meeting titled “Passing on the Tradition and Faith and the Freedom of Choice.”
- Written by: Gregor Sattler, secretary general, UPF-Bonn
Bonn, Germany—UPF hosted an event attended by participants from various religious backgrounds and worldviews as a part of World Interfaith Harmony Week 2019.