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 - Austria
Vienna, Austria - A May 14 presentation on "The Role of the Family in Today's Israel" by Dr. Walter Baar marked the International Day of Families in Vienna.
- Written by: UPF - Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - UPF-Malaysia organized a Family Symposium in conjunction with the UN International Day of Families on May 12. This Sunday gathering was part of an ongoing series "Happy, Healthy Family Campaign," with symposiums held every other Sunday.
- Written by: Marcus Younas, Director, Religious Youth Service, Pakistan
Multan, Pakistan - The International Day of Families is an occasion to celebrate the importance of families to people, societies and cultures around the world. Society for the Promotion of Education and Awareness (SEAP Pakistan) and Religious Youth Service Pakistan commemorated the International Day of Families on May 15 at SEAP Pakistan’s Secretariat in Multan, Southern Punjab.
- Written by: UPF - Burkina Faso
Banfora, Burkina Faso - La journée Internationale des Familles sera célébrée le Samedi 18 mai à Banfora dans la Région des Cascades et sera marquée par la tenue de quatrième festival des Familles pour la Paix, l unité et la solidarité.
- Written by: UPF - Suriname
Paramaribo, Suriname - UPF-Suriname held a conference for Ambassadors for Peace celebrating the International Day of Families on May 14. The peace principles of UPF were presented as a solution to domestic violence, followed by a question and answer period.
- Written by: UPF International
The Universal Peace Federation statement on the UN International Day of Families 2013: “Advancing Social Integration and Intergenerational Solidarity.”
- Written by: UPF - Germany
Stuttgart, Germany - To commemorate the UN International Day of Families, UPF-Stuttgart organized a May 11 program. The speaker was Rosemarie Tijsterman on the topic ‘The Five Languages of Love’, based on the book by Gary Chapman.
- Written by: UPF - Peru
Lima, Peru - UPF-Peru celebrated the International Day of Families on May 15 with a forum in the Congress of Peru. Featured speakers included a representative of the UN, Rebecca Arias, and the Ministry for Women. Congressman Dr. Yonhy Lescano co-sponsored the event. In the coastal city of Trujillo, two International Day of Families programs were organized by UPF regional representatives in conjunction with local mayors and councilors.
- Written by: UPF - Ecuador
Quito, Ecuador - An International Day of Families program took place at the Hall of the National Union of Journalists in Quito on May 15.
- Written by: UPF - Albania
UPF-Albania organized observances of the International Day of Families 2012 in Durres, Elbasan, Lezha, Tirana and Vlora.
- Written by: UPF - Malaysia
Penang, Malaysia - UPF-Penang organized a special parent-child program in conjunction with the UN International Day of Families’ theme “Ensuring Work-Family Balance” on June 24.
- Written by: UPF - Slovakia
Nitra, Slovakia - But UPF activists in the city of Nitra set up an information table and panel on May 8 in the MAX shopping center to promote the International Day of Families and distribute leaflets and bookmarks about the importance of the family.
- Written by: UPF International
UPF chapters in 71 nations organized a variety of forums, award ceremonies and commemorative events on the UN International Day of Families, May 15, 2012.
- 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.