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 - 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
- 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.