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 - Netherlands
Amsterdam, Netherlands - On the UN International Day of Friendship, July 30, 2013, Drs. Ari van Buuren, Chairman of United Religions Initiative-Netherlands, spoke on “My Interfaith Experiences and the Fight of Jacob with the Angel.”
- Written by: UPF - Russia
The International Day for Tolerance was commemorated with educational activities in St. Petersburg and Kondopoga, cities in the northwest part of Russia; Kamensk-Urals and Perm in the Urals area and Ufa in the southern Urals; and Novosibirsk in Siberia. In addition, "Run Hour" activities publicized the Day of Tolerance in Moscow, Kazan, Nizhnevartovsk, and Yekaterinburg.
- Written by: UPF - Argentina
Buenos Aires, Argentina - An artistic and cultural celebration marked World Environment Day in Buenos Aires on June 8, 2012.
- Written by: UPF International
New York, USA - UPF offers its congratulations to H.E. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, permanent representative of the state of Qatar, upon his election as the president of the 66th Session of the UN General Assembly.
- Written by: UPF - Russia
Moscow, Russia - UPF-Russia held an international conference on Dec. 18, 2010, the eve of UN International Human Solidarity Day, to explore the role of NGOs in promoting peace.
- Written by: Genie Kagawa, UPF Office of UN Relations
New York, USA - The Spiritual Council for Global Concerns Working Group of the NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns (CSVGC-NY) at the UN held a conference on “The Price of Violence and Dividends in Healing the Wounds of History” at the Nigeria House, on Feb. 15, 2012.
- Written by: UPF International
New York, USA - On the 66th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, Oct. 24, 2011, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed the need for unity as the world seeks solutions for the key challenges facing humanity.
- Written by: Genie Kagawa, Office of UN Relations
On Sept. 9, 2011, the UN General Assembly convened for a special Commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 in hopes of moving forward for a better and more secure future for generations to come.
- Written by: UPF - Russia
Moscow, Russia - A UPF representative addressed a review of the UN Report on “Overcoming Barriers: Human Mobility and Development” at a forum at Moscow State University on Oct. 5, 2009.
- Written by: UPF - Russia
Russia - UPF-Russia organized celebrations of the International Day for Tolerance, Nov. 16, 2009, in Moscow, Revda, Yekaterinburg, and Rostov-on-Don.
- Written by: UPF-UK
London, England - An evening meeting in London on the theme of "Mongolia and the Millennium Development Goals" began with a reception for members of the Mongolia Association in the United Kingdom.
- Written by: Robin Marsh, UPF-UK
London, England - The Peace and Development Focus Session of the Global Peace Festival in London featured the problems of nations struggling to fulfill the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 while struggling with debt, conflict, and unfair trade relationships. This followed the Rt. Hon. Bill Rammell MP, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister of State’s encouraging words to the International Leadership Conference to create an international coalition of all sectors of society to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, lasting peace, and prosperity.
- Written by: UPF - International
New York, USA - The world is on track to reduce by half the number of people living in abject poverty by 2015, according to a UN report prepared for a Sept. 22, 2010, summit at the UN.
- Written by: UPF - Russia
Moscow, Russia - UPF-Russia and the Model UN Secretariat activists conducted a program in support of the global campaign to “Rise and Act” against poverty and achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals under the slogan “Make your heart beat for the implementation of the UN MDGs.”
- Written by: Laurent Ladouce, UPF-France
Geneva, Switzerland - Two thematic debates marked the end of the 2009 UN Economic and Social Council Annual Ministerial Review in Geneva on July 9.
- Written by: Laurent Ladouce, UPF-France
Geneva, Switzerland - Ethical values are needed to overcome the current global economic crisis as well as to eradicate hunger and promote the real development of all the world's peoples, Pope Benedict XVI said in his new encyclical released July 7. While the Pope was speaking, diplomats and ministers of health from around the world were in Geneva to offer their viewpoints on the global crisis.Can moral values be part of the answer?
- Written by: Laurent Ladouce, UPF-France
Geneva, Switzerland - Jamaica's report on progress towards the Millennium Development Goals and news about telemedicine in Africa highlighted the second day of the UN Economic and Social Council Annual Ministerial Review in Geneva.
- Written by: Bill Selig
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"The world has an historic opportunity to eradicate extreme poverty and achieve sustainability and equality for all through the new post-2015 development agenda." |
The UN General Assembly adopted eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000 to be achieved by 2015. Progress to date has saved lives, ensured that children attend school, reduced maternal deaths, expanded opportunities for women, increased access to clean water, and freed many people from disease. Scroll down for reports of UPF activities that advance the MDGs.
Read about discussions of the post-2015 development agenda at the UN.
See UPF statements on the MDGs and Sustainable Development.
View a PowerPoint presentation: Civil Society Contributions to the MDGs (3.6 MB).
#2 - Achieve Universal Primary Education
- France - Togolese Ambassador for Peace Establishes a School in His Home Country
- Albania - Day of Peace Observed by Helping Orphans in Albania
- Nepal - Religious Youth Service Project in Nuwakot, Nepal
- Jamaica - Religious Youth Service Gives Jamaica School a Facelift
- Thailand - Buddhist, Muslim, and Christian Youth Serve a School in Northern Thailand
- Nepal - Religious Youth Service Builds Roof at School in Lumbini, Nepal
- Thailand - Thai Youth Clean Flood Damage at a Muslim School
- India - Religious Youth Service Builds Vegetable Garden at a School in Kochi, India
- Nigeria - Universal Primary Education Review in Abuja
- Nepal - Day of Families Commemorated at a School in Saptari, Nepal
- Malaysia - Religious Youth Service Assists Malaysian Schools
- Saint Lucia - Cleaning up a School after Hurricane Tomas in St. Lucia
#3 - Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
- United States - UN Commission on the Status of Women Considers Wide Range of Perspectives
- Congo - Congo-Brazzaville's UPF and IAYSP Celebrate International Women’s Day
- United States - UPF-USA Celebrates International Women’s Day
- Congo - Congo-Brazzaville Celebrate International Women’s Rights Day
- Argentina - WFWP and UPF-Argentina: International Women’s Day Celebration
- UPF CA IAFLP - The Global Role of Women’s Contributions to Peace and Development
- Nigeria - UPF-Nigeria Celebrates UN International Women’s Day 2018
- Belgium - Brussels Conference Asks Europe to Do More for Human Rights
- Canada - Forum in Toronto on Women's Dignity
- United States - Side Events of the 56th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women
- Women's Day 2012 Observed in 14 Nations
- Washington DC - Forum on Women in Tunisia and the Arab Spring
#6 - Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases
- Sri Lanka - Religious Youth Service Project in Sri Lanka
- Nigeria - Health for Peace Initiative Launched in Nigeria
- Lesotho - Funds Sought to Care for HIV Patients and Orphans in Lesotho
- Mali - Day of Families Observed at HIV/AIDS workshop in Bamako
- Venezuela - HIV and Drug Abuse Prevention Focus of Day of Peace in Caracas
- Taiwan - HIV/AIDS Prevention Focus of Day of Families in Taipei
- Swaziland - HIV-Prevention Training Program in Swaziland
- Angola - Highlights of 2010 of UPF-Angola
- Taiwan - Taiwan Tennis Star to Promote AIDS/Drug Abuse Prevention Campaign
- Burkina Faso - Sports, Blood Drive, and AIDS Prevention on Day of Peace in Burkina Faso
- ECOSOC Presents an X-Ray of a Suffering Humanity
- Healthcare Advances Reported in Jamaica, Africa, and China
#7 - Ensure Environmental Sustainability
- Peru - UPF-Peru Celebrates World Environment Day
- Argentina - UPF-Argentina Discusses “Organizational Sustainability”
- United States - IAAP-USA Holds Webinar: “Challenges Amid Success in South Korea”
- Uruguay - UPF-Latin America Introduces Leda Project on World Environment Day
- Argentina - UPF-Argentina Cosponsors Conference to Honor UN World Water Day
- Russia - International Day of Peace Observed in Moscow
- Russia - Russia: UPF Sponsors Environmental Cleanup
- United States - UPF Attends UN Conferences on Family, Spirituality
- Washington DC - Washington DC Forum: The Coming Arctic Boom and Polar Foreign Policy
- S. Fukai: Women for Sustainable Development
- Russia - Bringing Tales to Life at an Eco-camp in the Urals
- Peoples Republic of China - UPF Participates in Ecological Forum in China
Civil Society Contributions toward the MDGs
(3.6 MB PowerPoint presentation)
- Written by: Dr. Thomas G. Walsh, Secretary General, UPF
The significance of civil society in the effort to solve critical global problems and improve the overall quality of life for humanity is now widely recognized. Civil society organizations, NGOs, private sector philanthropists, voluntary associations, and faith-based organizations can all serve as partners with governments and inter-governmental organizations.
- Written by: UPF - Taiwan
Taipei, Taiwan - UPF organized a forum on March 26 about Taiwan’s contribution toward fulfilling the UN Millennium Development Goals. Speakers reported on the international humanitarian work of their NGOs.
- Written by: Giorgio Gasperoni, UPF-San Marino
Pesaro, Italy - UPF-San Marino held a conference in Pesaro on January 29 to support the World Food Program's campaign to end world hunger by 2015, the first of the eight Millennium Development Goals.
- Written by: UPF - Netherlands
Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands - What will help Vietnam reach its Millennium Development Goals and how will this impact human rights? This was the theme of a February 6 conference sponsored by the Foundation for the Development of Vietnam and UPF-Netherlands.
- Written by: kito
Welcome to the UPF resource page for International Day of Peace observances. Here you will find a variety of materials to help you create a successful International Day of Peace program, including flyers, banners, program guides, and resources published by the United Nations. Click on the tabs below for each section.
- Written by: IAYSP-DR Congo
DR Congo—IAYSP-Democratic Republic of Congo observed UN International Day of Peace 2023 and appointed a Youth Ambassador for Peace.