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-Taiwan
Taipei, Taiwan—UPF-Taiwan observed the International Day of Peace by holding a seminar on “The Future of Cross-Strait Relations: The Way of Peace, Sustainable Development and Cooperation.”
- Written by: Steinar Murud, secretary general, UPF-Norway
Oslo, Norway—The 2016 International Day of Peace was celebrated with a program titled “The UN Sustainable Development Goals and Religion.”
- Written by: UPF-Sri Lanka
Colombo, Sri Lanka—The International Day of Peace was celebrated in Sri Lanka with a program and a peace march.
- Written by: Santosh Neupane, chair, FFWPU-Fiji
Suva, Fiji—International Day of Peace 2016 was celebrated with a program on Parents’ Education.
- Written by: Franco Ravaglioli, secretary, UPF-Italy
Monza, Italy—An interfaith prayer for peace was held by candlelight to celebrate the 2016 International Day of Peace.
- Written by: Dr. Nurit Hirschfeld, secretary general, UPF-Israel
Haifa, Israel—In observance of the International Day of Peace, programs were held at two high schools in Israel.
- Written by: Dr. Raphael Ogar Oko, secretary general, UPF-Nigeria
Abuja, Nigeria—The 2016 International Day of Peace was commemorated in over 20 colleges of education in Nigeria.
- Written by: Mrs. Hermine Schellen, secretary general of UPF-Lebanon
Beirut, Lebanon—UPF-Lebanon commemorated the International Day of Peace by organizing a Festival of Peace in a Syrian refugee camp.
- Written by: Emiljun Rapada, UPF-USA
New York, United States—A peace forum, a dinner, meditation, and interfaith prayer were some of the ways that various U.S. chapters of UPF observed the 2016 International Day of Peace.
- Written by: Peter Haider, secretary general, UPF-Austria
Vienna, Austria—An International Day of Peace celebration at the United Nations’ Vienna office examined the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
- Written by: UPF-Argentina
Lanús, Argentina—UPF participated in the “Meeting for Peace” in Lanús, Buenos Aires province to celebrate the International Day of Peace.
- Written by: John Bellavance, vice president, UPF-Australia
Melbourne, Australia—In recognition of UN International Day of Peace, a conference to support and foster peacebuilding was held in Melbourne’s Docklands suburb.
- Written by: Elizabeth Rosemary, chair, UPF-Seychelles
Victoria, Seychelles—To commemorate International Day of Peace 2016, a Catholic Mass was held at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral.
- Written by: UPF-Indonesia
Jakarta, Indonesia—UPF-Indonesia observed the International Day of Peace by organizing four programs at three different schools in Jakarta.
- Written by: UPF-Korea
Seoul, Korea—Members of the diplomatic community in Seoul joined UPF in commemorating the International Day of Peace in Korea.
- Written by: UPF-Peru
Ayacucho, Peru—More than 1,700 people participated in events in Peru to honor the International Day of Peace.
- Written by: UPF-Nepal
Kathmandu, Nepal—UPF held events at schools across Nepal to celebrate the International Day of Peace 2016.
- Written by: Karsten Nielsen, secretary general, UPF-Denmark
Copenhagen, Denmark—The 2016 International Day of Peace was observed at a program in Denmark’s Parliament.
- Written by: UPF-Brazil
Sao Paulo, Brazil—The Peace Monument project, in partnership with UPF-Brazil and other civil society organizations, held a program in celebration of the International Day of Peace.
- Written by: Gregor Sattler, UPF-Germany
Bonn, Germany—On the occasion of the International Day of Peace, a program was held to discuss the United Nations and the Sustainable Development Goals.
- Written by: Mykhailo Ilin, chair, UPF-Ukraine
Kyiv, Ukraine—International Day of Peace 2016 was celebrated in Ukraine by a congress of young Ambassadors for Peace.
- Written by: UPF-Argentina
Buenos Aires, Argentina—Winners of the eighth International Poetry Contest, organized each year by UPF-Argentina, were announced on September 20.
- Written by: UPF-Cameroon
Yaoundé, Cameroon—International Day of Peace 2016 was the occasion for Ambassadors for Peace to reflect on how they can bring lasting peace to Cameroon.
- Written by: Professor Jabu Solly Maseko, secretary general, UPF-South Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa—Constructing a peace blueprint by which different groups join in building a nonviolent South Africa was the focus of a dialogue seminar.