United Nations News

New York, USA - The UN Focal Point on the family invites feedback on preparations for the observance of the 20th anniversary of the International Year of the Family (2014).

New York, USA - In parallel and side events during the 56th Session of the UN's Commission on the Status of Women, UPF representatives emphasized strengthening the family and combating human trafficking within the overall focus of UN Women on the empowerment of rural women.

UN Headquarters, New York - The Permanent Mission of Iraq hosted a luncheon on March 5 with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as Keynote Speaker, on the theme of “The Role of the Secretary-General and the UN in the Empowerment of Women,” held at the Ambassadors Riverview Tent at the UN headquarters New York. More than 200 distinguished guests attended from the UN diplomatic community, UN agencies and secretariat, as well as members of the UN NGO community.

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, chaired by Mrs. Sharon Hamilton Getz, held a one-day conference on “The Price of Violence and Dividends in Healing the Wounds of History” at the Nigeria House, on February 15.

New York, USA - Mr. Taj Hamad, UPF Secretary General, and Genie Kagawa, Deputy Director of UPF's Office of UN Relations, participated in a February 10 workshop entitled “Key Issues for the Negotiation of the Arms Trade Treaty,” co-sponsored by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research and the Permanent Mission of Australia. The workshop provided background information about the global arms trade in preparation for the Arms Trade Treaty conference in July.

The 2012 World Interfaith Harmony Week came to a dramatic and moving conclusion on February 7 with a program at the United Nations General Assembly hosted by the President, H.E. Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, and attended by high-level representatives of the United Nations Secretariat, Member States, religious leaders, and the United Nations NGO community, including the Universal Peace Federation.

New York, USA - The 2011 Week of Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns, October 20-28, focused on visionary leadership as a key to solve the challenges facing the United Nations and the world.

New York, USA - On the 66th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed the need for unity as the world seeks solutions for the key challenges facing humanity. Read about UN Day observances organized by UPF-Georgia and UPF-Russia.

On September 9, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly convened for a special Commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of the attacks of 9/11. The ceremony in the General Assembly Hall brought together diplomats to mark this solemn occasion in hopes of moving forward for a better and more secure future for generations to come.

More than 600 top dignitaries from the African Union and the United Nations, NGOs, their families and friends gathered for the 48th celebration of Africa Day at the Manhattan Center in New York on May 31, with the innovative theme “Africa and the Diaspora” recognizing the contributions of tens of millions of Africans now living outside their native homeland during the UN's International Year of People of African Descent."

New York, USA - Five Permanent Missions to the UN and the NGO Committee on the Family joined UPF in presenting a program on “Addressing Poverty by Strengthening Families” at the Office of the Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations on May 16.

New York, USA - A Japanese Tea Ceremony was hosted by the Permanent Mission of Tunisia to the United Nations on April 27 at the Tunisian House.

New York, USA - “Women and the World at a Turning Point”, a parallel event of the UN’s 55^th Commission on the Status of Women was held at the Nigeria House on March 2. H.E. Mrs. Joy Ogwu, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN, alluded to recent dramatic events in North Africa and the Middle East and called on women to seize the moment and take leading roles during this time of radical changes towards a direction of peace and tolerance.

New York, USA - The Committee of Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns honored the UN’s designation of 2010 as the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures in a week-long program of events created to explore the UN's commitment to peaceful resolutions of international issues. The week included focused meditations, workshops, panel discussions, group interchanges, and cultural performances. In addition, it honored the final year of the Decade of a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World.

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. There are eight Millennium Development Goals, and the September 22 summit at the UN is evaluating progress.