United Nations News

Moscow, Russia - A  UPF-Eurasia conference on “Solidarity as a Fundamental Value of Humankind in the 21^st Century” related to the International Human Solidarity Day took place in Moscow on December 17. There were 120 delegates from the Moscow, Ural, Siberia, and Far East regions of Russia as well as from the neighboring Belarus, Ukraine, and Latvia.

Stuttgart, Germany - Hubert Arnoldi, UPF-Stuttgart Chairman and Board Chairman of the House of Religion in Stuttgart, welcomed 30 guests to a forum on the International Day of Human Rights, December 10.

Gorkha, Nepal - In commemoration of International Human Rights Day, December 10, UPF-Nepal invited officials, educators, and community leaders in the Gorkha District to a seminar about developments in Nepal's transition from a monarchy to a constitutional republic.

Human Rights Day, December 10, celebrates the rights that bind together the global community and the adoption 63 years ago of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. UPF chapters in Germany, Italy, Nepal, and the UK organized programs on this UN commemorative day.

London, UK - UPF-Europe organized an International Leadership Conference in London December 8-10 on the theme 'Commemorating Human Rights Day 2011: How Far Have We Progressed?'

Buenos Aires, Argentina - “Let’s say: ‘Thank you!’ together” was the motto that focused the Argentine UPF celebration of International Volunteer Day on December 5 in Buenos Aires. The emotional celebration was held in the Guimerá Hall of the Casal de Catalunya in the historical district of San Telmo. Awards were presented to the winners of the Competition on Solidarity Activities “Social Action: Common Welfare and Voluntary Work."

Tallinn, Estonia - The UPF Peace Embassy hosted a joyful and creative Universal Children's Day event for grandparents, parents, and children from ages three to about 14. The November 20 program included an introduction to UPF and its support of UN initiatives, dances and songs by the children, creative painting and drawing, and gymnastics.

Tbilisi, Georgia - In commemoration of the International Day of Tolerance, the Youth Center of Tbilisi hosted an educational program and hour of running on November 13, and 12th grade students at High School No. 136 in Tbilisi participated in an interactive training program on November 16.

For the third year in a row, UPF-Russia organized "An Hour of Running," academic forums, social events, and interactive learning experiences in various parts of the nation marking the UN International Day of Tolerance, November 16.

Novosibirsk, Russia - UPF-Siberia, together with Women’s Initiative Creative Association, organized and carried out the volunteer action “Clean Windows – Clean Hearts” related to the International Decade of Older Persons.

Tbilisi, Georgia - A role play on the theme of “Five Principles of Peace” was held at the office of the Foundation for the Development of Human Resources on October 24 in celebration of the 66th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. About 30 pupils, students, young representatives of NGOs, and Ambassadors for Peace shared about the UN’s history and activities, discussed peacebuilding, and learned about ways to reach compromise solutions. The program was organized by UPF-Georgia with the support of the UN Information Office in Tbilisi.

UPF chapters in Khabarovsk, Ryazan, St. Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg organized celebrations of UN Day, observed throughout the world on October 24, the date the UN was founded in 1945.

New Delhi, India - The United Nations Information Centre for India and Bhutan and UPF-India jointly organized two programs in commemoration of the UN International Day of Peace and the UN International Day of Non-violence.

Moscow, Russia - Youth Ambassadors for Peace helped staff the UN displays at the 24^th International Book Fair in Moscow September 7 to 12. There were two stands: “United Nations in the Russian Federation” and “Human Rights.”

London, UK - An event in the House of Lords to mark September 12 as Global Interdependence Day was entitled 'Islam, Multi-culturalism and the Lessons of Norway' and co-sponsored by the Universal Peace Federation.