Young women and men everywhere are demonstrating the power of connection by reaching out to each other, and rallying together, in the common cause of the dignity and human rights to which their peoples aspire.
For this year's International Day of Peace observance on September 21, the UN chose the theme of "Make Your Voice Heard," under the overall idea of peace and democracy.
Each year, the Universal Peace Federation and its Ambassadors for Peace around the world organize commemorations of the International Day of Peace. Programs were organized in about 70 nations this year.
Read the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's statement for the International Day of Peace [English, French, Spanish] and UPF's statement [English, French].
UPF PROGRAMS
Afghanistan - A program of speeches and sharing personal experiences, music, and poetry in Kabul Albania - Giving school supplies to Roma orphans in Tirana and Shkodra Argentina - A cultural program and awarding prizes in a poetry competition in Buenos Aires Australia - A program in Melbourne Austria - An interreligious service in Vienna Barbados - A week of peace education seminars in Bridgetown Belarus - Conference in Vitebsk on "May the Tragedy of Katyn Never Be Repeated" Benin - Conferences on leadership and good governance in Cotonou Brazil - Celebrations in Sao Paulo included dedicating a new Peace Monument and an International Festival Burkina Faso - Program and tree-planting in Nangreongo Cambodia - Youth visiting the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh Cameroon - Programs in Yaounde and Buea
Canada - A program in Montreal Central African Republic - Peace conferences in Bangui, Bimba, and Gababja Colombia - Three programs in Bogota promoting interreligious understanding and cooperation Congo - A program in Brazzaville at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Dominican Republic - A program at the Regional University Center in Barahona Ecuador - A forum on peace and democracy in Quito Estonia - A program at a school in Torva Finland - A seminar in Helsinki France - A forum in Paris on "Does Multiculturalism Still Contribute to Peace?" Gabon - A program in Libreville Georgia - A program in a Tbilisi park featuring speeches, arts, crafts, music, and dancing Germany - Programs in Bonn, Dusseldorf, Munich, and Stuttgart Ghana - Seminars in Accra for Ambassadors for Peace and youth leaders, including a service program Guyana - A program in Georgetown with the Prime Minister as keynote speaker Honduras - A meeting in Tegucigalpa India - Athletic competitions in New Delhi, Lucknow, and Gangtok and a conference in New Delhi Indonesia - A program at the Islamic State University in Jakarta Ireland - A discussion evening at the Lantern Interfaith Center in Dublin Israel - A Jewish-Christian dialogue at the Dormition Church in Jerusalem Italy - Interfaith prayers in Bergamo and Monza Japan - A program hosted by the Embassy of Afghanistan in Tokyo and a beach clean up on the Miura Peninsula Kenya - A celebration of the International Day of Peace and Eid ul-Fitr in Nairobi Latvia - A program at the Peace Embassy in Riga Liberia - Planting a tree of peace at the Monroe City Hall in Maryland County Marshall Islands - A program at the Peace Embassy in Majuro Mauritius - A program in Quatre-Bornes for foster children and those caring for them Mexico - A program in Mexico City with the NGO Vivir en Paz Moldova - A seminar, conference, and several presentations at universities in Chisinau Nepal - Programs in Kathmandu, Kaski, Morang, Jhapa, Sunsari, Makwanpur, Chitwan, Banke, and Rupandehi Netherlands - Programs at the Dialogue Center in Amsterdam and Christus Triumfator Church in The Hague New Zealand - A program at the Maori Anglican Church meeting hall in Auckland Nicaragua - A program at the Martin Luther King Evangelical Nicaraguan University in Managua Nigeria - Programs in Abuja, Jos, and Port Harcourt Norway - An interfaith program at the Oslo Central Mosque Paraguay - A program on Democracy and Good Governance at the Gran Hotel Paraguay in Asuncion Peru - A conference hosted by the Peruvian Congress and a peace march in the Comas district of Lima Russia - Conferences and forums, school programs, sports events, and women's projects in 14 cities Rwanda - A program at the New Hope Technical Institute in Kigali Scotland - A program in Perth reporting on interfaith initiatives in East Africa Senegal - A program in Casamance on the theme "Let's Unite in Heart" Seychelles - A program at the National Theater in Victoria Sierra Leone - An environmental cleanup at the Connaught Teaching Hospital in Freetown. Slovakia - Programs with students in two schools in Nitra Slovenia - A program in Ljubljana-Kofljica Solomon Islands - Programs at two schools in Honiara Spain - A forum in Barcelona on the theme of Libya: Present and Future Sri Lanka - A workshop on character education and peacebuilding at the Central College in Negambo Switzerland - A symposium on multiculturalism at the UN office in Geneva Taiwan - A seminar in Taipei on the proposal for an interreligious peace council Thailand - Schools throughout the nation observing a minute of silence, a video clip contest on the theme of peace, and inaugurating a national Interreligious Peace Council in Bangkok
Below, winner of the Thailand video contest:
Togo - Programs in Lome and Kara United Kingdom - Three forums in the London area on peacebuilding in various regions of the world United States - Events in various states throughout the nation Uruguay - An interreligious peace summit in Montevideo Venezuela - A peace walk in Caracas Washington DC USA - A "Make Your Voice Heard" luncheon at The Washington Times Foundation