When a child can study after sunset because reliable electricity has reached the home; when a school has access to safe drinking water; when neighbors work together to protect a public space, sustainable development becomes tangible. It may be measured through policies, systems and indicators, but it is ultimately experienced in families, schools, neighborhoods and local communities. As the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) convenes at United Nation

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo – UPF’s work in the DRC took an important step forward with the official launch of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace on July 4, 2026. The inaugural conference, organized by UPF-Africa, UPF-DRC and the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was held at the People’s Palace in Kinshasa, with approximately 200 participants, including senior parliamentary leaders, members of Parliament, UPF re

Lima, Peru – A special Pastor’s Day celebration at UPF-Peru headquarters in Miraflores on June 27, 2026, honored those who dedicate their lives to serving their faith communities. More than 70 religious leaders from Christian and other faiths joined the event, which was co-sponsored by UPF-Peru and the Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD) Peru. The program began with congratulatory remarks from Dr. Trevor Jones, president of UPF-Peru, sent in a video fr

A United Nations High-Level Meeting in New York on June 23, 2026, adopted a Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, “United to End AIDS by 2030.” It underscores that addressing HIV/AIDS extends beyond clinical services to include family stability and international solidarity. The declaration reaffirms the commitment contained in Sustainable Development Goal 3, including the objective of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Significant progress has been achieved in recent

Tirana, Albania – On the morning of June 26, 2026, the Albanian Parliament hosted the Balkan Leadership Conference on "Media Freedom, Democracy and Digital Governance in the Western Balkans." The event was co-sponsored by UPF’s International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP), the Albanian Parliament, the Washington Times Foundation, the International Association of Youth and Students for Peace (IAYSP), the International Media Association for Peace (IMAP) and se

Moscow, Russia – The annual youth athletics supermarathon “Children Against Drugs – I Choose Sports” took place from June 12 to 26, 2026, with UPF-Russia serving as a co-organizer, as part of its Peace Road initiative. Over the course of two weeks, young runners completed a relay run from Moscow through the historic cities of Russia’s Golden Ring, combining sport, cultural heritage, remembrance, and meaningful encounters with local communities. Around 1,800 people joined the

IAPD – The first Global Interfaith Prayer for the Nation and the World: “Spirituality and the Principles of Happiness” was sponsored by the Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD) on June 25, 2026. Participating in the virtual program were 65 people from different parts of the world. Three faith leaders shared their thoughts about the principles of happiness. Patriarch George A. Stallings, Jr., a board member of the World Clergy for Leadership Conference (

As June 2026 draws to a close, the calendars of several religious and spiritual traditions converge around themes of fasting, remembrance, purification, prayer, gratitude and responsibility. These observances do not diminish the distinct identities of the world's faiths. Rather, they reveal common moral concerns through which human beings are invited to cultivate self-discipline, deepen compassion, honor what others hold sacred, and strengthen the habits upon which peaceful s

IMAP, North America – To highlight World Environment Day, celebrated annually in June, the International Media Association for Peace (IMAP) organized a webinar on June 23, 2026, with the support of the Hyo Jeong International Foundation for Environmental Peace (HJIFEP). The speakers explored the relationship between environmental stewardship, spirituality, ethics and sustainable development. Moderated by the IMAP-Canada coordinator, Mr. Pierre Beauregard, the discussion cente

When the United Nations Peacebuilding Week 2026 opens in New York from June 22 to 26, much attention will naturally turn to institutions, financing, inclusion and impact. These attentions are necessary. Peacebuilding requires structures that can survive political pressure, respond to local realities and support communities before violence returns. Yet one part of peacebuilding is often less visible because it does not begin with a signed accord. It begins earlier, in the peri

UPF-EUME – A webinar titled “Bridges of Love” brought together Sikh and Muslim scholars on June 20, 2026, to highlight the shared values and vision of these two distinct faiths. The program was hosted by UPF-Europe and the Middle East (UPF-EUME) and the Interreligious Association for Peace and Development. The starting point for this webinar was the publication of a book by the same name, the result of a pioneering collaboration between two visionaries, Dr. Surender Singh Kan

Linz, Austria – UPF-Upper Austria hosted an interfaith breakfast in conjunction with the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) on June 20, 2026, on the theme of “Courage – Humility,” to mark the 400th anniversary of the 1626 Peasants’ War in Upper Austria. The event was a direct part of the Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648), which began as a religious war between Catholics and Protestants. The state of Upper Austria has had a Religious Advisory Council since 2