Bratislava, Slovakia – As in past years, UPF-Slovakia held an event to commemorate the UN International Day of Families. This year Mr. Patrik Daniška, a lawyer and prominent figure from the Catholic movement, was the guest speaker at the event on May 18, 2026. His talk was entitled “The Struggle for Life and Family – How to Succeed in It?” Mr. Daniška is chairman of the Institute for Human Rights and Family Policy, and is best known as the main organizer of the National March

Biel/Bienne, Switzerland – Ambassadors for peace and friends gathered on May 11, 2026, to mark the International Day of Families in Biel/Bienne and on Zoom. The program focused on the spiritual dimension of individual and family life. Texts featuring major religions on “separation from the world” were read and explained by the ambassadors for Peace onsite and online, from Europe and Africa. The texts in World Scripture, A Comparative Anthology of Sacred Texts – an interfaith

Moscow, Russia – An evening program, “Time of Family Happiness,” was held at the Peace Embassy in Moscow on May 16, 2026, dedicated to the International Day of Families. The event opened with a formal address by Ms. Tatiana Kuznetsova, coordinator of the International Association of Arts and Culture for Peace (IAACP) in Russia. Ms. Kuznetsova shared her understanding that an ideal family requires the presence of God, and that God awaits an invitation to enter every home where

Ticino, Switzerland – On May 1, 2026, UPF-Switzerland held the 13th Peace Cup tournament in Ticino, promoting fair play and inclusion among young athletes. The event brought together ten Swiss and two Italian teams of 10- to 11-year-old football players. In his opening remarks, regional UPF President Mr. Giuseppe Termine, a social educator, encouraged the participants to make the most out of their football experience. “Today we are not just opening a football tournament. We a

Paris, France – In conjunction with the International Day of Families and the International Day of Living Together in Peace, celebrated by the United Nations on May 15 and 16, respectively, the UPF-France and the Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) France organized a gathering on the theme, “Living Together in the Family and in Society” at the Espace Barrault in Paris on May 16, 2026. In front of a full audience representing a particularly diverse public, three speakers

Europe & Middle East – UPF-Europe and Middle East (EUME) marked a historic milestone with the official inauguration of the International Association of Arts and Culture for Peace (IAACP), one of the eight pillars under UPF, on April 20, 2026. This celebratory event, held online and hosted by aspiring young Slovenian filmmaker and MC of the evening Mr. Kristian Irgl, brought together a global community – from Nigeria to Korea – to honor the transformative power of creativity i

London, United Kingdom – Couples, families, faith leaders and guests joined the annual Celebration of Marriage, Family and Faith hosted on April 18, 2026, by UPF-United Kingdom, together with the North of the Thames Community of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU). The joyful and reflective gathering affirmed the importance of marriage, family values and spiritual life in building peaceful communities. Opening the event, Mr. Robin Marsh, secretary g

Helsinki, Finland – The Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD) in Finland, in cooperation with CANIP-Finland, held an Interreligious Forum for Peace on April 18, 2026. Three speakers delivered keynote messages, each highlighting different dimensions of peace, faith and human dignity. Dr. Muhammad Nadeem Asghar, the first speaker, emphasized the universal values shared across cultures by linking religion and science. Drawing on his experiences in Japan,

Budapest, Hungary – UPF-Hungary and its primary associations held several activities from February to April, 2026, promoting peace through culture, faith, history and the environment. On the evening of February 23, 2026, an online working group meeting of the International Association of Arts and Culture for Peace (IAACP) addressed the question of how to create value through the arts. They stressed that, since artists communicate with their audiences through their work, the m

Stuttgart, Germany – An afternoon seminar on finding paths to peace proved deeply engaging for participants, who were challenged to consider how each individual can contribute to peace based on spiritual, ethical or religious values. The event was held in Stuttgart on April 18, 2026, organized by UPF-Germany and the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification of Stuttgart and Nuremberg. The program focused on ways to prevent or resolve conflicts, build trust, and foster

Voronezh, Russia – A series of engaging and inspiring lessons for high school students took place in Voronezh on April 8, 2026, as part of the environmental program “Caring for the Future.” The initiative was organized by Ms. Elena Knyazeva , head of UPF-Voronezh and coordinator of environmental programs in Russia. The purpose of the event was to spark young people’s interest in environmental issues, sustainable development, agriculture and social responsibility. During the

Tel Aviv, Israel – The Center of Scientology Israel convened a timely webinar bringing together religious leaders from diverse faith traditions to address the theme “Faith and Overcoming Challenges During Times of Crisis.” Representatives of UPF-Israel participated in the program on March 30, 2026, alongside other faith leaders. The webinar took place against the backdrop of the ongoing stress and trauma affecting many people in the region due to the current conflict. The or

Berlin, Germany – A professor of crisis management and peace education, a lawyer from the Federal Office of Justice, with eleven years’ experience as a judge, and a young pastor, wife and mother – these three women were the speakers at a Zoom event hosted by UPF-Germany on March 28 on the theme "No Peace without Women," to commemorate International Women’s Day. They spoke about their experiences as women in the family, working life and society. In his welcoming address, UPF-

Tetovo, North Macedonia – UPF-Albania took part in the closing event of the INNOV8PEACE Project, implemented by the International Association of Youth and Students for Peace (IAYSP) Europe and the Middle East (EUME) in cooperation with the University of Tetovo, and co-funded by the European Union, on March 24, 2026. The conference, “From Youth Initiatives to Sustainable Peace,” was held at the University of Tetovo, bringing together around 150 professors, academics, students

Paris, France – In conjunction with International Women's Day, a conference and debate entitled "Women's Diplomacy: A Lever for Rights, Justice, and Action" was held at the Espace Barrault in Paris on March 21, 2026. The event was organized by UPF-France and Women's Federation for World Peace (WFWP) France. Moderated by Ms. Brigitte Wada , president of WFWP France, the event brought together four experienced speakers to explore the role of women in peace processes and intern

Voronezh, Russia – In preparation for the upcoming Earth Day, a series of environmental education activities were held in Voronezh and across the Voronezh Region. The initiative aimed to raise awareness about ecological responsibility and inspire young people to take care of the environment in their daily lives. On March 16, an interactive eco-games session was organized at Secondary School No. 47 in Voronezh, bringing together around 60 students. The event was organized by

Prague, Czech Republic – To mark International Women’s Day, UPF-Czech Republic organized a conference entitled “Women in the 21st Century” at CEVRO University in Prague on March 9, 2026. The conference was well attended and attracted several first-time participants. Two panels discussed the status of women throughout history from the perspectives of religion, politics, economics, family and social life. Topics included an examination of feminism as to whether it has solved p

Madrid, Spain – UPF-Spain partnered with the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification in organizing a two-day charity event in Madrid, raising funds to support education for impoverished children in Cameroon. The activity was inspired by Father Cyprien Melib i, a Catholic priest from Cameroon who now lives in Spain. He is the founder of the association EduCamerún, which provides scholarships to children from families with limited resources. On February 28 and Ma

Copenhagen, Denmark – As part of its 2026 activity plan, UPF-Denmark has launched a new monthly lecture and dialogue series on UPF’s peace principles. The initiative invites ambassadors for peace to deepen their understanding of UPF’s vision and values for peacebuilding, and to invite new participants – especially young people – to engage in meaningful dialogue about values, responsibility and peace. Dr. Thorkil Christensen volunteered to develop a short presentation for ea

Vau i Dejës, Albania – To mark the World Day of Social Justice, UPF-Albania organized an event in the Municipality of Vau i Dejës on February 20, 2026, titled, “Peace Begins with Justice.” The program gathered around 30 participants, including representatives of local institutions, leaders of peace councils, and personalities actively engaged in community service. Among those present were Mr. Ervis Molla , deputy mayor of Vau i Dejës; Mr. Kole Shaben, chairman of the local