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

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

Bratislava, Slovakia – In support of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, designated by the United Nations as June 26, UPF-Slovakia organized an event on “The Fight Against Drugs.” Due to scheduling constraints, the event took place on June 11, 2026. Three experienced speakers, Mr. Pavel Mudra, Ms. Erika Botlíková, and Mr. Lukáš Bechyňa, were welcomed for this two-hour event, during which participants gained a wealth of information and valuable in

Birmingham, United Kingdom – At its third Principles of Peace evening on June 11, 2026, UPF-West Midlands invited participants to discuss God's work in history to bring humanity back to the original ideal of peace, emphasizing forgiveness and reconciliation. Around 70 friends from different faiths, nationalities, races and cultures attended – a melting pot of people from varied social backgrounds. During the presentation Mr. David Earle, director of UPF-West Midlands, mentio

Moscow, Russia – The 10th anniversary of “Play Football for Peace” was marked with a tournament in the Lyubertsy district of Moscow region on June 6, 2026. Two neighborhood football fields became a gathering place for neighbors, friends, families and approximately 40 football players who came together for sport, friendship and fair competition. The tournament was organized by Mr. Dmitry Samko, head of UPF-Moscow region. Since 2016, these community football events have become

Chisinau, Moldova – To honor families and children, UPF-Moldova held two events designed to support and inspire children, their parents and caregivers. On the occasion of the International Day of Families on May 15, 2026, UPF-Molodova, in partnership with the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) and the Personal Assistance Social Service (SSAP), organized an event for the families of persons with disabilities and the personal assistants who care for the

Vienna, Austria – The United Nations’ motto for the International Day of Families 2026 is "Families, Inequalities and Child Well-being." UPF-Austria, the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) and the Austrian Women's Federation for World Peace (WFWP) addressed this theme on May 30, 2026, in Vienna with a conference entitled "Family – School of Love: Strong Families, Happy Children." The event brought together an international audience of 120 people and spe

Stuttgart, Germany – More than 60 participants joined an online Peace Talk held in observance of the International Day of Families and Global Day of Parents on May 30, 2026. The event focused on the importance of supporting families, both through public policy and through practical efforts to strengthen relationships, communication, and conflict resolution in daily life. Mr. Karl-Christian Hausmann, chairman of UPF-Germany, opened the event by describing the family as a found

Fatima, Portugal – The event "Path to Peace" was held at the José Saraiva Auditorium in Fátima on May 29, 2026, organized by the Order of the Christian Templar Knights and the International Templar Confederation (OCTC-CTI) in partnership with UPF-Portugal. The event brought together representatives of different religious traditions; humanitarian, cultural and social organizations; spiritual leaders; and members of national and international Templar orders, including the Sover

Prague, Czech Republic – Experts on family issues shared their perspectives at a conference hosted by UPF-Czech Republic on May 25, 2006, in Prague, to mark the International Day of Families. Ms. Nina Nováková, a former member of Parliament and currently chairwoman of the Association of Christian Seniors, spoke on the topic, “Family and the Search for One’s Own Identity.” She pointed out that humans are social beings who want to belong somewhere and need to know their identit

Tirana, Albania – To mark the International Day of Families and UPF’s Month of Family, UPF-Albania and the Tirana Regional Peace Council held an event entitled “The Family – The Foundation of Peace and Social Order” on May 25, 2026. Among the 200 participants were ambassadors for peace, personalities from various fields, friends and special guests. The purpose of the meeting was to promote family values and raise awareness about the importance of educating younger generations

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

Amsterdam, Netherlands – On Sunday afternoon, May 17, 2026, UPF-Netherlands and Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) organized a celebration of the UN International Day of Families. The UPF-Netherlands secretary general, Dr. Willem Koetsier, warmly welcomed everyone, before reading the United Nations’ explanation of this year’s theme for the day: “The theme of the 2026 observance, “Families, Inequalities and Child Wellbeing,” underscores how widening inequalities are sha

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

Parndorf, Austria – The Parndorf Memorial Site is a World War II and Holocaust memorial that commemorates local residents who were killed by the Nazi regime for their Jewish faith, political views or physical and mental disabilities. On May 17, 2026, UPF-Burgenland, in cooperation with the site’s creators and the Municipality of Parndorf, hosted the fourth Festival of Peace – a moving event honoring those victims. The well-attended ceremony was characterized by a dignified y

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

Tirana, Albania – To celebrate the UN International Day of Families, UPF-Albania, local ambassadors for peace, and the Tirana Peace Council held a roundtable discussion on the topic “Family in Transition: Economic and Social Challenges and Policies for Sustainability” on May 8, 2026. This roundtable brought attention to the reality faced by Albanian families today and the need for stronger supportive policies. The event gathered experts, professionals and representatives fr