As May 2026 begins, the Universal Peace Federation enters the third and final full month of its 100 Days of Serving Community campaign, running from February 20 to June 1, 2026. March emphasized partnerships to strengthen local impact. April emphasized volunteer service that communities could recognize and welcome. May brings this public work to its center: the family and values-based education. This leads directly to the Global Day of Parents, and raises a practical question

South and Central America – A panel of leaders from South America, Central America and the Caribbean gathered in a webinar on April 24, 2026, to commemorate the United Nations International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace, under the theme “Inclusion and Solidarity in Diplomacy: Peace and Development for All.” Organized by UPF in collaboration with the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP) – a project under the UPF umbrella – Mr. Mario S

New York, United States – UPF-USA and the NGO Committee on the Family, NY (NGOCF NY) at the United Nations convened a virtual program on April 23, 2026, titled "The Demographic Turning Point: Family, Fertility, and What Comes Next." With three-quarters of the world now experiencing fertility rates below replacement level, concern over the economic and social consequences of an increasingly aged population has intensified globally. Three research policy experts addressed the c

Each year on April 22, the United Nations marks International Mother Earth Day. The message is direct: human life and the natural world cannot be separated. When the land is degraded, forests are lost, water is polluted, and climate pressure grows; the consequences do not stay in nature alone. They reach homes, food systems, health, livelihoods, migration and social stability. That is why this day belongs naturally within UPF’s Month of Service. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainabl

Lima, Peru – UPF-Peru celebrated International Mother Earth Day on April 21, 2026, with a forum at the Congress of the Republic of Peru, attended by 120 guests. The event was sponsored by Congressman Dr. Raúl Huamán Coronado and the Peru chapter of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP), of which Congressman Coronado serves as secretary general. The president of UPF-Peru, Dr. Trevor Jones, delivered a welcoming address via video message from London

Melbourne, Australia – One hundred leading international scholars, policymakers and peace practitioners gathered online on April 18, 2026, to mark the UN International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace, calling for a renewed global commitment to cooperation, shared values and ethical leadership in an increasingly uncertain world. Hosted by the International Association of Academicians for Peace (IAAP) Asia Pacific, a primary association of UPF, the webinar brough

As the United Nations moves toward selecting its next Secretary-General for the term beginning January 1, 2027, member states face a decision of both moral and strategic consequence. The central question is not simply one of representation or managerial competence, but whether the chosen candidate can restore credibility, strengthen institutional effectiveness, and embody the moral authority required to serve the whole human family in a fractured age. Public discussion has in

From April 14-16, 2026, the United Nations will convene the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2026 at its headquarters in New York. Held in the context of the 2026 ECOSOC theme and the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development , the forum will support transformative, equitable, innovative, and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals. Among the goals under review, SDG 11, sustainable cities and communities, is

Phnom Penh, Cambodia – In conjunction with the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, the Cambodian Tong Il Moo Do Federation held its national championship from April 8-11, 2026, at the Royal University of Phnom Penh. The event brought together athletes, coaches and supporters from across Cambodia, encouraging discipline, teamwork and sportsmanship. Tong Il Moo Do is a comprehensive martial art system founded on principles of unifying body and mind, character

Pope Leo XIV called the faithful to Saint Peter’s Basilica on April 11 as the Middle East searches for a path from fragile ceasefire to durable dialogue. On Easter Sunday, Pope Leo XIV turned a liturgical appeal into a concrete public act. In his Urbi et Orbi message of April 5, 2026, he urged those with weapons to lay them down and invited the faithful to join him for a Prayer Vigil for Peace in Saint Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, April 11. On April 8 he renewed that invita

South and Central America – A panel of leaders from South America, Central America and the Caribbean gathered in a webinar on April 9, 2026, to commemorate the UN International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, under the theme “Sport Builds Bridges and Breaks Down Barriers: Youth, Family and Future.” The event was organized by UPF and several organizations under the UPF umbrella. Mr. Jaime Fernandez, secretary general of UPF-Peru, served as moderator. He extended a war

Easter is a profoundly Christian celebration of the Resurrection, yet its spirit also has the power to open hearts to reconciliation, mutual respect, and a deeper awareness of our shared human calling. It is one of the most sacred and beloved seasons in the Christian world, a joyful proclamation that Jesus Christ is risen; that love is stronger than hatred, life stronger than death, and that no darkness is so deep that God cannot bring light into it. For Christians, Easter is

As April 2026 begins, the Universal Peace Federation enters the second full month of its 100 Days of Serving Community campaign, running from February 20 to June 1. March was the Month of Partnerships; April is the Month of Service. Partnerships build trust through practical action in society. Service reaches beyond charity: it reduces social isolation, renews shared public spaces, supports vulnerable families, assists those in need, and builds interpersonal trust. This focus

As the United Nations marks the International Day of Zero Waste on March 30, this observance closes March, dedicated to partnerships, and opens April as UPF’s month of service within its 100 Days of Serving Community campaign from February 20 to June 1, 2026. The International Day of Zero Waste is a reminder that waste is not only a technical issue but a human one. In 2026 the day focuses on food waste, placing it squarely within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,

Abuja, Nigeria – To commemorate International Women’s Day, UPF-Nigeria held a seminar on the dual themes of "Give to Gain" and "Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls" on March 28, 2026. The event was organized by UPF Peace Ambassador Ms. Joy G. Fan. A keynote address by UPF Secretary General Dr. George Charles Ikpot focussed on the essential status and value of women within the family and broader society. He emphasized that justice for women is not merely a legal r

Nairobi, Kenya – The International Association of First Ladies for Peace (IAFLP) Africa organized a high-level continental webinar on the theme “No Peace Without Women” on March 28, 2026, in alignment with International Women’s Day. The program served as a working-level meeting, inaugurating new leadership and adopting a unified Call to Action, as IAFLP seeks to transition from dialogue to a structured, ECOSOC-aligned advocacy platform designed to influence peace and mediatio

South and Central America –A panel of leaders from South America, Central America and the Caribbean joined on March 26, 2026, to commemorate UN World Water Day in a webinar with the theme: "Protection of the Environment and Water Resources: A Path to Peace, Well-being and Human Development." Sponsored by UPF in collaboration with affiliated associations, the event was moderated by Mr. Mario Salinas, secretary general for UPF-Latin America and regional coordinator of the In

Each year, from March 21 to 27, the United Nations observes the Week of Solidarity with Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination, proclaimed by the General Assembly in resolution A/RES/34/24. The week begins with the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination , rooted in the memory of the Sharpeville massacre of 1960, when 69 peaceful protestors in South Africa were killed under apartheid. It also stands within the legal and moral frame

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