Nijmegen, Netherlands – Adopting the UN theme for Human Rights Day – “Human Rights, Our Everyday Essentials” – UPF-Netherlands held an evening program on December 14, 2025, at the parish house of the Antonius van Padua Church in the city of Nijmegen. MC Mr. Joseph Salaris introduced the theme, which emphasizes that “human rights are positive, essential and attainable.” Then Mr. Hans Noot , director of Human Rights Without Frontiers (HWRF) in the Netherlands and co-founder

Rome, Italy – UPF-Italy and the Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD-Italy) marked Human Rights Day on December 11, 2025, at the Europa Experience – David Sassoli exhibition space in Rome. The event highlighted freedom of faith, belief and conscience as a cornerstone of peaceful coexistence and European integration. Moderated by Mrs. Gabriella Mieli , head of external relations for UPF-Italy, the conference brought together institutional, academic

Prague, Czech Republic – The history of human rights and their relationship to religious freedom were key topics addressed at a conference to mark Human Rights Day on December 10, 2025, in Prague. Hosted by UPF-Czech Republic, the conference, titled “Human Rights as an Essential Part of Our Daily Lives,” was held at the premises of the Czech Association of Scientific and Technical Societies. Panel speakers addressed these two aspects of human rights. Dr. Roman Joch , directo

Copenhagen, Denmark – Human rights activists and civil society representatives gathered to mark Human Rights Day on December 10, 2025, at the annual Spiritual Human Rights Conference, in Copenhagen and online. Soteria International, together with Human Rights Without Frontiers, the Gerard Noodt Foundation for Freedom of Religion and Belief, the European Muslim Initiative for Social Cohesion, and the Universal Peace Federation, co-hosted the event. Moderated by Mr. Jonathan S

London, United Kingdom – In support of the United Nations’ campaign for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, UPF-UK screened the film “Unsilenced” at its headquarters in London on December 9, 2025. The event was co-organized by the National Association of Women’s Organizations (NAWO) and the Justina Mutale Foundation, who advocate dignity, safety and human rights for women and girls. The two organizations held daily awareness-raising sessions throughout the campaign p

On December 10 the international community marks Human Rights Day, commemorating the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris in 1948 as General Assembly Resolution 217 A. The declaration set out, for the first time, a common standard of fundamental rights and freedoms for all people, and has inspired a wide body of international human rights treaties and standards, becoming a foundation for contemporary internati

Athens, Greece – Drizzly weather did not discourage a hardy group of Peace Road activists from marching through downtown Athens on Sunday, December 7th, 2025. UPF-Greece, in cooperation with members of the Scientology Association in Athens, organized the event, in which members of the Church of Latter-Day Saints were also invited to join. Posters and leaflets handed out earlier also encouraged members of the public to participate. A police escort accompanied the Peace Road m

Every year on December 5, the international community marks International Volunteer Day , established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1985 to recognize the contribution of volunteers to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2025 this observance takes place under the theme “ Every Contribution Matters ” and coincides with the global launch of the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development in 2026 (Res. A/RES/78/127). In this context the Univ

On the thirtieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action , widely regarded by the United Nations as the most comprehensive global program of action for gender equality, the international community takes stock of progress and identifies the gaps that still require attention. The platform's twelve critical areas of concern – spanning education, health, violence prevention, economic participation, and women's participation in power and decision-making –

London, United Kingdom – Members and supporters of UPF-UK came together on November 26, 2025, for a powerful evening dedicated to ending violence against women, as part of the UN’s 16 days of activism campaign, which runs from November 25 to Human Rights Day on December 10. The event featured inspiring stories of resilience, insightful contributions from women leaders and male allies, and thoughtful discussions on community support and online protection. It was a meaningful

The Universal Peace Federation (UPF) congratulates the G20 leaders on the successful 2025 G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, held on November 22–23, 2025. This first G20 summit on the African continent advanced priorities set by the host under the themes of solidarity, equality and sustainability. The Johannesburg Summit produced several concrete results, including strengthened representation of Africa in global governance, steps toward reforming the international f

New York, United States – The NGO Committee on the Family, NY – of which UPF is an executive member – held a virtual program on November 20, 2025, to review the Second World Summit for Social Development held in Doha, Qatar, from November 4-6. The summit aimed to address the largely poor progress in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The expert panel had a special interest in the degree to which the family could potentially accelerate the attainment of Ag

From November 17 to 21, 2025, representatives of governments and international organizations will gather at United Nations Headquarters in New York for the Sixth Session of the Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction. This annual meeting reviews progress toward the objective of reducing the risks associated with weapons of mass destruction in the region and provides a forum for states to discuss prac

Lisbon, Portugal – A symposium on the theme "Bridges of Peace, Sustainability, and Global Solidarity," hosted by UPF-Portugal at the Embassy of Peace in Lisbon on November 15, 2025, drew over 70 participants, despite heavy rain and competing events in the same area. While commemorating the International Day of Peace and UPF’s 20th anniversary, the event aimed to strengthen interreligious dialogue, consolidate partnerships, and promote a vision of peace, sustainability, and g

On November 16, the United Nations commemorates the International Day for Tolerance , proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1996. At a time when mistrust, polarization and targeted misinformation strain relations within and between societies, this observance calls on states, educators, media and civil society to strengthen learning, law and public life in a way that allows people with different convictions and histories to coexist peacefully. It also supports the achieveme

Each year on November 10, the international community observes World Science Day for Peace and Development , proclaimed by UNESCO in 2001 to highlight science’s role in sustainable progress and peace. The 2025 theme, Trust, Transformation, and Tomorrow: The Science We Need for 2050 , underscores the importance of transparency, inclusion, and ethics in scientific practice. These values resonate deeply with the Universal Peace Federation’s principles of interdependence, mutual

UNESCO’s 43rd General Conference , held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from October 30 to November 13, 2025, marks an opportunity for global dialogue on education, culture, and ethics in the digital age. Gathering representatives of 195 member states outside Paris for the first time in nearly four decades, the conference underscores the value of intercultural understanding at a time when technology is reshaping societies faster than human consciousness can adapt. Samarkand, a his

Paris, France – To mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, a conference was held on November 7, 2025, at the headquarters of UPF-France at Espace Barrault in Paris. Under the theme “At 80 – What Future for the United Nations?” the event was dedicated to examining the organization’s founding principles, its evolving objectives, and its prospects in a rapidly transforming global context. Eighty years after the adoption of the San Francisco Charter, mul

The Universal Peace Federation (UPF), founded by Dr. Hak Ja Han and the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon , an NGO in General Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council ( ECOSOC ), extends its greetings to all participants of the Second World Summit for Social Development ( SWSSD 2025 ), held in Doha from November 4 to 6, 2025. Marking the thirtieth anniversary of the 1995 Copenhagen World Summit for Social Development , this gathering reaffirms the globa

Meersburg, Germany – More than fifty participants from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein met in the small but internationally known town of Meersburg, on Lake Constance in Germany, for a discussion on the theme, “The World at a Turning Point – What Values Will Secure Our Future?” The conference took part from November 1-2, 2025. The mayor of Meersburg, Mr. Robert Scherer , opened the conference with welcoming remarks, linking his motto, “Peace begins in the m