On behalf of the founders of the Universal Peace Federation, Dr. Hak Ja Han and her late husband, Dr. Sun Myung Moon, we extend our deepest and heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Georgina de Venecia, Hon. Christopher de Venecia, and the entire De Venecia family on the passing of Hon. Speaker Jose C. de Venecia, Jr., an extraordinary statesman of the Republic of the Philippines, who passed away on February 10, 2026. Speaker de Venecia devoted decades of his life to distinguished pu

Building on international efforts within the United Nations agenda on a culture of peace and interreligious and intercultural dialogue, World Interfaith Harmony Week , observed annually during the first week of February, provides an international framework for dialogue and cooperation among religious communities. The week was established by the United Nations General Assembly through resolution 65/5 of October 20, 2010, following a proposal introduced at the General Assembly

On January 28, 2026, the Universal Peace Federation joins the United Nations in observing the International Day of Peaceful Coexistence , proclaimed by  General Assembly resolution A/RES/79/269 , adopted on March 4, 2025 under the agenda item “Culture of Peace.” The resolution presents peaceful coexistence as a positive and participatory process that encourages dialogue and addresses disputes through mutual understanding and cooperation. It is grounded in the  Charter of the

On January 27, the Universal Peace Federation ( UPF ) joins the United Nations in observing the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust . This date marks the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1945, an event that exposed the scale of human cruelty and the devastating impact of hatred, antisemitism, and moral indifference. Established by Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly 60/7  of 1 November 2005, “Holocaust remembrance,” th

January 24 marks the International Day of Education , established by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 73/25 in 2018. Each year, this observance invites the global community to reflect on education as a foundation for personal integrity, social cohesion, and sustainable peace. The Universal Peace Federation ( UPF ) understands education not merely as a technical system of instruction, but as a formative process that shapes character, values, and social responsibility

Communities around the world mark  World Religion Day on January 18, 2025, observed each year on the third Sunday in January. First initiated in 1950 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of the United States, the day has grown beyond its original setting and is now widely hosted by interfaith and multifaith coalitions. It invites reflection on a practical truth: when spiritual communities meet with humility and clarity, public life can regain moral depth and soc

As we welcome the dawn of 2026, I extend my warmest greetings and heartfelt gratitude to all leaders of Universal Peace Federation worldwide, and to our dedicated Ambassadors for Peace. The year 2025 was highlighted by the successful culmination of World Summit 2025, which convened current and former heads of state, legislators, diplomats, scholars, religious leaders and civil society leaders from every continent. Under the theme “Contemporary Challenges to World Order: Estab

Dear Ambassadors for Peace, partners, and leaders of the Universal Peace Federation across the globe, At this sacred and joyful season of Christmas, I extend warm greetings to each of you. As members of a diverse global family committed to peace, human dignity, and mutual respect, we are united by a spiritual vision that transcends borders and differences. Our founders, Dr. Hak Ja Han and the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, taught that true and lasting peace arises when humanity li

On December 18, the United Nations observes International Migrants Day , proclaimed by the General Assembly in resolution A/RES/55/93 of December 4, 2000, coinciding with the date on which the General Assembly adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families ( A/RES/45/158 ) in 1990. In his message  for International Migrants Day, the UN Secretary-General highlights that migrants contribute to economic

Hanukkah begins at sundown on December 14 and concludes at nightfall on December 22, 2025. Rooted in Jewish history and faith, the festival commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem, and is marked by the lighting of the menorah with its nine candles, each flame a testament to perseverance, memory, and the enduring conviction that light can overcome darkness. While deeply particular in its origins, Hanukkah carries a universal resonance. Across cultures and tra

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

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 –  

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

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

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

Islamabad, Pakistan  – A UPF delegation participated in the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers Conference (ISC) in Islamabad from November 11-12, 2025. Convened by the Senate of Pakistan and the ISC Secretariat, the event focused on the theme, "Peace, Security and Development." Delegations from over forty national parliaments attended, represented by speakers, presidents, deputy speakers and senior legislators. Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan Hon. Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani  highl

As the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization ( CTBTO ) convenes at the Vienna International Centre from November 10-12, 2025, the Universal Peace Federation emphasizes the role of scientific cooperation and the CTBTO's verification regime in ensuring peace and security in Northeast Asia. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty ( CTBT ) has not yet entered into force as international law, as it requires ratification by 44 specific

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