Geneva, Switzerland – The NGO Committee on the Family–Geneva convened a combined observance of the International Day of Families and Global Day of Parents on June 1, 2026, at the UN Office at Geneva (UNOG). The 90‑minute conference on “Families and Parenting Support as Foundations of Peaceful and Resilient Societies” was co‑sponsored by the Permanent Missions of Egypt, Cameroon, Jordan and El Salvador. The NGO Committee on the Family–Geneva was formally established on April 2

South and Central America – Continuing its webinar series commemorating UN international days, UPF-Latin America and the Caribbean held a forum on June 5, 2026, on "The Importance of Being a Good Role Model for Those We Are Raising." This event was timed to mark the Global Day of Parents on June 1. In his introduction Mr. Mario Salinas, secretary general of UPF-Latin America, who moderated the event, stated: “In accordance with the spirit of the Convention on the Rights of th

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

Phnom Penh, Cambodia – At UPF headquarters in Phnom Penh, UPF-Cambodia and the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) Cambodia co-hosted a gathering on May 31, 2026, to commemorate the International Day of Families and the Global Day of Parents. The event brought together parents, youth and community leaders to reflect on the vital role of the family as the school of love and the foundation of a peaceful society. Mr. Chamroeun Sophal, regional director of U

Maputo, Mozambique – On May 31, 2026, the Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD-Africa) convened the 6th Africa Spiritual Day in Maputo, Mozambique, under the theme “Family Values: A Blueprint for Interfaith Cooperation.” The event commemorated both the International Day of Families and Africa Day, bringing together approximately 2,000 onsite participants, including religious leaders, members of parliament, peace advocates, families, and community represe

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

Abuja, Nigeria – To celebrate the International Day of Families, UPF-Nigeria held a commemorative event in Abuja on May 28, 2026, focused on the United Nations’ designated theme, “Families, Inequalities and Child Wellbeing.” The program also formed part of UPF’s third 100 Days Campaign of Hope and Peace, focused on “100 Days of Community Service.” The event opened with introductory remarks by Dr. George Charles Ikpot, secretary general of UPF-Nigeria, followed by a presentati

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

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

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

Auckland, New Zealand – Families and supporters gathered at Western Springs Garden Community Hall in Auckland for a UN International Day of Families Commemorative Event on May 16, 2026. The program brought together people from diverse backgrounds to celebrate the importance of family in Aotearoa New Zealand and to renew commitment to strengthening family life in our communities. More than 50 people attended on a bright autumn afternoon, creating a warm and family-centered a

UPF-Africa – To mark both the International Day of Families and the International Day of Living Together in Peace, UPF-Africa convened an international webinar on the theme “Strong Families, Peaceful Nations: Transformative Leadership and Values-Based Governance for a Global Culture of Peace” on May 16, 2026. The two-hour session was hosted via Zoom and simulcast across Facebook, X and Instagram, in English and French. Participants included high-level government officials, fa

Yaoundé, Cameroon – A conference at the Deputy Hotel in Yaoundé on May 16, 2026, brought together religious leaders, community representatives, couples, families and youth to honor the International Day of Families. The event, organized by UPF-Cameroon and FFWPU Cameroon, aimed to promote family values, strengthen social cohesion, raise awareness on inequalities affecting families and children, and encourage dialogue on child protection and family stability as foundations for

Montevideo, Uruguay – An ecumenical gathering for the family, held at the National Garden Hall in Montevideo on May 16, 2026, brought together a diverse group of people from different faith traditions to commemorate the International Day of Families. Organized by UPF-Uruguay, the program included dialogue, reflection and fellowship, highlighting different expressions of faith and values centered on the importance of the family as the foundation of society. Under the theme “On

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

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