New York, United States – The Geneva Consensus Declaration on Women’s Health and Protection of the Family (GCD) was launched in 2020 under U.S. leadership, with five co-sponsoring nations. The Geneva Consensus Declaration Coalition (GCDC) brings together nations and nongovernmental organizations committed to advancing women’s health, protecting the family, affirming the dignity of every human life, and upholding each country’s sovereign right to establish its own family-relat

Yaoundé, Cameroon – An event to mark the UN International Day of Peace was held in the legislative chamber of the National Assembly of Cameroon on September 21, 2026. The opening ceremony was conducted by Hon. Meboka Muyali Marie Boya, vice president of the National Assembly, an Ambassador for Peace who represented the president at the ceremony. Hon. Brigitte Emabot, president of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP) Cameroon, delivered the welco

Lusaka, Zambia – The Electoral Commission of Zambia formally accredited UPF-Zambia to participate in the monitoring and observation of the 2026 General Elections, held on August 13. In preparation for the electoral process, UPF-Zambia conducted a one-day training workshop for 10 election monitors and observers on August 11, 2026, at the Peace Embassy in Lusaka. Mr. Fabrice Djimadoum, a UPF staff member, served as MC and introduced the purpose of the training, which was to equ

Melbourne, Australia – The International Association of Academicians for Peace (IAAP) and UPF-Asia Pacific hosted a webinar on August 15, 2026, commemorating World Humanitarian Day, bringing together humanitarian leaders and peace advocates to reflect on the meaning of service and leadership. The program’s themes highlighted serving others, protecting human dignity, and empowering communities to build a more peaceful and resilient world. To open the program, Dr. John Bellavan

Paris, France – UPF-France had the pleasure of welcoming Mr. Augustin Senghor, mayor of Gorée Island in Senegal, to its headquarters in Paris on Sunday, August 9, 2026. The mayor was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Juliette Senghor, and their daughter. This meeting allowed Mr. Senghor to reflect on his experience at the African Summit in Dakar, hosted by UPF on January 18 and 19, 2018, and the visit of Dr. Hak Ja Han, co-founder of UPF, to Gorée Island. The meeting was a contin

London, United Kingdom – Young people explored the challenges of ethical leadership in the age of artificial intelligence alongside practical approaches to peacebuilding, dialogue and conflict resolution during a UPF-UK youth leadership program on August 8, 2026. The online session included presentations from Dr. Lance Gardiner and Mr. David Fraser-Harris of UPF-UK, and Mr. Paul Gutteridge, founder of Track 2 Talks and an honorary fellow at the University of Birmingham's Edwa

Paris, France – Two professionals addressed the question, “Does the Democratic Dream Have a Future?” at an event held to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence on July 4, 2026. UPF-France organized the conference at its headquarters in Espace Barrault, Paris. The program featured two keynote presentations. Dr. Laurent Ladouce, head of research at UPF-France, and Mr. Jacques Marion, president of UPF-Europe and the Middle East, examined the contribution of t

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo – UPF’s work in the DRC took an important step forward with the official launch of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace on July 4, 2026. The inaugural conference, organized by UPF-Africa, UPF-DRC and the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was held at the People’s Palace in Kinshasa, with approximately 200 participants, including senior parliamentary leaders, members of Parliament, UPF re

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

ISCP – The International Summit Council for Peace (ISCP) hosted a global webinar on June 18, 2026, on the theme “The Future of the Rules-based World Order," addressing the fracturing post-World War II international system. Moderated by Dr. Franco Famularo, ISCP global coordinator, the event convened four former heads of state or government and a global leadership expert, broadcasting to over 360 participants across more than 80 countries. The panel provided a highly detailed

Vienna, Austria – What happens in a society before a young person becomes radicalized? What causes hatred to turn into violence or disagreements to become crimes? From Bosnia and Herzegovina to Kosovo, Rwanda and Pakistan, participants at an event at the United Nations in Vienna reached a common conclusion: Crime prevention begins where people feel part of society, and not its victims. This question was the focus of a side event during the meeting of the United Nations Commis

Melbourne, Australia – UPF-Australia convened an Australian Peace Council meeting, bringing together a former member of Parliament, former diplomats, peacebuilders, community leaders and scholars to mark the UN International Day of Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development on May 30, 2026, in Melbourne. The meeting focused on the vital role of dialogue, diversity and ethical leadership in addressing today’s complex social and global challenges. Participants explored ho

Manila, Philippines – The International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP), a UPF initiative, organized an international webinar on May 20, 2026, under the theme “The Role of Parliamentarians in Reducing Polarization: Advancing Unity Beyond National, Religious, Ethnic and Political Divides.” The event brought together distinguished parliamentarians, peace leaders, diplomats and participants from diverse regions to address the growing challenges of polarization a

Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire –The Federation of Tourism Industry of Côte d’Ivoire (FENITOURCI) and UPF-Côte d’Ivoire signed a partnership agreement on May 16, 2026, at the headquarters of the National Tourism Council, aimed at training 16,080 young people in tourism-related professions, while simultaneously promoting values of peace and social cohesion. The initiative, which will be deployed across all 201 communes of Côte d’Ivoire, seeks to train and support the professional integ

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

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

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

New York, United States – On January 22, 2026, the Universal Peace Federation, as an executive member of the NGO Committee on the Family, NY, at the United Nations, co-organized a virtual program titled, "Empowering the Family through National Policies: Insights from Burundi and Italy." Ms. Lynn Walsh, director of UPF’s Office of the Family, opened the program and welcomed the two high-level speakers. The program followed the Chatham House Rule, by which the names of comment