The General Debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly heard from 194 delegations, speaking from very different national and political perspectives about the world as they see it. Some disagreements were substantial, yet peace stood foremost among the concerns identified in the president of the General Assembly’s closing assessment. As I listened to those many voices, one question stayed with me: What can people reasonably count on after we have spoken?

Lusaka, Zambia – UPF-Zambia held a commemoration of the UN International Day of Peace and the 21st anniversary of UPF on October 1, 2026, at the Peace Embassy in Lusaka. Attendees included ambassadors for peace, senior citizens, youth representatives, representatives of Christianity, Islam and Judaism, leaders of NGOs and professional organizations, students and members of the general public. The broad attendance reflected UPF’s commitment to inclusive, interfaith and multise

Biel, Switzerland – To commemorate the International Day of Peace, the local Biel chapter of UPF-Switzerland organized an outing of ambassadors for peace on September 30, 2026. Thirteen people spent eight hours on a boat touring the three lakes of Biel, Neuchâtel and Morat. For the first 3 ½ hours they met in four different groups of three and discussed the following four topics simultaneously: Sharing universal principles and values Contributing to the well-being of youth E

Bangkok, Thailand – More than 600 schools, educational institutions and government agencies nationwide took part in the annual commemoration of the International Day of Peace in the month of September, organized by UPF-Thailand. The event, "Reading of the Peace Messages and 1-Minute Silence for Peace," followed the theme given by the United Nations, “Invest in Peace – For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day,” and was supported by the Ministry of Education and the Royal Thai Gover

Jerusalem, Israel – The Har-El Congregation in central Jerusalem hosted the fourth annual "Sukkat Shalom" (Tabernacle of Peace) interfaith gathering on September 29, 2026. Organized in close collaboration with UPF-Israel, the event brought together individuals from various faiths to share their visions for harmony and discuss ongoing projects aimed at promoting a culture of peace. This year's gathering was specially dedicated to marking the United Nations International Day of

South and Central America – In line with the commemoration of the International Day of Peace, UPF-Latin America and the Caribbean (UPF-LATAMCA) held an online forum on September 29, 2026, with the collaboration of the coordinators and national representatives of the UPF associations representing religious leaders (IAPD), academicians (IAAP), media professionals (IMAP), and artists and cultural managers (IAACP), of Peru, Honduras, Ecuador and Argentina. The webinar was themed

Prague, Czech Republic – To mark this year’s International Day of Peace, on September 24, 2026, UPF-Czech Republic organized a panel discussion on the topic “What is Peace?” This question was explored from the perspectives of speakers from four different backgrounds: the academic community, a non-governmental organization, political science and journalism. The first speaker, Dr. Roman Joch, director of the Civic Institute, spoke on the topic: “Three concepts of peace.” The fi

Monrovia, Liberia – A two-part program marked the International Day of Peace in Liberia on September 26, 2026, under the theme "Peace Starts With Me.” The event was organized by the New Liberian Women Organization (NETWOGE) in collaboration with UPF-Liberia, and focused on the important role of women in peacebuilding. The program began with a peace parade. All groups assembled at the University of Liberia Fendall Campus Palava Hut at 9:00 am. The march took off at 10:00 am, w

Quito, Ecuador – UPF-Ecuador held its annual International Day of Peace event at its headquarters in Quito on September 26, 2026, on the theme: “Investing in Peace: From Family to Nation, from Nation to the World.” Participants were primarily UPF ambassadors for peace. In addition to those present in person, many joined via Zoom this year as well. In this way the event served as a reunion for peace ambassadors across Ecuador. The event began at 10:00 a.m. with a one-minute si

New Delhi, India – In an innovative approach to peace education, the Peace Club of Mata Sundri College for Women at the University of Delhi in New Delhi, in collaboration with UPF-India, commemorated the UN International Day of Peace on September 21, 2026, by organizing a solution-oriented challenge for students titled “The Peace Court: Youth Dialogue, Argumentation and Solution-Oriented Competition." The event commenced with a warm welcome ceremony for the distinguished gu

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

London, United Kingdom – Artists, poets, writers, filmmakers and cultural leaders came together at UPF headquarters in London on September 23, 2026, for an evening devoted to exploring how arts, culture and storytelling can help build a more peaceful and understanding world. Hosted by the International Association of Arts and Culture for Peace (IAACP-UK), the event commemorated the UN International Day of Peace and reflected its 2026 theme, “Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Eve

Bamako, Mali – UPF-Mali joined several NGO groups to sponsor a program commemorating the International Day of Peace on September 21, 2026. The event took place at the Youth Center in Commune III of Bamako, and focused on the importance of developing youth leadership in order to guarantee sustainable peace in the nation. Participants included the local representative of UNESCO, a representative of the mayor, peace ambassadors and youth leaders. After the singing of Mali's nati

Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Beltei International University in Phnom Penh served as the host and the venue for a seminar on "Character Education and International Day of Peace" on September 21, 2026, organized by UPF-Cambodia and the International Association of Youth and Students for Peace (IAYSP). The event brought together over 600 distinguished guests, educators, youth representatives and peace advocates to commemorate the International Day of Peace. The seminar emphasized tha

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

Budapest, Hungary – UPF-Hungary and the Women's Federation for World Peace (WFWP) jointly commemorated the UN International Day of Peace on September 21, 2026, with an online program entitled "The Barriers to Peace in the 21st Century." The aim was to raise awareness of the tasks that lie ahead in the journey to create peace. As an ice-breaker, Ms. Zsófia Bendzsa, representing the young generation, conducted a fun quiz to test participants’ knowledge of the International Day

Accra, Ghana – To commemorate the International Day of Peace, UPF-Ghana partnered with VODEC Africa, an NGO focused on raising youth leaders, to host the National Emerging Leader Economic Forum (NELEF 2026) on September 21, 2026. VODEC is the initiator of the Idea Challenge, which invites young entrepreneurs to submit innovative business ideas in competition. Winners receive funding, technical support and mentorship. The event was held in the auditorium of the University of P

Bratislava, Slovakia – This year UPF-Slovakia’s commemoration of the International Day of Peace included a celebration to mark five years since the opening of its Peace Embassy in Bratislava in 2021. The hall was packed to capacity on September 21, 2026, with guests who came to mark the day and congratulate UPF on its anniversary. The event was moderated by Mr. Viktor Bujnovsky, secretary general of UPF-Slovakia, who welcomed the more than 100 guests. Member of Parliament Mr.

Victoria, Seychelles – Local government, religious groups, schools and civil society organizations united in a celebration of the International Day of Peace on September 21, 2026, in Victoria, spearheaded and coordinated by UPF-Seychelles. Through weekly meetings over two months, the participating groups coordinated responsibilities, logistics, communications and program activities, demonstrating the value of sustained cooperation between those working towards a shared vision

Düsseldorf, Germany – How can individuals help shape a culture of peace? UPF-Düsseldorf addressed this question at a special event on September 21, 2026, at its headquarters. “Peace Starts with Me – How a Global Culture of Peace Develops from Personal Action” was the theme of the event, timed to celebrate the UN International Day of Peace and connected with its motto: “Investing in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere and Every Day.” The focus was on active commitment to a sustai