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 –  

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

Prague, Czech Republic  – A commemorative meeting to mark the 20-year anniversary of the founding of UPF-Czech Republic drew a capacity audience at the Embassy of Peace in Prague on November 5, 2025. Mr. Martin Slezák  served as MC, guiding the audience through the program, which was accompanied by musical performances by professional young artists. After the opening musical interlude for two violins performed by Mr. Kristian Strkula,  a student at the music high school, and

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

The United Nations' Global Media and Information Literacy Week, observed each year from October 24 to 31, reminds humanity that the power to shape ideas and societies now lies in every hand. In the digital century, tools of communication have become immensely powerful, capable of building understanding or causing confusion. Such influence demands personal maturity, moral awareness, and responsibility in producing and sharing information.   The Universal Peace Federation (UPF)

Africa Day 2025 Celebration – Mvezo-Komkulu, South Africa Your Royal Highnesses, Nkosi ZMD Mandela Esteemed Members of the Royal House of Mandela, Honourable Elders, Distinguished Guests, And most of all, the vibrant youth of Africa, I virtually stand before you today in the sacred village of Mvezo-Komkulu, not only with great humility but with a deep sense of reverence — reverence for the memory of Nelson Mandela, the father of this land, and for the vision of Africa rising.