Living Together with Mutual Respect and a Shared Destiny

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 United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace. The observance highlights the role of education for tolerance, the participation of women and youth, and the contributions of civil society, media, and the private sector. It aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 16 on peaceful and inclusive societies and Sustainable Development Goal 4 on education that equips communities for responsible citizenship.

Dr. Hak Ja Han and the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, founders of the Universal Peace Federation, taught that coexistence strengthens as individuals recognize their shared humanity and commit to service as members of one human family under God. 

Throughout its history, UPF has translated these principles into practical cooperation across religion, culture, and ideology. The Interreligious Association for Peace and Development advances coexistence through moral leadership and interfaith dialogue. The International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace engages elected leaders in constructive governance and trust building. The Peace Road Initiative, first proposed in 1981 as a vision to physically connect peoples and regions, promotes symbolic crossings and public journeys that affirm shared destiny beyond borders and encourage coexistence through encounter.

Guided by interdependence, mutual prosperity, and universally shared values, these efforts foster responsibility and cooperation in the spirit of one family under God. The South Caucasus Peace Initiative supports confidence building and citizen diplomacy among communities linked to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and their wider neighborhood. The South Asia Peace Initiative brings together leaders and young people through consultations and grassroots service programs that build habits of cooperation. The Baltic Dialogue Initiative has provided a channel for dialogue that strengthens mutual respect in multicultural societies across the Baltic region. The Europe Eurasia Dialogue convenes voices from across the OSCE area to reduce tensions and renew a culture of cooperation.

In other regions, UPF programs illustrate how encounter and humility translate into trust. The Middle East Peace Initiative facilitates dialogue and shared learning among Jewish, Muslim, and Christian participants, reducing stereotypes and reinforcing habits of cooperation aligned with the purpose of this UN observance. In Northeast Asia, the Northeast Asia Peace Initiative supports dialogue that builds regional trust and advances prospects for peace and stability, including constructive perspectives on the Korean Peninsula. Through scholarly exchange and civic engagement, and through the Sunhak Peace Prize, UPF also encourages cooperation that links moral insight with practical approaches to sustainable development and social cohesion.

On this International Day of Peaceful Coexistence, UPF invites governments, civil society, the private sector, faith communities, youth, and the Universal Peace Federation Ambassadors for Peace to strengthen education for tolerance and interdependence and to safeguard spaces for dialogue. Educational leaders can advance values-based learning that nurtures empathy, critical thinking, and responsibility. 

Peaceful coexistence requires commitment to empathy and justice. The Universal Peace Federation reaffirms its dedication to building a global civilization grounded in interdependence, guided by mutual prosperity, and inspired by universal values, as one family under God.

Dr. Tageldin Hamad, President, UPF-International January 28, 2026