London Celebration Stresses Family as Foundation for Peace
- khwang562
- Sep 27
- 2 min read
London, United Kingdom – A joint celebration of the UN International Day of Peace and the 20th anniversary of UPF’s founding, attended by over 40 enthusiastic guests, highlighted the role of families, interfaith dialogue, and peacebuilding as foundations for a harmonious world. UPF-United Kingdom and the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU-UK) sponsored the event at the Peace Embassy in Thornton Heath, London, on September 27, 2025.
Mr. Bogdan Pammer, director of FFWPU-UK, gave the keynote speech, stressing that “peace needs parents.” He reflected that, just as parents seek to understand the heart of all their children in order to heal divisions, the same spirit of empathy and reconciliation is needed to resolve conflicts in families, societies, nations, and the wider world.
As MC, Mrs. Annerose Adams introduced the hosting organizations and set the tone for the event. Mr. Robin Marsh, secretary general of UPF-UK, presented a video outlining UPF’s vision of peace and interdependence, inspired by its co-founders, Father Sun Myung Moon and Mother Hak Ja Han. He emphasized the importance of God-centered families as the foundation of sustainable peace.
Mr. Marsh explained UPF’s global 100-day campaign leading to the International Day of Peace, which called for dialogue, compassion, and care for the environment. He also outlined Father and Mother Moon’s emphasis on the need for religious leaders to be involved in decision making within the United Nations structure.
A moving highlight of the evening was the Interfaith Peace Blessing, coordinated by Mrs. Cecilie Fortune and officiated by Mr. and Mrs. Adza and Ms. Nittaya Mould of FFWPU. The ceremony reaffirmed the commitment of married couples and extended special grace to all participants. Mrs. Fortune stated, “Family is not just a social institution, it is a God institution. To build a family is a divine calling. When families are strong, communities are strong and nations can flourish.”
Exemplary Family Awards were presented to three families during the program. Each family shared something of their lives and the voluntary work they are doing. Mr. Gobidaas Yogeswaran, whose family received the award, described the event as “a celebration of the unbreakable bonds of commitment – to our communities, and to the lifelong partnership we cherish with our loved ones.”
The commemoration concluded with a celebratory cake cutting and a heartfelt performance of “Evergreen” by Ms. Caroline Fredriksson, adding joy and warmth to an evening dedicated to unity, family values, and interfaith peacebuilding.
This event reflected UPF-UK’s continuing commitment to interfaith dialogue, family-strengthening initiatives, and peace education, in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the call to build a global culture of peace.
