Universal Peace Federation

Programs: International education programupf networks with people of diverse religious and national backgrounds to promote a culture of peace and human development. Our international leadership conference (ilc) programs promote interfaith cooperation and good governance, and create lasting partnerships, guided by universal principles. In 2016, upf held 10 ilc programs attended by around 1,200 participants from over 60 nations. Upf also offers educational programs for young people. These programs, organized by the religious youth service (rys) develop leadership and skills for young adults through service, sports, and character education. Upf's character education curriculum focuses on universal values and core ethical principles common to all cultures. Service projects focus on peacebuilding, as well as topics such as health care, nutrition, literacy, and microfinance. Upf sponsored 6 religious youth service programs in 2014, in georgia. Honduras, moldova, philippines, sri lanka, and washington, dc, there were around 200 participants. In 2014, upf founded the sunhak peace prize foundation llc to recognize the effort of individuals and organizations for their peace work to serve, expand and spread the vision of peace in relation to three key banners, "respect for human rights," "conflict reconciliation, and "ecological conservation. " the $1 million prize will be awarded every two years. 2015 was the first year that this prize was awarded and it resulted in a tie. Two recipients were each awarded $500,000. The next award will be presented in february 2017. In 2016, upf founded the international association of parliamentarians for peace (iapp) as an organization of parliamentarians on a global level to seek out the realization of a world of everlasting peace and the development of mankind towards a path of coexistence and mutual prosperity for future generations. Thus, it is an international network created to take on critical issues such as territorial disputes, religious conflicts, racial conflicts, environmental degradation, climate change, violent extremism and poverty, through the common solidarity and cooperation of the parliamentarians of the world. Upf sponsored 5 iapp conferences in 2016 in korea, benin, ivory coast, nigeria and dr congo.

united nations initiativeas an ngo in special consultative status with the united nations' economic and social council (ecosoc), the universal peace federation supports the mission and work of the united nations, with special focus on promoting interfaith dialogue, strengthening marriage and family, and achieving the millennium development goals. The universal peace federation seeks to strengthen the un and work for un renewal by:1) creating an interreligious council as a forum for spiritual leaders committed to peace;2) strengthening marriage and family as the basis for human development; and,3) promoting a culture of peace through education and service to others. Programs are held at the un offices in new york, geneva, paris, and vienna.

publications and mediato promote upf's vision for world peace, the communications department runs a website (upf. Org) that reports on activities of the upf chapters worldwide. To supplement this website, upf today, a quarterly magazine, is published in several languages. Upf also publishes dialogue and alliance, a bi-annual journal focused on interfaith dialogue. Books on good governance, character education and interfaith dialogue have also been published and made available to the public, along with a wide variety of reports and brochures related to upf activities. Upf also produces and maintains an extensive online video library on youtube and vimeo, a collection of educational powerpoint presentations on slideshare, and a comprehensive character education curriculum in both english and spanish on wikispaces.

peace and securityupf sponsors a wide range of symposia on topics related to peace and security. Offices where these programs are held on a monthly basis are washington, dc, and jerusalem. In 2016, 15 symposia were held. Diplomatic outreachthe universal peace federation maintains an office in washington, dc in order to connect the work of its chapters with their respective embassies in the usa. Through regular briefings, symposia and cultural events our dc office maintains an active calendar of events. Our dc office also is active in promoting and publicizing the work and goals of the united nations.