OUR FOUNDERS
Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon founded the Universal Peace Federation in 2005.
Born in what is now North Korea, and having experienced war firsthand, Father & Mother Moon built a legacy of peace and reconciliation centering on a family movement. They founded hundreds of organizations, institutions, and projects for world peace; more than any other notable public figure. Through the Marriage Blessing Ceremony, Rev. and Dr. Moon were the trendsetters of intercultural and international marriage, bringing couples together across national and racial borders. Acting in the role of humanity’s parents, Father and Mother Moon created non-profit organizations, businesses, conferences, and awards spanning every facet of society and culture to support resolving historical wounds and finding solutions to the world’s many problems.
"Our ultimate responsibility is to build world peace, but global peace begins in the family. Harmony, peace and happiness within the family begin with a relationship to the Creator, as our Heavenly Parent. Thus, the solution to world peace is to rebind the relationship between the Creator and each family."
— Father Moon
Called to a public life of ministry at just 15 years old, Rev. Moon was truly remarkable for establishing a global movement that stands for unification and world peace, all within his own lifetime. Rev. Moon was a man who embraced his enemies, most notably Kim Il Sung, who imprisoned him in a concentration camp for nearly three years. For 40 years, he combatted the spread of communism, predicting the fall of the Soviet Union publicly before anyone else. World leaders have sent congratulatory remarks over many decades to Rev. Moon and his contributions to making a more peaceful global society, including Mikhail Gorbachev, Yasuhiro Nakasone, Carlos Menem, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and Barack Obama.
“Today we stand at the gateway of a new historic millennium for the sake of world peace and a hope-filled future, which we must bring to fruition without delay.”
— Mother Moon
Over her 50 years of public ministry, the Mother of Peace, affectionately known as Mother Moon, has dedicated her life to the realization of peace. Since her husband's passing in 2012, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon has carried on her husband's legacy and established a coalition of parliamentarians and religious leaders to create models for good governance and strengthening interfaith dialogue.
As the only female religious leader operating on such a global level, her powerful message has inspired millions to transcend national, racial and ideological boundaries.
