Universal Peace Federation Marks 20 Years as a Global Beacon of Peace
This September, as the world observes the United Nations International Day of Peace, the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) also commemorates its 20th anniversary—two decades of advancing dialogue, reconciliation, and global cooperation under the conviction that humanity is one family under God.
Founding a Movement for Peace
Launched at New York’s Lincoln Center in 2005 by its founders, Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han, also known as Holy Mother Han, UPF was envisioned as more than an organization. It was the birth of a movement—a bold effort to unite institutional power with spiritual and moral conviction. At its founding, Rev. Moon declared, “The mission of UPF is to renew the existing United Nations and provide a new level of leadership.”
This vision has since guided UPF’s growth to more than 190 nations, with a network of over 100,000 Ambassadors for Peace serving at both grassroots and global levels. Their efforts echo the International Day of Peace’s global call to replace division with dialogue and conflict with reconciliation.
The Founders’ Philosophy of Peace
At the heart of UPF’s mission is the philosophy of its founders, Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han, also known as Holy Mother Han. They taught that peace begins in the family, where empathy, responsibility, and reconciliation are first nurtured. They emphasized that living for the sake of others is the path to healing division, and that men and women must rise together as moral leaders in shaping a peaceful world. This vision directly complements the International Day of Peace, which affirms that lasting harmony requires the contributions of all people—across generations, cultures, and genders.
From Principles to Action
UPF’s work is grounded in five guiding principles:
Humanity is one family under God.
Our highest values are moral conscience and compassion.
The family is the school of love and peace.
Living for the sake of others is the path to reconciliation.
Lasting peace requires cooperation across ethnicity, faith, and nation.
These principles are not abstract—they have fueled practical peace initiatives across the world. From the South Asia Peace Initiative and the Middle East Peace Initiative to the Northeast Asia Peace Initiative, UPF has convened heads of state, religious leaders, and scholars to tackle some of the world’s most protracted conflicts. The Peace Road movement, uniting millions in symbolic and practical action, and Youth and Students for Peace, which equips young people with values-based leadership, illustrate how UPF brings ideals into practice.
A Call to Peacemakers
Reflecting on this milestone, Dr. Tageldin Hamad, President of UPF, offered a call to action: “Let us recommit today: to bold dialogue where others remain silent; to reconciliation where others choose division; to building bridges where walls divide. If not us, who? If not now, when?”
As the International Day of Peace reminds us that true peace requires both inner transformation and collective action, UPF’s 20-year journey stands as a testament to the enduring power of faith, service, and moral leadership. UPF’s legacy is both a celebration and a charge—to carry forward the work of healing and cooperation so that the decades to come are marked not by conflict, but by shared prosperity and hope.
