December Newsletter from UPF International

December 2025 In this final newsletter of 2025, we share a few recent programs and events around the world. We also extend sincere New Year’s greetings to all our friends and supporters, and look forward to continuing our cooperation with you in the coming year, as we strive to build a better world. For more information and activities, visit us at www,upf,org.

Embracing Our Global Family in 2026 As we welcome the dawn of 2026, UPF extends warmest greetings and heartfelt gratitude to all leaders of Universal Peace Federation worldwide, and to our dedicated Ambassadors for Peace…We hope that the year 2026 reminds us that peace is a daily responsibility, to be cultivated in every community and sustained through every relationship.

IMAP Examines Attacks on Religion in Asian Democracies

IMAP, Canada – The International Media Association for Peace (IMAP) Canada held a webinar on December 23, 2025, featuring Dr. Massimo Introvigne of the Center for Studies on New Religions, Dr. Franco Famularo of UPF-Canada, and Mr. Isaac Jeong of Jeong Media and the Monarch Report. The three examined the politically motivated persecution of religions under both South Korea’s and Japan’s current governments. The panel discussed recent raids on churches, arrests of pastors, and the implications of these actions, stressing the importance of religious freedom as a cornerstone of democracy.

Argentina’s Peace Road Finale Features Singer León Gieco El Trébol, Argentina – Famous singer and songwriter Mr. León Gieco graced the closing of the 11th Peace Road Argentina series of events on November 30, 2025, at the main venue in El Trébol, Santa Fe Province. Ms. Natalia Sánchez, mayor of El Trébol, and Mr. Esteban Motta, provincial senator from Santa Fe, offered words of welcome. UPF-Argentina shared a review of Peace Road 2025 activities that took place in all 23 provinces, starting on July 8th at the Buenos Aires City Legislature and going all the way to Antarctica, with each event embodying the theme, “Peace Flourishes in

the Argentinian Embrace.”

UPF-Africa Marks 25th Anniversary of ECOWAS Parliament Abuja, Nigeria – The 25th anniversary of the founding of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was held on December 4th at the International Conference Center in Abuja. A UPF delegation attended the celebration, including Dr. Paterne Zinsou, UPF-Africa’s secretary general; Dr. George Ikpot of UPF-Nigeria; and Hon. Ebenezer Samuel, an ambassador for peace. The ceremony included the ECOWAS speaker, speakers of regional parliaments, and numerous other African dignitaries.

IMAP Philippines & Partners Call for Media Integrity Quezon City, Philippines – A gathering to mark the first anniversary of the International Media Association for Peace (IMAP) in the Philippines, in partnership with PEACE PRO Inc., brought together concerned media professionals, chaplain counselors, educators, tribal leaders, and partner organizations on December 10, 2025, in Quezon City. The event served as a unified call for moral and spiritual values

education across the nation.

Experts Review Second World Summit on Social Development New York, United States – The NGO Committee on the Family, NY – of which UPF is an executive member – held a virtual program on November 20, 2025, to review the Second World Summit for Social Development held in Doha, Qatar, from November 4-6. The summit aimed to address the largely poor progress in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The expert panel had a special interest in the degree to which the family could potentially accelerate the attainment of Agenda 2030.