New York Celebrates International Day of Families
New York, NY – On the Occasion of United Nations International Day of Families, Universal Peace Federation USA (UPF), together with Sun International Peace Federation, co-sponsored “Celebration of the Family” seminar, held on May 15, 2015, in New York.
The International Day of Families was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993 with resolution A/RES/47/237 and is observed on May 15th every year. The day reflects the importance the international community attaches to families and provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families.
The “Celebration of the Family” seminar featured a panel on: “The Role and Necessity of the Family for Sustainable Development”. The panel was moderated by the Producer of Film on A Roll Productions, which is currently producing a documentary on sex-trafficking.
Distinguished panellists included: Director, Office of Marriage, Family and Human Development, UPF International; President, Filial Projects; United Nations Sr. Gender Adviser; and Founder of We, The World.
Panelists and presenters expounded on the role of the family as the central pillar of society and challenges facing the global family. The United Nations Sr. Gender Adviser gave alarming statistics on violence against women, which is often under reported and not getting the advocacy and attention needed to address this critical family issue.
Dr. Ricardo de Sena, President, UPF USA, presented on the principles of the family, in which emphasize:
- The family is the most important human institution. Without it we would not exist. Through it we transmit language and culture.
- The family—marriage and parenthood— is regarded as sacred by the world’s religions.
- The family has the potential to manifest, most fully, God’s ideal of true love. Which includes:
- Children’s love
- Brotherly and sisterly love
- Marital love
- Parental love
Passages from the world sacred scriptures highlighted the significance of family to the world faith traditions:
There are five relations of utmost importance under Heaven…between
prince and minister; between father and son; between husband and
wife; between elder and younger brothers; and between friends.
Confucianism, Doctrine of the Mean
It is by the proper regulation of each family that the whole world is stabilized.
I Ching 37
When a man honours his father and mother, God says, “I regard it as though I had dwelt among them and they had honored me.”
Judaism, Talmud
When the family declines, ancient traditions are destroyed. With them are lost
the spiritual foundation for life, and the family loses its sense of unity.
Hinduism, Bhagavad-Gita 1.40
Ms. Maria L. Vargas, Executive Director, Latin Affairs Office, UPF USA, expounded on the family as the cornerstone for world peace. She elaborated on UPF’s founders’ principals of the family:
- The family is the school of love.
- If there is peace in the family there will be peace in the world.
- If problems in the family are resolved, all problems in the world will be resolved.
- God’s providential work has been to restore the family.
Participants included Ambassadors for Peace, community leaders, representatives of NGOs associated with the United Nations, faith-based leaders, and peace activists.
The program featured a One-Global Family–Water of Life Ceremony, a sacred ceremony, in which representatives from the families of the world (which included a representative of White Families, Black families, Asian families, Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Hindu families) read a passage from their cultural or sacred traditions, and poured sanctified water into a golden bowl glass bowl. As the waters blend into one, symbolize the unity of the world’s peoples into one; one in heart and mind, centered upon the heart and mind of the Creator.
Participants stayed in the reception hall long after the program ended, sharing with new found friends and partners in peace.
To visit the official United Nations International Day Families website, please click here.
To read the proclamation by the United Nations General Assembly for this UN holiday, please click here.