Kabul, Afghanistan - About 25 people gathered in the Serena Hotel in Kabul on December 15 for a forum on "Innovative Approaches to Sustainable Development and Peace." Afterwards, UPF leaders paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mohammad Karim Khalili, Vice President of Afghanistan.

Brussels, Belgium - Europe has led the world in understanding and promoting human rights. What can it do more? This question was the topic of a European Leadership Conference at the European Parliament in Brussels December 4 and 5.

Toronto, Canada - Hon. Aloysia Inyumba, Minister of Gender and Family Promotion of  Rwanda, passed away in Kigali, Rwanda on December 6 after a long illness. As the keynote speaker at the 2012 national conference in Toronto of UPF and the Women's Federation for World Peace-Canada, she gave a compelling description of the special role of families in promoting a culture of peace after the Rwanda genocide of 1994.

Berlin, Germany - A European Leadership Conference in Berlin November 15-17 addressed the issue "What Kind of Europe Do We Want in the Future?" Sessions focused on the economic and political crises as well as the crisis of values.

Jakarta, Indonesia - In collaboration with the House of Regional Representatives and the Maya Bhakti Pertiwi Foundation, UPF organized an International Leadership Conference on the theme of Innovative Approaches to Peace, Leadership and Good Governance on December 8. The program in the beautiful Auditorium of the Ministry of Religious Affairs was attended by over 300 leaders from all walks of life.

Cotonou, Benin - Katherine Rigney, Regional Chair of UPF-Africa, and Paterne Zinsou, UPF West Africa 1 Sub Regional Director, received honorary doctorates from the New Covenant International University and Theological Seminary of Florida in the United States at a November 30 convocation at the Riviera Hotel in Cotonou.

Kavre, Nepal - “Building Friendship through Service” was the theme of the Religious Youth Service project at an orphanage and monastery in Banepa in the Kavre District of Nepal December 2-9. Forty-seven people from six nations participated in community-based service, education in values, leadership training, interfaith visits and dialogues, and cross-cultural learning experiences.

Vienna, Austria - In advance of the UN Alliance of Civilizations Youth Forum in Vienna in February 2013, Youth UPF-Austria hosted a panel discussion on "The Role of the  Media in a Pluralistic World" on December 11.