Restoring Trust for Peace Now

On 4 July 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo marked an important step forward with the official launch of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace in the DRC (IAPP-DRC).

Held at the People’s Palace in Kinshasa, the inaugural conference brought together approximately 200 participants, including senior parliamentary leaders, members of Parliament, UPF representatives, Ambassadors for Peace, youth leaders and distinguished guests.

Organized by UPF Africa, UPF-DRC and the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the conference focused on one central question: how can parliamentarians and Ambassadors for Peace help advance reconciliation, unity, solidarity and sustainable human development?

The Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to face profound challenges related to peace, security and national cohesion. Against this backdrop, the launch of IAPP-DRC carries particular significance.

The initiative creates a non-partisan platform where parliamentarians can cooperate across political differences, strengthen dialogue and contribute to conflict prevention and national reconciliation. The message throughout the conference was clear: Parliament should not only be a place where laws are debated and adopted. It can also become a space where differences are transformed into dialogue and where political leadership contributes directly to peacebuilding.

Parliamentarians were therefore encouraged to embrace a broader responsibility as Ambassadors for Peace—placing the national interest above division and helping to build bridges across political, social and institutional boundaries.

One of the strongest messages of the conference was that lasting peace cannot be the responsibility of government alone. It requires the participation of parliamentarians, families, religious communities, civil society, educators, young people and citizens. Four foundational principles were highlighted to guide the work of IAPP-DRC:

Political neutrality. Serving peace beyond party affiliation and ideological division.
Love and dialogue. Building cooperation through respect, trust and constructive engagement.
Respect for religions. Recognizing the contribution of faith communities to reconciliation and social harmony.
Strengthening the family. Promoting the family as a foundation for responsible citizenship, moral education and a culture of peace.

Together, these principles reflect a simple conviction: sustainable peace begins not only with institutions, but also with the quality of relationships and leadership within society.

The conference also outlined practical areas for the future work of IAPP-DRC.
Proposed parliamentary commissions will focus on Family and Youth, Legislative Affairs and Law Reform, Environment, and Conflict Prevention and Resolution.
The ambition is to go beyond responding to crises after they occur by promoting preventive and innovative legislation that addresses root causes, strengthens social cohesion, and contributes to long-term national stability.

A major highlight of the event was the recognition of senior parliamentary leaders for their commitment to peacebuilding.
The Presidents of the National Assembly and Senate were recognized as Honorary Co-Chairs of IAPP-DRC and appointed to the Regional Consultative Council of IAPP Africa, while the National Executive Bureau of IAPP-DRC was officially inaugurated.

The ceremonial presentation of the IAPP flag symbolized the responsibility entrusted to parliamentary leaders to advance dialogue, cooperation and parliamentary diplomacy in service to the Congolese people.

The conference concluded with the signing of the IAPP-DRC Resolution, reaffirming the commitment of parliamentary leaders to peace, dialogue, unity, ethical leadership and sustainable human development.

The next phase will focus on strengthening the newly established structure through orientation sessions, thematic parliamentary commissions, a national action plan and closer cooperation with UPF Africa and the wider continental IAPP network.

For the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this launch represents more than the creation of another institution.

It is an opportunity to build a new space where political differences do not have to become permanent divisions—and where those entrusted with shaping the laws can also help shape the conditions for lasting peace.

Because peace is not the responsibility of one institution, one leader or one political party. It is a shared responsibility. And it begins with the decision to choose dialogue over division.

The Universal Peace Federation has launched UPF Summer Events 2026, a series of programs under the public theme “Restoring Trust: What Can Be Done for Peace Now?” Ahead of the opening of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2026. The series invites UPF regions, associations, national chapters, and peace initiatives to offer short reflections based on local experience, moral responsibility, and UPF’s peace vision. 

The series began on June 18 with the International Summit Council for Peace (ISCP) webinar on “The Future of the Rules-based World Order”. The webinar examined the emerging global order, multilateral governance, artificial intelligence, environmental accountability, and moral leadership. In that setting, Dr. Tageldin Hamad, President of UPF International, emphasized that institutions gain legitimacy when rooted in service and that leadership gains credibility when guided by conscience and public responsibility. That standard guides the kind of examples UPF is asking its regions and associations to share this summer: evidence from their work that peace grows where justice, service, conscience, and public responsibility are made visible.

The United Nations remains the central global framework for this effort. Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16) calls for peaceful and inclusive societies, access to justic, and inclusive institutions at all levels. Aligning with the 2026 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and the lead-up to the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, this series can illustrate how institutional trust, justice, and inclusive decision-making reinforce each other. This is especially relevant as Member States continue implementation of the Pact for the Future and the broader reform agenda for multilateral cooperation, with the partnership logic of Sustainable Development Goal 17 as a practical reference.

Trust in public life grows when people practice dialogue, fair treatment, restraint in conflict, service to others, and respect for human dignity.  Parliamentarians and local government leaders, faith communities, youth networks, women’s associations, educators, media professionals, families, and local leaders can contribute to peacebuilding and responsible governance through these practices.

The founders of UPF, Dr. Hak Ja Han and late Dr. Sun Myung Moon, taught that lasting peace begins with a vision of humanity as one family under God. For UPF, this vision functions as a public ethic that connects family, community, and global responsibility. UPF connects this vision to public life through three ideals: interdependence, mutual prosperity, and universal values. Interdependence takes practical form through shared security. Mutual prosperity takes practical form through equitable participation. Universal values take practical form through institutions that protect dignity and responsibility. 

UPF invites its regions and associations to present concrete examples from their own work that show how values become public action. Contributions may include conflict mediation, interfaith service, youth leadership, community recovery after crises, and public education for peace. Interfaith dialogue can demonstrate how religious communities build trust across differences. 

Through this summer series, UPF supports continued collaboration among the United Nations system, governments, civil society, faith communities, educators, media professionals, families, and youth in strengthening the conditions that make a culture of peace possible.