Bangkok, Thailand—UPF-Thailand observed the U.N. International Day of Peace 2015 with events at more than 1,500 schools and government offices throughout the country, involving more than 1 million people. Since 2009, it has commemorated the day with a one minute of silent prayer, meditation for peace and reading of peace messages.  The main program for this year’s Day was organized at the St. Francis Xavier Convent School in Bangkok, and was supported by Thailand’s Ministry of Education and Bangkok’s Department of Education. Approximately 3,200 students and teachers participated in the event.

A highlight of the program was secretary general of the Ministry of Education, Prof. Kamjorn Tatiyagavee, reading a message Prime Minister of Thailand, Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, wrote to UPF for the Day. In his message, the Prime Minister praised UPF-Thailand’s work to promote and hold peace activities on the International Day of Peace, every year.  Dr. Gwang Jo Kim, director of UNESCO Bangkok, read U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message.

Events were also organized at schools and police offices in different provinces, by the Royal Thai Police and governors of those provinces.  In the

• middle and eastern provinces, 213 schools participated;
• northern province, 268 schools;
• northeastern province, 250 schools; and
• southern province, 180 schools.