Highlights of Past Events

United Nations General Assembly 2025 (UNGA 80)

UPEACE NY’s Melissa Wild and Krista Smith had the privilege of attending the SDGs Conference, an insightful event organized and sponsored by the Journalists and Writers Foundation (JWF). It was an honor to hear Dr. Mariateresa Garrido, UPEACE faculty member, contribute to a panel on the critical issue of Cross-Cutting Threats to the Principles of Democracy. Dr. Garrido's presentation focused on principles of peace and how they can help address misinformation and disinformation. Grateful as well to UPEACE student Elif Dursun, for joining!

The conference began with a compelling call to action from Her Excellency Epsy Campbell Barr, former Vice President of Costa Rica, who infused the gathering with both optimism and urgency for continued global collaboration in the pursuit of sustainable development, one inspired especially by a new kind of leadership - cooperative over competitive.

It was a truly inspiring session underscored by a shared commitment to shaping a more peaceful, informed, and democratic world.

UNGA 80 | At the UN

This year’s UNGA opens with music. A youth choir singing out for peace. Despite all the violence and defunding peacework, the message at this year’s United Nations General Assembly has been clear: the UN matters. As the President of the General Assembly,

Annalena Baerbock, put it: “for 80 years, this building has stood as a monument to our shared hopes for a better future.”

UPEACE Permanent Observer Mission to the UN Special Advisor Melissa Wild was in attendance, representing for her and for UPEACE Permanent Observer Ambassador Ramu Damodaran, the mission and work of UPEACE, promoting the understanding as Nobel Laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf stated, that peace and “reconciliation is a process, not an event.” Peace - as a practice and process - is one that in these times of heightened violence, fear, and hate, requires real courageous leadership. A courage exemplified by Nobel Laureate Dr Mara Ressa in her remarks, as well as by poet and activist Maryam Bukar - Hassan.

UPEACE had the chance as well to reconnect with the Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the UN Ambassador Maritza Chan, whose leadership at the UN stands out among the rest, and for whose friendship the University for Peace is most grateful.

Lastly, Ms. Wild made her way to the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations to attend a session on protecting children from war. A room full of difficult emotions yet a commitment to hope through action. Grateful to UPEACE colleague Catherine Panter-Brick for her contributions to the science behind intergenerational trauma and to Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations Ambassador Fergal Mythen, for his remarks and his work for peace. Featured at this session was a recent publication at the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs co-authored alongside Dr Panter-Brick and others, with UPEACE colleagues Melissa Wild, Dr Adriana Salcedo and Dr. Uzma Rashid.

You may read the publication here: https://jackson.yale.edu/centers-initiatives/peacebuilding-initiative/research/

UNGA 80 | PEACETECH COLLEAGUES

What a busy and important year during UNGA 80! As investment in warfare increase, peacebuilders are creating strong bridges than ever with a critical cross-sectoral community of stakeholders devoted to innovative ways of investing in peace — UPEACE NY’s Melissa Wild spent time with colleagues in the peacetech and peace innovation space discussing how to strengthen tech literacy for peacebuilders, and peace literacy for folks in tech, impact investing, and climate financing.

First stop was the Tata Consultancy Services’ session on digital empowerment - facilitated by UPEACE Alumn Nick Martin! Melissa and Nick had a chance to talk about Nick’s new work with Kolab, and thinking through innovative methods to deliver training in peace through UPEACE’s Global Center of Peace Innovation.

Next, Artur Kluz’s annual PeaceTech Awards Ceremony was filled with new and old friends, including colleagues Megan Jeans and Christine Keung! Absolutely critical to have voices who can bridge the gap between spaces traditionally disconnected from peacebuilding.

The work continued - exploring conversations around climate and issues of ownership - ownership over money, resources, data, to empower a decolonial non-extractive process of development. Mariateresa Garrido, Melissa Wild, Krista Smith and Elif Dursun attended inspiring sessions, including that of UPEACE friend and colleague Heather McGee, MPA, at Intentional Asset Management, as well as Kinetik’s Future of Living Systems Summit, organized and facilitated by the brilliant Leonie Weerakoon. Grateful to have seen UPEACE colleague Emilie McGlone speak there, and to attend with UPEACE NY Board Member Azin Aliabadi!

Also had a chance to walk the grounds at the UN with colleague Cleo Barnett, Executive Director of Amplifier Art, with whom UPEACE NY is excited to partner on an upcoming project!

Finally, grateful as always to spend time with Liliane Nkunzimana and thankful for the Baha’i International Community for hosting another important dialogue, bringing civil society together with UN representatives and other stakeholders. The remarks and discussion at the Pact Innovation Forum High-Level Breakfast Dialogue brought up topics ranging from inclusion of youth in official UN agendas, being practical amount implementation of the Pact for the Future, the 16 actions of the Pact Innovation Plan by the Global Governance Innovation Network, introduced by Nudhara Yusuf, and the necessity for States to work together with civil society. A great opportunity to connect with good friend Institute for Economics & Peace Executive Director Americas, Michael Collins and Director of the Pact for the Future Implementation at the Executive Office of the Secretary General, Themba Kalua!

UPEACE ALUMNI MIXER

Grateful to our UPEACE alumni and student community who joined us, along with our friends and colleagues in NYC to reminisce about the magical days at UPEACE campus, and to share how we’ve all carried our work for peace forward - A time was had!

Thank you to our UPEACErs Charmaine Asinuli, Elif Dursun, Beatriz González Acuña, Estefania Palomino Esq., our UPEACE NY volunteer Rabih El Tair, Loni Burnette, and our UPEACE NY Board Member, Azin Aliabadi, for being there!

UPEACE NY Summer Launch 2025

“UPEACE New York brought together 50+ changemakers for an inspiring evening of live music (featuring MorDance and Kira Metcalf), networking, and silent auctions—all to advance peace education worldwide.

The funds will directly support:

Young Leaders for Peace – Empowering NYC youth
Scholarships – For New Yorkers to study at UPEACE in Costa Rica
Critical Training Programs – Building skills for conflict resolution

Special thanks to honorees Mariam Korangy & Lea Carpenter, and all attendees who are helping bridge local support with global peacebuilding.

See more about this event here!

High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) 2025

UPEACE had a great time at this year’s High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), which was held from July 14–23, 2025. The forum served as a platform for reviewing the progress that has been made on the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and this year’s discussions were based on SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 16 (Inclusive societies).

First members of UPEACE listened to special events by local governments and organizations discussing the work that must be done to give each city a voice and opportunity to speak on the global stage.

Members of UPEACE and UPEACENY were fully engaged throughout the sessions, attending impactful events hosted by key UN-affiliated organizations. At a roundtable organized by the Bahá'í International Community (BIC), UPEACE joined discussions on gender inequality and the threats women’s rights are facing worldwide.

Later, at an event hosted by Peace Boat, the focus turned to safeguarding ocean ecosystems and presenting the innovative work of Peace Boat and its interns. UPEACE’s Special Advisor to the Permanent Observer, Melissa Wild, spoke at this event in which she talked about the threats that the ocean and its animals are under, as well as the work UPEACE can do to help support these ef- the efforts made by Peace Boat.

Overall, this year’s HLPF was a remarkable opportunity for UPEACE to strengthen its commitment to the SDGs, create dialogue on urgent global issues, and build lasting partnerships with fellow UN-affiliated organizations.

Peace Innovation Roundtable

For UPEACE New York, peace is not a static goal, it is something we continue to build and reimagine together. We believe this is the heart of peace innovation.

On October 24th, 2024 UPEACE brought this vision to life with the launch of the book Innovations: Reflections and Ideas in New York City. The event brought together academics, diplomats, UN officials, private sector leaders, and young peacebuilders in one shared space. The event highlighted relevant questions. What is peace innovation? Who does it include? And how do we make it real and tangible?

The fruitful discussion highlighted visions for the future but also invited reflection on where we are now. Peace innovation was not presented as a single solution but rather a path and a process to achieve one common goal. A way to prevent violence, shifting dynamics and a primary component of our communities and systems.

Attendants of the events included the Rector and Vice Rector of UPEACE HQ, joined leaders from the Permanent Missions of India, Sweden, and Costa Rica, alongside voices from the private sector and video remarks from Gabriela Ramos of UNESCO. Everyone invited brought a different and valuable perspective to the conversation.

The roundtable also presented a long-term vision for research where peace innovation is no longer just a theory. UPEACE New York seeks to actively create spaces where everyone can engage and turn ideas into action. Whether through academic initiatives, community leadership or youth-led programs, this event reflects UPEACE New York’s commitment to make peace feel tangible.

The conversations that took place during this event continue to shape our systemic approach to peace. The impact lives on in the ideas shared, the relationships built, and the commitment to doing things differently.

Can Peace Be Taught? A UPEACE Roundtable

UPEACE NY gathered on December 5th, 2024 to reflect on the 44th Anniversary of the University for Peace with special tribute to the Late Anne-Marie Carlson at the Bahá'í International Community United Nations Office.

This special roundtable included insights from Narinder Kakar (Former Permanent Observer, University for Peace Mission to the UN), Elisabeth Shuman (Executive Director, Committee on Teaching About the UN), Ramu Damodaran (Permanent Observer, University for Peace Mission to the UN), among other esteemed guests from nonprofit and academic sectors.