Commemorating World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW) on January 30^th 2026, the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) in cooperation with UNCAV, the Coalition of Faith-Based Organizations, Youth and Students for Peace and the Women’s Federation for World Peace held a conference on the theme “The Relevance of Religions for a peaceful World Order” at the Vienna International Center (UN Vienna) with 200 guests in attendance.

Mr. Peter Haider, President of UPF Austria, welcomed the participants and emphasized that World Interfaith Harmony Week, adopted by the United Nations, aims to promote understanding, mutual respect, and cooperation between people of different faiths. He noted that the conference's central theme was particularly significant at a time when the international system was showing clear signs of fragility. While underscoring that wars are not caused by religions themselves, but by political decisions, Mr. Haider highlighted the importance of interreligious dialogue as an ethical foundation for peace.