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The International Peace Bureau (IPB) Has Announced its Intention to Nominate Three Remarkable Organizations with a Focus on the Right to Conscientious Objection for the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

3 August 2023

The International Peace Bureau (IPB) Has Announced its Intention to Nominate Three Remarkable Organizations with a Focus on the Right to Conscientious Objection for the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize

Berlin, Germany – The International Peace Bureau (IPB) has announced our intention to nominate three exceptional organizations for the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize: the Russian Movement of Conscientious Objectors, the Ukrainian Pacifist Movement, and the Belarusian organization “Our House”. The decision to nominate these three organizations is a testament to their unwavering dedication in advocating for the right to conscientious objection to military service and promoting human rights and peace in their respective countries.

The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the world’s most esteemed awards, recognizing individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the pursuit of peace and harmony. The nomination period for the 2024 prize will open on 1 September 2023 and the nominations will be promptly submitted for consideration.

The Russian Movement of Conscientious Objectors (https://stoparmy.org/), the Ukrainian Pacifist Movement (http://pacifism.org.ua/), and the Belarusian Our House (https://news.house/) have demonstrated unparalleled excellence and dedication in their efforts as defenders of peace, conscientious objection, and human rights, especially after the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine began on 24 February 2022 and despite the considerable stigmatization each organization has faced since.

The fundamental right to conscientious objection to military service is an inherent human right, protected under the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion as safeguarded by Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). This right remains inalienable, even during periods of public emergency, as explicitly stated in Article 4(2) of the ICCPR. Embracing conscientious objection is a concrete means of contributing to peace. Hence, it becomes imperative to emphasize and safeguard this fundamental human right, especially during times of war.

Even in the face of escalating threats, the three movements persist in their dedication to aiding individuals who resist war and military mobilization. Their focus is particularly on supporting those who endure persecution, torture, and imprisonment. This commitment encompasses all instances of forced and violent recruitment into participating armies, as well as the persecution of conscientious objectors, deserters, and non-violent anti-war demonstrators.

“We are humbled and honored to nominate these three remarkable movements for the Nobel Peace Prize. Their courage in championing the right to conscientious objection and their tireless efforts to promote peace and human rights serve as an inspiration to us all,” said Philip Jennings, Co-President of IPB.

By nominating these three movements, we seek to raise awareness about the importance of the right to conscientious objection, fostering peace and human rights. Furthermore, we hope that the announcement of this intended nomination will remind and pressure governments and nations across the globe to respect the right to conscientious objection in their own countries and provide alternatives to military service for those that object. This includes the right to asylum for conscientious objectors forced to flee their own countries in order to avoid military service.

We call other organizations and particularly Nobel Peace Laureates from across the globe to support this nomination. Together our voices in support for conscientious objection can protect those who are selflessly putting their lives on the line to defend their beliefs and their compatriots who reject war and violence.

The selection process for Nobel Peace Prize laureates is highly competitive and is conducted by esteemed committees dedicated to recognizing peace efforts worldwide. We firmly believe that these three movements stand among the most deserving candidates for this prestigious recognition.

About IPB

The International Peace Bureau is dedicated to the vision of a World Without War. Our current main programme centres on Disarmament for Sustainable Development and within this, our focus is mainly on the reallocation of military expenditure. We are a Nobel Peace Laureate (1910); over the years, 13 of our officers have been recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize.

For media inquiries or further information, please contact:

International Peace Bureau

info@ipb-office.berlin

+49 (0) 30 1208 4549

Marienstraße 19-20 10117, Berlin – Germany

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Justice for Yurii Sheliazhenko

Berlin, Germany – The International Peace Bureau strongly condemns the Security Service of Ukraine’s (SBU) decision to charge IPB Councilmember and Seán MacBride Prize Laureate Yurii Sheliazhenko with “justification of Russian aggression” and search of his apartment. The charge is based solely on Sheliazhenko’s “Peace Agenda for Ukraine and the World,” a document which explicitly condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine and promotes peace, justice, and the right to conscientious objection to military service.

Yurii and his organization, the Ukrainian Pacifist Movement, have always opposed both sides of the current war and advocated for dialogue, negotiations, and a peaceful resolution which addresses the underlying causes of the war.

We call on the Ukrainian government and the SBU to respect the rights of conscientious objectors and the right to free speech for peace in Ukraine, rights that cannot be violated even during times of war. We vow to support Yurii’s rights and to rally international support for his freedom and wellbeing.

Yurii’s response to the charges and search can be found at https://worldbeyondwar.org/we-object-to-the-illegal-search-and-seizure-at-apartment-of-yurii-sheliazhenko-in-kyiv/

A petition for the Ukrainian government to drop the prosecution of Yurri can be found here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-the-ukrainian-government-to-drop-prosecution-of-peace-activist-yurii-sheliazhenko/

Please see attached Press Release.

IPB-Statement-Yuri Download

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Report – 2nd Negotiations Round on a Nulcear Weapons Ban Treaty

After the successful session in March 2017 and the publication of the draft of the Convention to prohibit nuclear weapons by the Chair Ambassador Elayne Whyte from Costa Rica, the Second round of negotiations on a Convention started on June 15^th.

The sprit of the 125+ participating countries is productive and dynamic and no major disagreements have been stopping the hard works of the participants from going forward. Nuclear weapons States possessors and their allies, the countries who rely on nuclear weapons in their security doctrines, have chosen to boycott the process, except the Netherlands. Continue reading “Report – 2nd Negotiations Round on a Nulcear Weapons Ban Treaty”

EU Military Spending: What You Need to Know

This report is produced by Transnational Institute (TNI), European Network Against the Arms Trade (ENAAT), and Stop Wapenhandel.

Factsheet 1 | EU Military Spending until 2027: From ‘Peace Project’ to Arms Investor

Discover how the European Union’s military spending has expanded dramatically in recent years, reshaping priorities, budgets, and policies across Europe. Download the factsheet for key figures, funding mechanisms, and insights into the shift from a self-described “peace project” to a major investor in defence and arms production.

FactSheet 1 Full details

Open Letter: “Security for Whom?”

Civil society organisations from across the spectrum urge EU decision-makers to reject the military budget surge and invest in human security instead

Europe faces a choice: fund militarisation or invest in people. Ahead of crucial EU budget negotiations, civil society organisations call on leaders to prioritise health, housing, education, climate action and peacebuilding over a proposed €131 billion surge in defence spending.

Open Letter initiated by TNI, ENAAT, Stop ReArm Europe

Click here to open and download the letter: “Security for Whom?” Civil society organisations from across the spectrum urge EU decision-makers to reject the military budget surge and invest in human security instead

A slightly adapted version of this letter will be sent to Members of the European Parliament at a later stage. It is still open to signatures from civil society groups and organisations. If your group or organisation wants to sign on, please contact j.solanki[@]tni.org. You can also read the letter here.

Call for a Campaign to Support Deserters in Europe

The authorities of the European Union are currently discussing harsh measures aimed at restricting the entry of Russian citizens who have taken part in combat, including those who refused to continue the war. These measures are already becoming reality: several European states are systematically denying asylum to Russian deserters, accusing them of “complicity” and depriving them of any possibility of finding safe refuge. This is happening even though many Russian citizens were forcibly compelled to serve in the army – pressure that continues to intensify.

Peace in Palestine: Civil Society’s Road Map

A conference entitled ‘Two peoples, two states, one future’ was held in Paris, during which an alternative proposal to the ‘Trump plan’ was drawn up. Numerous governments were present, but not Italy

On Friday 12 June in Paris, at the magnificent headquarters of the Arab World Institute, the second conference for peace between Israelis and Palestinians was held, convened by the French government under the banner of “2Peoples2States1Future”. This extraordinary event, attended by over 150 representatives of Israeli and Palestinian civil society, was initiated and organised with great commitment and involvement by the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean Noël Barrot, who placed the Palestinian and Middle East issues on the agenda of the G7 summit, chaired by France, thereby giving a voice and legitimacy to the proposals of Israeli and Palestinian civil society organisations committed to a lasting peace and coexistence between the two peoples.

Join Live Peace from 13th-29th September

Peace is the most important issue of our time. Yet history repeatedly shows that it was citizens’ movements that achieved major social progress: the abolition of slavery, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and many more.

Music and the arts have the extraordinary power to unite people and move them emotionally. Music knows no religion, skin color, or ideology.

Live Peace was therefore founded – supported by already 10 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates – as a tool to unite and mobilize citizens worldwide through worldwide concerts and art events – on and around every September 21st, the United Nations International Day of Peace.

Our vision is to be the first massive movement for peace – of millions of men, women and children one day standing together for peace on the same day with one uniting simple message: WE WANT PEACE

Alongside these many local events, we also aim to organize major concerts with well-known artists and televised coverage in order to reach and inspire as many people worldwide as possible. Already in 2025, Live Peace included 50 events worldwide, including one major event in France where we reached more than 8,700 people.

Citizens are the sparks that can ignite the fire of peace — by creating a global music and art movement that one day may be broadcast across all continents, with thousands, millions and perhaps eventually billions of people visibly calling for peace together through the strength of their numbers.

To build the first and largest worldwide network of peace concerts and artistic events — and to encourage cities, organizations and sponsors to join — we want to kindly ask you to make your event a Live Peace event or even organize a small event yourself. In these times, we need to stand together.

It’s very simple.

Have you already planned a Peace event between 13th and 29th September? Or are you able to organise a small event?
Then please register your event on our platform at https://www.live-peace.com/would-you-like-to-organise-a-concert-or-artistic-event
Add our LOGO to your marketing material (we send it to you)
And we list you on our website

That‘s it

We would be happy to share our vision and idea with you in a Zoom meeting on the 1st of July at 9 AM or 6 PM CEST

Or simply send us the details of your event via the form above or via mail to contact@live-peace.com

We are very much looking forward to getting in touch with you.

Together we create peace.

Invitations in English, Spanish, and French are available below—please feel free to download and share them widely with your networks.

English

Live Peace_Invitation members IPB_en Download

French

Live Peace_Invitation members IPB_fr Download

Spanish

Live Peace_Invitation members IPB_esp Download

NATO in crisis: time to overcome the war machine

NATO Peace Counter Summits – Online

As NATO faces its deepest ever crisis, this counter-summit will focus on the impact of the dramatically changing global situation, and the opportunities this presents for change. The decades-long ideological and political relationship between Europe and the USA is changing beyond all recognition. The US pursues brutal unilateral dominance with vassal status for Europe. Europe pursues greater independence based on insane levels of militarism to the point of risking a nuclear war. The situation is unsustainable and dangerous in the extreme

This new situation presents the peace movement with new challenges and new opportunities. Can NATO be dealt a death blow? What will come in its place? Can we overcome the warmongering ideology that is increasingly dominating our societies? How can we build an alternative security framework that meets people’s needs and guarantees real security for all?

This ‘No to War – No to NATO network’ counter-summit will explore these questions, develop an analysis of NATO in the rapidly changing situation, and look at the implications for our movements. Please join us.

International People’s Tribunal Invites U.S. and ROK Governments to Participate

Press release | June 10, 2026

The International Organizing Committee of the International People’s Tribunal (IPT) today formally invited representatives of the United States Government and the Government of the Republic of Korea to participate in this Peoples’ Tribunal, which is being convened to highlight the experiences and claims of Korean victims of the 1945 atomic bombings. This group of atomic bomb survivors has too often been overlooked and now seeks recognition, acknowledgment, and redress through international legal accountability.

Letters of invitation were respectfully provided to these two governments in the hope that they will send representatives to the Tribunal, which will be held at the Graduate School of Theology, Hanshin University, in Seoul, South Korea, on November 13–15, 2026.

Webinar: NATO: Still Going Global?

Overview

As NATO in Europe faces a crisis, how is this impacting NATO actions and expansion elsewhere in the world? What is the current status of NATO’s bases and military footprint? How are NATO’s bilateral alliances impacting globally?

From Helsingborg to Ankara: Global Voices on NATO, Militarization, and Welfare

Overview

This online gathering takes place alongside the NATO Foreign Ministerial Meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden (May 21–22), which is expected to emphasize increased defence spending. Such commitments risk undermining efforts toward peace, social justice, and effective responses to the climate and environmental crisis. There is an urgent need to critically examine NATO’s expanding role, as it increasingly extends its influence beyond the military into areas such as natural resources, technology, finance, and media. This raises concerns about global power imbalances, growing militarization, and the diversion of resources from urgent social and environmental needs. The gathering will bring together diverse perspectives, creating space for critical discussion and constructive alternatives, while fostering intergenerational dialogue and amplifying younger voices.

NATO and the Current Conjuncture

Anuradha Chenoy | May 21, 2026

The US seeks to retain global primacy, but its strategic weaknesses are evident in 3 events: (i) Iran’s ability to retain its state structure and leadership; leverage oil and the Straits of Hormuz despite US-Israeli aggression and attempts for de-stabilization. Resistance groups in Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen remain. (ii) US inability to sustain funding and arms support to the Russia-Ukraine war (iii) China’s rise as ‘near peer’. The Trump-Xi meeting (May 15-16, 2026) established the two as equal powers- something the US has not experienced for decades since unipolar hegemony. Trump calls this ‘G2’, Rubio acknowledges this as “strategic stability point”. Chinese see this as a period of ‘strategic stalemate’. So, the Indo-Pacific (Asia Pacific) will remain a theatre of intense but ‘managed’ competition. This is a paradigm shift in international politics. The US seeks domination as usual while China seeks parity. This competition has global impacts.