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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

IPB-2024-Nobel-Peace-Prize-Nomination Download

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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”

4Days4Peace

4Days4Peace – Barcelona, October 23–26, 2025
Organized by the International Peace Bureau (IPB) and the Centre Delàs d’Estudis per la Pau

From October 23 to 26, 2025, Barcelona hosted 4 Days 4 Peace, a series of events co-organized by the Centre Delàs d’Estudis per la Pau and the International Peace Bureau (IPB), with the support of the Barcelona City Council. The gathering brought together peace builders, researchers, and activists from various fields around the world to exchange perspectives, coordinate strategies, and strengthen the global movement for peace and disarmament.

The event opened on Thursday, October 23, with the Centre Delàs Annual Conference 2025, titled “Darkest before dawn. Pacifism in times of genocide and rearmament.” Held at Sala Sandaru, the conference reflected on two years of genocide in Gaza, Western complicity, and the growing normalization of militarism. Participants called for non-violence and alternatives to the policies of rearmament and authoritarianism.

The conference featured two main sessions: a dialogue on “Business and Complicity in the Genocide and Occupation of Palestine” with Shir Hever and Maha Abdallah, moderated by Laura Ferre Sanjuan (recording available on YouTube here); and a roundtable on “Rising Militarism and Power Politics in the International Arena” with Katerina Anastasiou, Joseph Gerson, and Corazon Valdez Fabros, moderated by Antonella Di Matteo (recording available on YouTube here).

On Friday, October 24, participants took part in workshops and strategy sessions organized around four thematic areas:

Global Disarmament and Militarization – the risks of global rearmament and the need for civil society–led disarmament initiatives was addressed. Topics such as the impact of militarization on austerity policies and public welfare, the diversion of resources from social, environmental and next-generation programs, and ethical concerns related to war and genocide where discussed. Initiatives such as GDAMS, StopRearmEurope, the No to NATO network, the 10% for All campaign agreed to build synergies between the campaigns for stronger collective impact and proposed setting a common global mobilization date to unify efforts and increase visibility.
Geopolitical Shifts and Global Governance Reform – how to strengthen international law, multilateralism, and the UN system to respond to current crises was explored. Proposed future visions included decentralizing global power structures, democratizing global institutions, reforming the UN system and redefining the notion of security. For each of these proposals, the role of IPB was discussed, highlighting the importance of focusing on areas of greatest impact like using IPB’s network to promote peace education, advocacy, and mobilization, facilitating dialogues around Common Security to review and revitalize the concept regionally, strengthening cross-movement cooperation and functioning as a knowledge exchange hub where alternative assessment reports are elaborated, deepening IPB’s distinctive voice.
Solidarity with Palestine and Peoples Impacted by Militarism Worldwide – coordinating civil society action in solidarity with affected communities in Palestine, Sudan, DRC, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Ukraine was the focus of the workshop. Solidarity platforms, webinars, conferences linking movements across regions, workshops integrating different analyses and investigative journalism efforts exposing violations of human rights were highlighted as examples of current strategic actions. Looking forward, it was suggested that solidarity strategies are framed by decolonial and justice-based lenses that prioritize the following: ensuring solidarity is interactive and grounded in local realities, strengthening the promotion of democratic and peace-oriented initiatives and broadening anti-imperialist analysis, among others.
Stronger Together: Linking Peace, Climate, Social, and Gender Justice – examining the interconnected nature of the conflicts and global issues we are facing today. Participants highlighted the need to give space to underrepresented voices, bridge generational and regional divides, and remain mindful of power dynamics that can replicate forms of oppression even within peace movements; they also highlighted the gap between state and human security – noting that as the former expands, the latter often declines – and called for peace work rooted in people’s daily realities. Concrete examples included cooperation between U.S. and Russian students through joint photography projects, union engagement for peaceful redistribution and workplace democracy, and cross-movement trust-building between peace and environmental activists. The Helsinki+50 process was recognized as an opportunity to foster East–West and North–South dialogue. The session concluded with a proposal to organize joint actions around Earth Day (April 26).

The weekend of October 25–26 was dedicated to the Triennial Meeting and General Assembly of the International Peace Bureau (IPB), the organization’s highest decision-making body. The event brought together 19 Board and Council members in person from the different regions in the world and 16 Board and Council members online, along with several individual members and external observers who joined both onsite and remotely—bringing the total to over 50 participants. Representatives of member organizations and partner networks engaged in formal and informal discussions, reviewed the progress made since the last Annual Council Meeting in 2024 and the last Triennial in 2022, and contributed to shaping IPB’s strategic direction for the coming years.

During the meeting, 19 new organizational members that had applied in 2025 were formally approved, expanding IPB’s global network to a total of more than 400 organizational members and 450 individual members. In addition, five resolutions were provisionally adopted:

Global Governance in a Shifting Geopolitical Landscape
The Importance of Cross-Movement Collaboration during Overlapping Crises
The Urgency of Disarmament Revitalization
Digitalizing IPB’s Data Management and Expanding Communication Platforms and Budget
Consolidation of IPB Consultants into a Formal Experts Group

The Assembly also approved the financial report for the previous year and adopted the 2026 budget.

All reports, materials, and resolutions adopted during the Triennial Meeting and General Assembly meeting will be made available shortly on the IPB website.

4 Days 4 Peace reaffirmed the commitment of IPB and Centre Delàs, as well as all the other participants, to challenge militarization, promote common security, and strengthen solidarity among global peace movements working toward a just and sustainable future.

UNSILENCE FORUM

[Press Release: Act X Palestine]

With figures such as Youmna El Sayed and Wael Al Dahdouh, who were Al Jazeera’s voices in Gaza, paying an enormous personal price; lawyer Raji Sourani, who is leading the effort to bring the Israeli government before the International Criminal Court; and Iranian activist Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini.

The UNSILENCE FORUM brings to Barcelona a historic debate on the future of democracy and peace in the Euro-Mediterranean region

From 14 to 16 November, journalists, human rights defenders and activists from more than 20 countries will gather in Barcelona to think, create and resist in the face of genocides, occupations and rearmament, with first-hand testimonies from Gaza and across the region, in a unique gathering framed within the global call ACTxPALESTINE.

The International Peace Bureau Calls for Action to Protect Civilians in Darfur, Sudan

El Fashir, the last standing city in Darfur, Sudan, has fallen to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). And civilians are facing mass humanitarian atrocities.

For more than 550 days, the city had been under siege, devastated by the systematic cut off of aid, food, and medicine. Thousands were killed through execution, bombardment, starvation & severe malnutrition. In two days, more than two thousand people have been killed. 460 patients and their families were massacred inside the Saudi Maternity Hospital, medical staff were abducted, and an estimated 180,000 people remain trapped inside with no safe passage out. While the Rapid Support Forces broadcast videos of their own crimes, parading victims, and committing documented executions. The world’s response to these atrocities has been shameful.

IPB Co-President Joseph Gerson stated:

“In pursuit of arms sales profits and Sudan’s resources, cynical forces have made medieval brutality possible. It must stop, and the people of Darfur must be permitted to rebuild their lives and futures without fear.”

The International Peace Bureau does not accept the status quo of brutal violence, mass murder, and dominance, and we stand with the people of Sudan. We recognise that the first, fastest responders are the local networks of volunteer medics, community kitchens, and emergency response rooms, who continue to provide lifesaving assistance despite the collapse of state protection. Supporting these actors is central to saving lives and affirming human dignity during this systemic and unacceptable violence.

The International Peace Bureau calls on citizens, media, and governments alike to keep Sudan and their work visible, to challenge indifference, and to sustain public pressure for a cease-fire and opening of unrestricted humanitarian corridors to all affected areas in Darfur.

IPB Statement Sudan Download

The Heartbeat of Sudan: Fatima Medani on Grassroots Power and Transformative Justice

In this vital episode of the Women as Agents of Change podcast, Liza Florida speaks with Fatima Medani, whose work bridges global policy with local, on-the-ground resilience in Sudan. Fatima shares her deeply personal connection to her homeland, explaining how the inherent self-reliance and interconnectedness of Sudanese communities have given rise to powerful, women-led initiatives. Long before the recent conflict, these groups were filling the institutional gaps left by formal mechanisms.

This conversation dismantles the outdated and harmful donor-recipient narrative. Fatima powerfully argues for a shift towards transformative justice—not fixing what is broken, but transforming the relationships that allow harm to occur. Through vivid examples like the Community Kitchens and the evolution of Resistance Committees into Emergency Response Rooms, she illustrates how local women are sophisticated leaders in logistics, safety, and care. This is not a story about victims waiting to be saved; it is a demand for international actors to see these women as equal partners, co-creators, and the true experts in building a sustainable peace.

Statement in Defense of the UN Resolution Condemning the US Blockade Against Cuba

DECLARACIÓN EN DEFENSA DE LA RESOLUCIÓN DE NNUU QUE CONDENA EL BLOQUEO A CUBA POR LOS EEUU

El Foro Internacional por la Paz, espacio de cooperación y coordinación en el que participamos organizaciones políticas, sociales que defendemos la Paz y la Solidaridad entre los Pueblos expresamos el mas firme respaldo a la resolución presentada ante la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas que llama a poner fin al bloqueo económico, comercial y financiero impuesto por el Gobierno de los Estados Unidos contra la República de Cuba.

The Princess of Peace: Bai Rohaniza Sumndad-Usman on Healing Generations Through Education

In this powerful episode of the Women as Agents of Change podcast, Liza Florida sits down with Bai Rohaniza Sumndad-Usman, whose life story is a testament to the power of turning personal history into a global mission. Ate. Honey recounts how her formative years, marked by the sirens and fear of the Gulf War, planted a deep longing to help children affected by conflict. Guided by her unique interfaith family roots—a Maranao Muslim father and a Catholic-born mother who embraced Islam—she embodies a message of unity that transcends cultural and religious divides.

New Publication: No more wars! The Charter of the United Nations

Book By: Michael Von Der Schulenberg

This brochure, “No more wars! The Charter of the United Nations,” serves as a timely reminder of the foundational principles established 80 years ago to safeguard humanity’s future. In an era where military escalation often overshadows diplomatic solutions, it revisits the UN Charter’s profound commitment to preserving peace, human dignity, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts. The collection critiques how geopolitical realities have drifted from these ideals, particularly in Western contexts, and calls for a urgent return to international law as the sole path toward sustainable global security.

Israel Detains the Global Sumud Flotilla: Another War Crime

Statement by the International Forum for Peace

In violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), International Humanitarian Law, and Article 54 of the Geneva Convention and its Additional Protocol I, the government of Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla and the detention of its crew in waters over which it has no jurisdiction.

In the 80th Year of the A-Bombing – Decision and Action Now to Abolish Nuclear Weapons!

2025 World Conference against A and H Bombs Declaration of the International Meeting

It will soon be 80 years since the atomic bombs were dropped by the US on Hiroshima on August 6 and Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. Now, in this 80th year, the world must make a decision to abolish nuclear weapons and to take necessary actions to implement that commitment. Assembled in Hiroshima, we recall anew the unspeakable devastation caused by nuclear weapons, and appeal to the people around the world to open the road to a nuclear weapon-free, peaceful and just world.the world must make a decision to abolish nuclear weapons and to take necessary actions to implement that commitment. Assembled in Hiroshima, we recall anew the unspeakable devastation caused by nuclear weapons, and appeal to the people around the world to open the road to a nuclear weapon-free, peaceful and just world.

Military & conflict-related emissions & climate reparations for Palestine

A new report titled “Military & Conflict-Related Emissions & Climate Reparations for Palestine”, jointly prepared by Tipping Point North South and the Palestinian Institute for Climate Strategy, examines the environmental and climate impacts of military activity in the context of the ongoing conflict in Palestine.

The report is released to coincide with the civil society-led “Draw the Line” Global Week of Action, which takes place alongside the United Nations General Assembly in New York, and ahead of the UN Climate Summit (COP30) in Belém, Brazil.