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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”

What Happened at World Social Forum (WSF) 2026?

The World Social Forum serves as a global platform for civil society groups, bringing together NGOs, advocacy campaigns, and grassroots movements to build international solidarity and challenge traditional globalization. By uniting these diverse groups, the gathering acts as a clear expression of global activism working toward alternative, more equitable futures. However, this year the Benin government’s decision to block the event at the last minute—including denying entry to participants and caravans—raised serious global concerns about the protection of civil society space.

Post-2026 World Conference against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs

This August, our Co-Presidents Joseph Gerson and Cora Fabros were in Japan to commemorate the 81st anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9.

Standing alongside Hibakusha and peace advocates, we are renewing our call for a nuclear-free world—through the abolition of nuclear weapons, the promotion of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), stronger nuclear-weapon-free zones, and cooperation among governments, the UN, and civil society.

An Ocean of Peace

Nagasaki, August 9, 2026 — 81 Years After the Atomic Bombing

Speech by Cora Fabros, IPB Co-President

Friends, ohayo guzaimas!

81 years after the atomic bomb was dropped on this city.

We remember. We grieve.

We carry the memory of those who died— and the voices of those who survived.

The Hibakusha have told us again and again: “Never again.”

Those are not simply words from the past. They are a warning to our present.

And they are a responsibility to our future.

I come here today from the Philippines peace and justice movement and the International Peace Bureau.

I come from a country that knows what it means to live under the shadow of military power.

I come from a people who resisted foreign military bases.

I come from a movement that opposed the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant because we knew that nuclear technology is not simply about electricity or weapons. It is about what kind of future we choose for our people. And I come here remembering our own struggles under dictatorship—

when people risked their lives for freedom, democracy and peace.

Those struggles taught me something very simple: Peace does not come by itself.

Peace must be defended. Must be built. Must be chosen.

That is why today, standing here in Nagasaki, I want to make an appeal—

an appeal not only to governments, not only to political leaders, but to every one of us.

Let us build an OCEAN OF PEACE.

An ocean so vast that no bomb can cross it.

An ocean so deep that hatred cannot reach its bottom.

An ocean whose waves carry food, medicine, education, dignity— and freedom

instead of missiles, warships and nuclear weapons.

An ocean where the lives of children are valued more than military power.

An ocean where security does not mean preparing to destroy another country—

but making sure that every human being has enough to eat,

a home to live in,

clean water to drink,

a school to attend,

a planet to inherit,

and the freedom to live without fear.

Let us build an Ocean of Peace.

But an ocean is not made by one drop.

It is made by millions of drops coming together.

And we are those drops.

One person.

One community.

One movement.

One country.

One people reaching out to another.

Here in Asia and the Pacific, we know this very well.

Women everywhere who have stood up against militarization, occupation, nuclear weapons and war, know this very well.

Our histories and languages may be different.

Our countries may be separated by thousands of miles of ocean.

But our struggles are connected.

Our struggles, Our future, Our humanity is one.

And that is why Nagasaki and Hiroshima belong to all of us.

The memory of the Hibakusha belongs to all of us.

The memory of the Hibakusha and their suffering belongs to our human conscience. And their courage belongs to our future.

Today, as we look at the world around us, we cannot remain silent.

We see Wars. Occupation. Children buried beneath the rubble.

We see military budgets growing while people struggle to afford food, housing, health care and education.

We see nuclear weapons being modernized.

We see governments continue to make us believe in the myth that security requires more weapons. More bases. More nuclear weapons.

Nagasaki tells us that they can only lead to ashes. to suffering beyond imagination. Leaving wounds that continue across generations.

So today, from Nagasaki— from this city that carries one of humanity’s deepest wounds—

we say:

NO to nuclear weapons!

NO to war!

NO to injustice!

NO to imperialist wars of aggression!

And let us say something even more powerful and profound:

YES to life! Yes to peace. Yes to human dignity.

Yes to justice. To freedom. To solidarity.

Yes to a world where no mother has to bury her child because of war.

Yes to a world where nations resolve their differences without destroying human lives.

LET US CHOOSE LIFE!

My friends, We cannot leave the work of peace to the next generation only.

We are the collective generation that must do it.

We must dream— but we must also stand. We must speak— but we must also organize.

We must remember— but we must also act.

And we can only do this if we stand together.

Across borders. Across oceans. Across generations.

Not only today. But for all the days of our lives.

Let us carry the voices of the Hibakusha with us.

Let us build an Ocean of Peace.

An ocean made from our courage! our solidarity! from our resistance!

An ocean made from our love for humanity.

And when millions of us become those drops—

when we join together— no weapon can silence us.

No border can divide us. No government can make us forget.

Because the future belongs not to the bomb-makers, not to the war-mongers,

not to those who profit from destruction!

The future belongs to the people who choose life!

So from Nagasaki, let our message travel across Japan— across Asia and the Pacific—

across every continent— across every ocean!

LET US BUILD AN OCEAN OF PEACE!

LET US CHOOSE LIFE— THAT WE MAY ALL LIVE THE LIFE THAT WE DESERVE!

GAMBATTE KUDASAI!!!

Between Disaster and Foreign Interference: Lessons in Peace and Solidarity in the Wake of the Earthquake in Venezuela

Written by IPB Council Member and WBW Latin America Organizer Gabriel Aguirre – Caracas, August 5, 2026

Imagine returning home after a holiday and realizing you’ve lost everything: family, friends, acquaintances, your home, everything you once thought would be forever. This was the reality many Venezuelans faced after the double earthquake that struck the country on June 24th. According to experts, these seismic events measured 7.1 and 7.3 on the Richter scale, occurring just 39 seconds apart.

It’s impossible to describe the catastrophic consequences of this natural event. The last major earthquake in Venezuela was in 1967. Almost 60 years later, a more intense earthquake with more dramatic consequences struck. The earthquake primarily impacted three central states located in the northern coastal region of the country: La Guaira, Caracas, and Miranda. Other states were also affected, but to a lesser extent.

At the time of writing this report, more than 6,000 people have died, many are missing, and nearly 6,000 have been rescued from the rubble. Undoubtedly, in the aftermath of the earthquake in Venezuela, we must acknowledge the solidarity of the world, which immediately sent rescuers and humanitarian aid to the country. This, along with the actions of rescue teams, firefighters, and the country’s security forces, allowed for the rescue and care of a significant number of people.

Words cannot adequately express the solidarity of the Venezuelan people. From the very first day after June 24th, millions of people mobilized to help the earthquake victims with selfless, altruistic, and decisive action. Supplies, medicine, food, clothing, and all kinds of aid were provided and continue to be distributed. We, as peace activists, are mobilizing in an organized manner to provide assistance to those who need it most.

Among the countries that mobilized aid was the United States, with the peculiarity that its initial reaction was to send military troops and Southern Command personnel to the country, under the pretext of providing humanitarian assistance in response to the earthquake’s aftermath. This is undoubtedly an important point to analyze the implications of, especially since similar pretexts have been used in the past to justify military occupations, as happened in Haiti in 2010. Those of us who raise the banners of peace must always warn about the risks faced by the peoples of Latin America, because the plans for interference, subjugation, and colonialism remain intact.

The United States announced $300 billion in aid to address the emergency in Venezuela; however, it is currently withholding nearly $20 billion. Furthermore, it is responsible for the shortages faced by Venezuelan rescue teams due to over 12 years of sanctions against the country, the inability to import high-tech equipment, and the lack of funds to provide essential supplies to firefighters and other disaster relief groups.

Without a doubt, the IPB and pacifist organizations raise their voices for peace and demand the lifting of all sanctions against the country. It is time to allow the Venezuelan people the capacity and funds necessary to address this grave emergency.

No more sanctions!

Speech by Reiner Braun on Hiroshima Day, 6 August 2026, in Berlin at the Peace Bell

Translated using Deepl. Attached below is the original speech in German

Dear friends,

6 August 1945, 8.15 am, a sunny day in Hiroshima, already hot even in the morning; hundreds of thousands were on their way to work, to school, to university – tired and exhausted after all those years of war.

In the blue sky, an aeroplane – no danger, just a reconnaissance plane; no air-raid siren.

Seconds later, utter horror; for the people of Hiroshima and the surrounding area, it was the end of the world. A bomb – the first atomic bomb – was dropped from the aeroplane. We know the consequences, which can be summed up in the words: ‘The living will envy the dead.’ You will be surprised to learn who first coined this phrase – not the ‘Doctors Against the Nuclear War’, but Nikita Khrushchev.

Hiroshima International Declaration

2026 World Conference against A and H Bombs

Declaration of International Meeting

The world now stands at a critical crossroads: between war and nuclear catastrophe on the one hand, and peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons on the other.

The use of force in violation of the Charter of the United Nations is absolutely unacceptable. The United States’ attack on Iran, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and Israel’s genocide in Gaza and military offensive to the West Bank must be brought to an immediate end. The nuclear-armed states, including the U.S., the United Kingdom, France, Russia and China, as well as their allies, such as NATO members and Japan, are further deepening their reliance on nuclear weapons, reigniting a nuclear arms race. Nuclear conflicts between India and Pakistan, as well as North Korea’s nuclear armament, are also serious issues. The use of force by nuclear-armed states and their allies increases the real danger of nuclear war.

Two Speeches from the World Conference Against A- and H-Bombs 2026

Two speeches by IPB Co-President and CPDCS Director Joseph Gerson, given on August 3rd and 4th, 2026, at the World Conference Against A and H Bombs in Hiroshima, Japan.

Conference Speech

By Joseph Gerson
HIroshima, August 4, 2026

Minosan Konichiwa. Friends, it was a pleasure to work with Gensuikyo in organizing our successful international conference in New York on the eve of the NPT Review Conference. Let me share a moment from the Hibakusha tour that followed. At one university, I saw that there were two Chinese professors were in the audience, After Kanamoto-San’s and Ohmura-san’s speeches, I added that Nihon Hidankyo is critical of Japan’s past conquest and brutalities in China. Ohmura-san followed immediately, saying that Hidankyo remains angry that the Japanese government has yet to apologize for the war and brutal occupation in China. A brief exchange with one of the professors and Ohmura-san followed, and the next thing I was the two men embracing. That embrace won’t change policies, but it illustrates what is possible.

IPB Condemns Benin’s Cancellation of the World Social Forum and Repression of International Delegates

UPDATE August 6 – Beninese authorities have since reversed the cancellation. See more here.

The International Peace Bureau (IPB) expresses its deepest concern and regret with the sudden, unexpected, and undemocratic decision of the government of Benin to cancel the World Social Forum and to deny entry to international delegations and caravans. The last-minute decision to block the event, which expected tens of thousands of participants from across Africa and beyond, is yet another sign of the continued global trend of repression of civil society movements.

Appeal to the German Government and the Parliament: Nuclear Disarmament Must Not Remain an Empty Promise!

30th Anniversary of the ICJ Advisory Opinion on the Illegality of Nuclear Weapons under International Law

Appeal and Press Release

Exactly thirty years ago – on 8 July 1996 – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a landmark advisory opinion. Its key finding: the threat or use of nuclear weapons generally violates the rules of international humanitarian law.

‘The destructive power of nuclear weapons cannot be contained in either space or time. They have the potential to destroy all civilization and the entire ecosystem of the planet.’ (Paragraph 35)

Thus, the ICJ advisory opinion reminds us of what nuclear weapons are: weapons of mass destruction whose purpose is to kill millions of people in a very short space of time. They threaten us all, every day.

Online Dialogue on Movement Convergence Towards the World Social Forum in Benin 2026

The dialogue brought together representatives of social movements, grassroots organisations, trade unions, peace groups, environmental activists, and civil society networks to exchange perspectives on strengthening alliances across struggles. Participants explored how movements can work together to respond to the interconnected social, economic, political, and environmental crises affecting communities at the local, national, and global levels.

Held in the lead-up to the World Social Forum in Benin (4–8 August 2026), the discussion highlighted the importance of movement convergence, international solidarity, and collective action in building a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world.

We invite you to watch the recording and share it with your networks as we continue preparing for the World Social Forum 2026.

Watch the full recording in English or Spanish below:

English

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Spanish

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