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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”

Global | Live the Live Peace events

Date and Time: 21-Sep

Location: Global

Description of Activity:

On September 21, the world becomes a stage for peace.
All over the globe, more and more people are celebrating Live Peace events – through concerts, performances, or simply a party with friends. Anything goes, as long as the message is clear: We want peace!

Find an event near you – or host your own.
Join in. Raise your voice. For peace.

Netherlands | Peace Demonstration: Take action now for world peace

Date and Time: 21-Sep, 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Location: Monument on Dam Square, Netherlands

Description of Activity:

Sunday 21 September 2025 is International Peace Day. This year’s UN theme is: act now for a peaceful world. Among other things, it concerns the importance of understanding and non-violence. That is why we will gather in silence from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Monument on Dam Square in Amsterdam. To commemorate the victims of the wars in Gaza, Ukraine and other wars worldwide, but also, and above all, to call for peace.

The Security We Need: Rebalancing Military Spending for a Sustainable and Peaceful Future

9 September 2025, New York – Following a decade-long military build-up, global military spending hit a record high in 2024, soaring by more than nine per cent from 2023 and signaling a dangerous move away from the principles of the UN Charter.

Amid an era of geopolitical tension and distrust fueling unprecedented death and destruction around the world, the UN Secretary-General’s report, The Security We Need: Rebalancing Military Spending for a Sustainable and Peaceful Future, urges UN Member States to recalibrate security and development priorities.

French Nuclear Tests in Algeria – Joint Statement on the International Day Against Nuclear Tests

We, the undersigned organizations, on the occasion of the International Day Against Nuclear Tests, 29 August 2025, express our deep concern at the passing of more than six decades since the start of the series of nuclear tests conducted by France in the Algerian Sahara between 1960 and 1966. These included 17 nuclear explosions in addition to 40 subcritical supplementary tests, leaving a heavy legacy of widespread radioactive contamination and resulting in severe health, environmental, and social damage that remains to this day.

Global | Palestinian and Global Civil Society Call for a Global Day of Action and Strike September 18th, 2025

Date and Time: 18-Sep

Location: Global

Description of Activity:

On September 18, 2024, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/ES-10/L.31, demanding Israel end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) within 12 months and to immediately comply with the provisional measures in the genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Since then Israel has entrenched its occupation and escalated its genocidal attacks on Gaza causing the United Nations to declare famine in Gaza. The Palestinian NGO Network (PNGO) and Global Civil Society is calling for a Global Strike and Day of Action on September 18, 2025, to denounce Israel’s refusal to comply with this order, and to demand that UN member nations act immediately to end Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people.

United Kingdom | ‘Kick out Trump’s Nukes’ – National Demonstration at RAF Lakenheath

Date and Time: 20- Sep, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm London Time

Location: RAF Lakenheath

Description of Activity:

Evidence is clear that US nuclear weapons have arrived in Britain – at the Lakenheath NATO base in Suffolk. These deadly weapons make us all a target. And they increase the risk of Britain being dragged into Trump’s reckless wars.

The majority of the population totally understand how these nuclear weapons don’t make us safer. That’s why a majority oppose their deployment here in Britain.

As part of the actions to condemn Trump’s shameful state visit, join us at Lakenheath to say loud and clear that neither he nor his nuclear bombs are welcome here!

Assemble at the Main Gate at 1pm.

United Kingdom | Lift The Ban – London – September 6th Action

Date and Time: Sep 6

Location: London

Description of Activity:

The next Lift The Ban action will take place at Parliament Square in London on September 6th at 1pm. Sign up here to make a commitment to standing with 1,000 others to demand the de-proscription of Palestine Action, and an end to UK complicity in genocide.

Please read the Action Briefing Document in full before committing to this action. There is a significant risk of arrest for those who take part. The action will only go ahead if 1,000 people make a commitment.

Palestinian and Global Civil Society Call for a Global Day of Action and Strike September 18th, 2025

Citizen Barometer of Peace and Security in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Produced and directed by the Pamoja kwa Amani Consortium, C-PKA / with the support of PAEMA, Special Issue of August 21, 2025 for the special attention of the members of the United Nations Security Council.

From the security and peace index in the provinces of North and South Kivu:

There is no peace, let alone security, in the entire two provinces. Everyday it is not known if we will survive. Getting through a day, sleeping, and waking up alive is currently a miracle. Attacks against peaceful citizens have become commonplace. Killings, assassinations, massacres, forced deportations, torture, and flagrant violations of human rights have reached unbearable proportions.

Bearing Witness: Reflections from the World Conference against A and H Bombs

By Philip Jennings, IPB Co-President

“I forget things easily, but I can’t forget that day. I want to, but I can’t. I need to hand down my experience. Until the age of 80, I refused to speak about August 6, but now I do. I was 15. I worked in a tobacco factory; we were 600 metres from the epicentre. There was a white light, then a blast which rocked me. I had a moment to seek shelter that saved me, but my friends did not. There were fires and bodies everywhere. Children and adults with skin covered in blisters. The skin was hanging from their bodies. Children were crying, and then silence as their hearts stopped. I collected the bodies, and we made funeral pyres day after day.”

These words from a Hibakusha were shared at the 2025 Gensuikyo A & H conference in Hiroshima. The audience listened in respectful silence, with many tears being shed.