Books – IPB – International Peace Bureau

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.

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.

Urgent Alert and Advocacy for Free, Credible and Peaceful Elections in Cameroon

Pre-Electoral Context in Cameroon: and Severe Security Tensions: A Worrisome Turning Point in the 2025 Electoral Process

As Cameroon approaches the presidential election scheduled for October 12, 2025, the country finds itself at a critical juncture once again. Cameroon is experiencing a severe security and political crisis. The unfair electoral environment seriously undermines the credibility of the democratic process and the right of every citizen to vote freely. The experience of the 2018 post-electoral crisis has left deep scars, both individually and collectively, affecting the social fabric, trust in institutions, and national cohesion.

Urgent Appeal: Women describing how the Israeli-Manufactured Famine Is Slowly Killing Two Million Palestinians in Gaza

The report is from the Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC), dated 5 August 2025. They encourage everyone to share this appeal, amplify the voices of women from Gaza, speak to elected representatives, and demand accountability and access to aid.

The world is witnessing a man-made famine unfold in real time. Over two million Palestinians in Gaza are being systematically starved while being bombed and torn apart. This has driven many mothers to strip their children in front of cameras, hoping that the sight of exposed ribs might stir enough compassion to bring food to their empty stomachs. These images have become tragically routine. Small, frail bodies are reduced to symbols of suffering, while their mothers stand helpless—laying bare their pain to a world that cannot deliver food to their plates.

Workshop Report on Peace and Peaceful Coexistence in the DRC- Focus on Conflicts in the East

This report provides an account of the work of the multi-stakeholder workshop organized by the Consortium Amani na Umoja (“Peace and Unity”), a platform bringing together seven civil society organizations working for peacebuilding, social cohesion, and sustainable development in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Action pour les Droits Solidaires (ADS), Africa Reconciled, Congo Security Update Alert (CSUA asbl), Women Concern (WOCO), Action pour le Dévéloppement de Jeunes au Congo (ADJC), Ministère d’Accord et de Rapprochement pour l’Essort Collectif en Afrique (MARECAR) et Encadrement des Femmes Indigènes et des Ménages vulnérables (EFIM).

This workshop was part of a collective dynamic aimed at analyzing conflict dynamics in the Eastern part of the country, identifying the underlying causes of tension, and proposing concrete actions to promote peace and harmonious coexistence between communities. The dialogue brought together community-led/national organizations (NGOs), international organizations (INGOs), some UN agencies, medias and public administration.

AMANI NA UMOJA DETAILED WORKSHOP REPORT FINAL_compressed Download

NATO’S 3.5% SPENDING GOAL: UNSUSTAINABLE ON EVERY COUNT

Issue Briefing – June 2025

A new analysis released during the NATO summit in the Netherlands by the Transnational Institute, Tipping Point North South, and Stop Wapenhandel, reveals that NATO’s growing military build-up is severely undermining global climate goals and diverting critical resources away from climate and social investment.

Since 2021, NATO member states have increased their combined military spending by 25%, reaching US $1.5 trillion. This rise has contributed to an estimated 40% increase in the Alliance’s carbon emissions—from 196 million to 273 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent. In 2024 alone, European NATO members and Canada recorded their steepest annual spending increase in decades at 17.9%.

EBCO New Annual Report on Conscientious Objection In Europe

A Call to Safeguard the Right to Refuse to Kill and Resist Wars

Read the full report here or browse by country.

EBCO’s 2024 Annual Report on Conscientious Objection to Military Service in Europe is released at a time of escalating global militarisation. From the revival of conscription in Europe to the devastating impacts of ongoing wars, the protection and empowerment of conscientious objectors is more urgent than ever.

Alternative Defence Review

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) has launched the Alternative Defence Review in response to the UK Government’s 2025 Strategic Defence Review. The document explores the broader implications of increased defence spending and offers a different perspective on national and international security policy. It forms part of a wider initiative involving trade unions and peace organisations aiming to reassess the direction of UK foreign and defence policy.

Submission to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Belarus

50th Session of the Human Rights Council Working Group | November 2025

7 April 2025

The International Centre for Civil Initiatives “Our House” (Belarus &Lithuania), International Peace Bureau (IPB), and coalitions of international peace and human rights organizations, have submitted a comprehensive report to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 50th session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on Belarus last 7 April 2025.

Arctic Council – what and where to?Arctic Council – too important to be squeezed between the great powers!

Author: Ingeborg Breines

Norwegian peace educator, former director in UNESCO and former president of the International Peace Bureau/IPB

There are many reasons to pay close attention to what is happening in the far north. The Arctic is attracting strong international interest as global warming and melting ice open up for more fishing, more drilling of oil and gas and hunt for minerals on the seabed. In addition, there is increased shipping, especially in the Northeast Passage, with faster trade and transport opportunities between the West and the Far East.