IPB Statements – IPB – International Peace Bureau

Statement by the International Peace Bureau on Current Developments in the Middle East

The Middle East faces profound challenges threatening regional stability and international peace. Prolonged conflicts, political upheavals, and humanitarian crises have underscored global and regional stakeholders’ urgent need for collective action. Amidst these challenges, the resilience and perseverance of the region’s people remain a testament to hope and the critical importance of working together toward sustainable peace.

This statement highlights key regional developments and the International Peace Bureau’s (IPB) urgent call for action to address these pressing issues.

Ceasefire Agreement Between Hamas and Israel

A ceasefire agreement has been reached between Hamas and Israel following 15 months of relentless violence in Gaza. This period has led to devastating human losses—over 45,000 deaths and 150,000 injuries, the majority of which have affected women, children, and the elderly. More than 1.5 million civilians have been displaced, and Gaza’s infrastructure has suffered catastrophic damage, with 90% of medical facilities rendered inoperative. Acute food, water, medical supplies, and electricity shortages have left the humanitarian crisis at a breaking point.

The ceasefire includes the phased release of hostages, starting with women and children, alongside ongoing negotiations for the release of all captives. It also outlines the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces with measures to ensure border security, the safe return of displaced civilians to northern Gaza with safeguards against weaponization, and a significant increase in humanitarian aid to address Gaza’s urgent needs.

IPB commends the ceasefire as a step forward and calls on all parties to adhere to its terms. The safety and well-being of affected communities must remain a priority. Furthermore, the international community must ensure unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid and provide robust support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which is vital in supporting Palestinian refugees.

Sustainable peace also requires opening the labor market to Palestinian workers and addressing the economic devastation caused by years of conflict. Reconstruction must follow the principles outlined in ILO Recommendation 205, focusing on decent work, quality public services, and collaboration with local stakeholders.

The IPB urges all nations to engage in constructive dialogue, uphold international law, and recommit to a two-state solution as outlined in United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338. Accountability for war crimes and acts of genocide must also remain a cornerstone of justice.

Developments in the West Bank

The situation in the West Bank has deteriorated despite the ceasefire, with an alarming increase in violence and settler attacks on Palestinian communities. The expansion of settlements continues to violate international law, exacerbating tensions and further displacing vulnerable populations.

IPB strongly condemns these actions and calls for the immediate cessation of settlement activities per United Nations resolutions. The rollback of sanctions that previously constrained settlement expansion has only emboldened illegal activities and deepened divisions.

The international community must reaffirm its commitment to a two-state solution and actively pursue de-escalation measures to protect civilians and restore hope for peace.

Evolving Situation in Syria

The ongoing violence and instability in Syria remain deeply concerning. Targeted attacks against civilians, particularly minority communities, have resulted in widespread fear and suffering, with over 150 deaths reported in a single month.

International sanctions on Syria have further crippled the nation’s economy, hindering essential services and exacerbating poverty. While sanctions aim to address security concerns, they must not disproportionately harm vulnerable populations. A balanced approach is vital—one that supports humanitarian efforts and economic recovery while addressing accountability and governance challenges.

The IPB calls on Syrian authorities to honor their international commitments under United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254, which provides a framework for democratic governance and free elections. Rebuilding efforts must prioritize human rights, inclusivity, and reconciliation to lay the groundwork for lasting peace.

Call to Action

The International Peace Bureau calls on all stakeholders to act decisively:

Uphold the Hamas-Israel ceasefire, ensure civilian protection, and commit to peaceful conflict resolution.
Support justice, accountability, and reconciliation efforts, including bolstering UNRWA’s mission and funding.
Enforce international law and advocate for a two-state solution to address the root causes of violence in the West Bank.
Help rebuild Syria’s economy and governance while ensuring that sanctions do not harm the most vulnerable.

Wars and violence yield nothing but devastation. The IPB reaffirms its dedication to fostering dialogue, reconciliation, and peace. Sustainable solutions require mutual understanding, open discussions, and collaborative efforts. Let this moment serve as an opportunity to unite and pursue justice, dignity, and peace for all.

IPB Condemns the Violent Attack on Nouveaux Droits de l’Homme: Call for Accountability and Justice in Cameroon

Cameroon | 20 January 2025

The recent violent burglary at the offices of Nouveaux Droits de l’Homme (NDH-Cameroon) is a grave assault on human rights defenders and civil society. This act, aimed at silencing NDH’s critical work, highlights the growing threats faced by NGOs advocating for justice and freedom.

As the International Peace Bureau (IPB), we strongly condemn this attack and call for a thorough investigation by the authorities to ensure accountability in Cameroon. We urge all institutions to respect the rights of NGOs to operate free from fear and intimidation.

We stand in solidarity with NDH-Cameroon, including our IPB Council Member and Executive Director of NDH-Cameroon, Cyrille Roland Bechon, along with all its members and community. We reaffirm our commitment to defending the rights of all human rights defenders in the face of such challenges.

Sign the Call: Urgent Call for Unity and Action for the Betterment of Liberia

You can sign the call here.

Since October 2024, Liberia’s House of Representatives has faced leadership struggles, escalating tensions, and growing public distrust. Protests, a fire at the parliament, and deep divisions highlight the urgent need for action.

This letter calls on the leaders of the Reform and Loyalist Blocs to unite and address vital issues such as economic development, education, healthcare, anti-corruption, peacebuilding, and youth empowerment. By signing and sharing, YOU contribute your voice to a collective call for Liberia’s leaders to put aside differences and prioritize the nation’s future. This petition is open for signatures from individuals and organizations until 24 January 2025.

Join us in advocating for meaningful change and national unity in Liberia.

Legislative Deadlock and Democratic Challenges in Liberia’s House of Representatives: October 2024 to Present

By Tyson Smith Berry Jr., Executive Director, 4Kids International/Council Member, International Peace Bureau

Since October 2024, Liberia’s House of Representatives has faced a serious democratic crisis filled with leadership conflicts, internal rifts, and growing public frustration. This turmoil has not only interrupted the legislative process but has also raised significant concerns about the stability of Liberia’s democratic institutions and governance.

Statement from the International Peace Bureau (IPB) on the Current Situation in Syria and Aspirations for Its Future

The International Peace Bureau (IPB) celebrates alongside the Syrian people the end of the Assad regime’s rule and brutal crackdown in Syria – the scenes of liberation produce hope of a national recovery and transformation to a new inclusive and democratic future for Syrians. The nation has endured immense suffering since the outbreak of conflict in 2011. The initial protests’ rapid escalation into a devastating civil war has already resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives, the displacement of millions both internally and externally, and the near-total destruction of the country’s infrastructure.

A Needed Step to Strengthen the Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones (NWFZs) Regime

By: Enkhsaikhan Jargalsaikhan, IPB Board Member and Blue Banner Chairman

Growing importance of NWFZs

Nuclear-weapon-free zones (NWFZs) are important and practical regional measures of non-nuclear-weapon states (NNWSs) in promoting the goals of maintaining strategic stability, nuclear non-proliferation and strengthening confidence among states. Today there are more than 115 states the territories of which cover about 84 mln km²of the world’s landmass, representing 39% of its population and making up almost 60% of United Nations membership. Thus much has been achieved in the past half a century. However, the past rich experience should serve as a tool of strengthening and broadening further the NWFZ regime leading to creating a nuclear-weapon-free-world (NWFW). When oceans and seas that cover about 70% of the Earth’s surface are to be included, the NWFZ regime would cover most of the NWFW.

A Call for Solutions to Safeguard Democracy in South Korea

Statement | Berlin, Germany | 13 December 2024

The International Peace Bureau (IPB) stands in unwavering solidarity with the people of South Korea, whose courage and resilience have risen as a powerful defense against the erosion of democratic principles and the unconstitutional declaration of martial law. Recent events highlight a grave misuse of power and blatant violations of constitutional law by the government and military leaders. We believe this is a reversal of the hard-won gains of the people-led democratic movement of South Korea and a setback to democracy in South Korea that took root after the people’s victory against authoritarianism in the 1980s.

Nuclear Weapons are Antithetical to Human Rights: Honoring Nihon Hidankyo on International Human Rights Day

10 December 2024

At a time of deep crisis in global cooperation and governance, the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Nihon Hidankyo, the organization representing survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Hibakusha), is an essential reminder of what is at stake in the world today – and the strength and commitment of activists to ensure a peaceful future that respects the human rights of all.

Sign the Appeal: The World Wants Peace, Not Nuclear War!

You can sign the call and find the original call in Spanish here.

On this December 10th, marking the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we, the individuals and organizations signing this statement, wish to express the following:

Our Deep Concern
We are gravely concerned about the danger and possibility of a nuclear war, a threat that has escalated further following the recent decision by U.S. President Joe Biden to authorize Ukraine to use long-range missiles against Russia.
Call for a Ceasefire
As we have stated before, we urge an immediate ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, where the United States and NATO countries are actively involved. We call on all parties, including the U.S. and NATO, to engage in peace negotiations aimed at definitively ending hostilities and establishing agreements that affirm the right of all countries to peace and collective security, distancing us from the threat of nuclear war.
Global Implications of Nuclear War
The potential for nuclear war would not only affect Ukraine or Russia but could also devastate all of Europe and the United States. Moreover, it would have catastrophic global consequences, including “nuclear winter,” radioactive contamination, and severe impacts on the environment and public health.
Escalation Risks
The risk of nuclear war is real as hostilities between the U.S., NATO, and Russia escalate. This has prompted governments in Norway, Sweden, and Finland to distribute brochures to their citizens, urging them to prepare for the worst—the possibility of a direct NATO-Russia conflict.
The Doomsday Clock Warning
In 2024, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists stated, “Today, we have set the Doomsday Clock to 90 seconds to midnight because humanity continues to face an unprecedented level of danger. Our decision should not be interpreted as a sign that international security has improved. On the contrary, leaders and citizens worldwide should take this as a grave warning and respond urgently, as if this were the most dangerous moment in modern history—because it very well could be.” The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic measure of how close humanity is to total annihilation.
Nuclear Arms Race
Over the past decade, we have witnessed a significant increase in nuclear weapons development and maintenance budgets, particularly by the United States, which has also withdrawn from key agreements like the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, the Open Skies Treaty, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, and the Iran nuclear deal—all crucial pillars of nuclear arms control. These hostilities have also led countries like Russia, China, and North Korea to expand or upgrade their nuclear arsenals.
A Call to Action
The danger is real, and we are all at risk. We, the signatories of this statement, demand that world leaders, the United Nations, and governments—particularly the United States—make sincere efforts to end the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East through peaceful negotiations. We also urge them to advance a disarmament agenda and work toward the prompt elimination of nuclear weapons.

Finally, in this perilous world, we commend the example set by the Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo, survivors of the atomic bomb, which was awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons.

Click here to sign!

G7 Ministers’ Meeting on Foreign Affairs: The Civil7 Urges G7 for More Clarity and Action for Peace

Press Release by the Civil Society 7 – Original post available here.

Rome, 26 November 2024

The G7 Ministers Meeting of Foreign Affairs, hosted by Italy in the year of its presidency that is drawing to a close, concludes today in Fiuggi.

An increasingly confrontational and dangerous international context demands an unprecedented global effort to re-establish a multilateral system that promotes paths of peace and international law, not drifts toward more war. As the C7 has several times stated, the G7 can be part of the problem, if it unilaterally promotes the interests of the most developed economies, or part of the solution, if it defends human rights and the common interests of humanity and the planet.

The dramatic flagrant and unpunished violations of International Humanitarian Law lead to massive suffering of civilians. The G7 and other States should avoid such a silent complicity that enables the continued devastation of wars. They should instead respect and ensure respect for IHL and its principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution, condemning all violations of IHL by any actor in every conflict and war. We see a disturbing contradiction between the governments’ calls on peace and ceasefires and the transfer of weapons, parts, and ammunition to parties in conflicts.

We therefore reaffirm the need to strengthen and use the UN system of rules, asking the governments to adhere and engage all partners and allies in the international Treaties to prevent war and on disarmament, in respecting the UN Resolutions and to protect the UN institutions, including the particular case of UNRWA.

The fragility of global peace, the persistence of armed conflicts and the increased risk of nuclear weapons use requires the utmost urgency and concrete actions, that we don’t see yet. A stronger political commitment is needed to implement sustainable solutions to tackle critical structural and systemic challenges. We call for shifting the financial resources from military to diplomacy, human security and social expenditure to foster dialogue and fight the systemic causes of inequalities, poverty and vulnerabilities.

A stronger multilateral system, a shared commitment to protect human rights, a fair financial and economic systems are the preconditions for sustainable peace. Therefore, the C7 calls for the G7 countries to urgently take their responsibilities in this perspective for a more peaceful, just and secure future.

Civil7 Press Release

www.civil7.org

Original post available here

Contact: Dario Lo Scalzo, e-mail: communications@civil7.org mobile: + 349 38 95 415