By: Africanist Press
In mid-January, the offices of Nouveaux Droits de l’Homme (NDH), a human rights organization based in Yaoundé, Cameroon, were forcibly entered by unidentified individuals who stole essential documents and valuable equipment, including laptops, desktop computers, hard drives, projectors, and video cameras. This alarming incident underscores the increasing dangers faced by human rights defenders in the country.
Continue reading “Defending Human Rights in Cameroon (Podcast)”(Brief statement by Dr. Enkhsaikhan of Blue Banner at Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TNPW) side event, New York, March 6, 2025)
Role of non-nuclear-weapon states (NNWSs) is increasing as a result of the studies undertaken on the effects of nuclear weapons which had lead to the conclusion of the TPNW. The commitments by the NNWSs undertaken by the NPT, NWFZ treaties and the TPNW in principle coincide, enrich and support each other.
Blue Banner, Mongolian NGO, which Dr. Enkhsaikhan‘ represent at this side event, had undertaken a study on the strengths and weaknesses of the NWFZ regime and had concluded that there are at least two dozen non-committed NNWSs (i.e. land-locked, neutral states, NNWSs that are not parties to nuclear military alliances or parties to the current NWFZs that due to current definition and concept of NWFZs cannot be part of the NWFZ regime since they would not be established “based on the arrangements arrived at among the states of the region concerned”. The reasons given by the P5 for their reluctance to accept single-State zones was that doing so might detract from establishing group-state zones, set unfavorable for them precedents and that as a principle the P5 do not provide security assurances to individual states. These are not valid reasons to exclude these non-committed NNWSs from the NWFZ regime and allow for blind spots and grey areas and knowingly establish the Achilles’ heels in the NWFZ regime. Fifty years have passed since the first NWFZ was established. In the meantime space, time and technology have become critical geopolitical factor affecting international security and stability. In the meantime nuclear arms race has intensified while the number of nuclear weapon states has increased to nine.
Check the full statement here:
The International Peace Bureau (IPB) endorses “The Foundations of Peacebuilding,” an online course developed by Taylor O’Connor, founder of Everyday Peacebuilding. This comprehensive program equips participants with essential knowledge and practical skills for effective peacebuilding.
Continue reading “IPB Endorses Everyday Peacebuilding: Foundations of Peacebuilding eCourse”On March 19, 2025, at 12:00 PM ET, the Women in Conflict Zones webinar brought together women from various war-affected regions to share their experiences and insights. Organized by World BEYOND War, Southern Anti-Racism Network, International Peace Bureau, Convention for Pan-Africanism and Progress (CPP), and CODEPINK, the event highlighted the devastating impacts of war on women and children while exploring solutions for peace and justice.
Speakers from Belarus, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gaza, Lebanon, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Korea, Sudan, and Syria shared firsthand testimonies of resilience and activism in conflict zones. The event also aligned with the second UN Decade for People of African Descent (2025-2034), emphasizing the need for targeted support for African women and children affected by war.
Speakers:
This webinar served as a powerful call to action, urging global solidarity in addressing the impact of war on women and fostering long-term peace.
A full description of the event and the speakers’ bios are available on the event webpage here: https://worldbeyondwar.org/womenandwar/
To learn more, watch the full webinar in the video below.
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In Turkey, conscientious objectors endure lifelong ‘civil death,’ facing persecution, fines, and imprisonment for refusing military service. Their refusal is a direct stand against militarization and war, highlighting the deeply rooted militaristic culture in the country.
The speeches below share the experiences of Turkish conscientious objectors, delivered during the Alternative Civil Death: What It Means to Be a Conscientious Objector in Turkey event in Berlin on 27 February 2025. Part of the European Speaking Tour: Conscientious Objectors from Türkiye Share Their Fight for Human Rights, the event brought together human rights and peace activists from Turkey and Berlin. They also introduced Vicdani Ret İzleme (Conscientious Objection Watch) and invited support for their efforts against war and conscription.
Read the speeches below to gain insights into their narratives and the challenges they face in their fight for human rights and right not to kill.
Continue reading “Conscientious Objection in Turkey: Struggles, Repression, and the Fight for Human Rights”We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us for our side event If Not Now, When? An International Forum to Prevent Nuclear War and Secure Our Future on March 4, 2025, at Scandinavia House in New York City.
Continue reading “Post Event – If Not Now, When? An International Forum to Prevent Nuclear War and Secure Our Future”The New Peace Camp will take place from Monday, 14 April to Friday, 25 April 2025, at RAF Lakenheath in the UK. This event is organized by the Lakenheath Alliance for Peace to raise awareness and oppose the potential return of US nuclear weapons to the base, while advocating for global peace and disarmament.
Continue reading “2025 Peace Camp: The Lakenheath Alliance for Peace”The International Peace Bureau (IPB) expresses deep concern over the recent escalation of violence in Syria’s coastal regions, particularly affecting the Alawite community. This surge in conflict threatens the region’s fragile stability and underscores the urgent need for concerted international efforts to protect vulnerable populations and promote lasting peace.
On March 6, 2025, coordinated attacks were initiated by loyalists of the ousted President Bashar al-Assad against government security forces in the coastal town of Jableh. This ambush resulted in the deaths of several security personnel and marked a significant escalation in the region. In the aftermath, insurgent groups disseminated misinformation, alleging that the new government was targeting coastal communities, thereby inflaming sectarian tensions.
The government deployed reinforcements to the affected areas in response to the initial attacks. Clashes ensued, leading to severe casualties among the Alawite community, including children, the elderly, and civilians unaffiliated with the Assad regime. Between March 6 and March 8, Syria’s coastal regions, particularly the Latakia and Tartus provinces, experienced severe violence resulting in significant casualties among the Alawite community: initial estimations indicate the death of more than 1000 people, including hundreds of civilians, by extremists, foreign fighters, and Islamist groups.
Entire families—doctors, pharmacists, teachers, and innocent infants who had yet to experience life—have been mercilessly slaughtered. These tragic events have led to mass displacement, with thousands of Alawite civilians fleeing their homes. Many sought refuge at the Russian Khmeimim Air Base in Latakia province, seeking protection from the escalating violence.
International Response
The international community has expressed deep concern over these incidents, emphasizing the need for restraint and the protection of civilians to prevent further escalation and ensure regional stability.
The International Peace Bureau urgently calls upon the international community to:
The international community must not stand idle in the face of such barbarity. Immediate action is imperative to protect the remaining Alawite population and to hold those responsible for these crimes accountable. The sanctity of human life and the principles of justice demand nothing less.
The IPB remains committed to supporting peace initiatives in Syria and stands in solidarity with all communities affected by this tragic conflict.
Issued by the Deutsche Friedensgesellschaft – Vereinigte KriegsdienstgegnerInnen (DFG-VK) German Peace Society – United War Resisters
We have just heard accounts from those directly affected by the criminalization of conscientious objection in Turkey. Their experiences are a stark reminder that the fight against militarism is not abstract—it is about real people facing real persecution. Their voices demand that we turn what we have heard today into meaningful action.
Continue reading “Statement of Support for Turkish Conscientious Objectors”From April 10 to May 9, 2025, the International Peace Bureau (IPB) will join forces with partners worldwide for the Global Day of Action on Military Spending (GDAMS). This year’s campaign comes at a crucial moment, as the world faces escalating violence, including the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the war in Ukraine, and over 30 other armed conflicts in the Global South, many of which are in Africa. These conflicts, alongside increasing militarization and supremacist rhetoric, have created a climate of fear and instability.
Continue reading “GDAMS 2025: April 10 to May 9”
