Statements – IPB – International Peace Bureau

Peace in Europe or war: Thoughts 50 years after the CSCE (Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe) in Helsinki in 1975

The opinions and views expressed in the article below are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IPB.

The West is much closer to war with the nuclear power Russia than to the resumption of cooperative relations with this largest country on earth. The structural economic crisis in Europe, with the apparent way out being a military Keynesianism, will not necessarily lead to war. But its probability cannot be underestimated.

An arms race reminiscent of the worst times of the Cold War in many European countries, including Germany, will lead to profound economic and social upheavals.

Africanist Press on the Move: IPB Member Embarks on European and African Solidarity Tour

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

We would like to share an opportunity to meet with Dr. Chernoh Alpha M. Bah, a Sierra Leonean historian, investigative journalist, and editor of the IPB member Africanist Press, who will be traveling through Europe (August 7–17) and Africa (from August 18 until the end of the month) as part of a solidarity tour. If you are interested in meeting with Dr. Bah or organizing an event as part of his tour, please feel free to get in touch with us.

Dr. Bah is undertaking this tour to raise awareness about the ongoing threats to free speech and academic freedom in Sierra Leone, where he and his colleagues have faced sustained harassment, death threats, and exile following their investigations into high-level government corruption. Despite international condemnation from organizations such as the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the American Historical Association (AHA), and the Committee of Concerned Scientists (CCS), these attacks have continued with impunity.

He is hoping to meet with human rights groups, press freedom advocates, academic institutions, political parties, and civil society organizations across Europe and Africa to build solidarity and mobilize international support for the protection of fundamental rights in Sierra Leone and beyond.

Dr. Bah will begin his journey in Berlin/Germany and is open to traveling to meet with organizations and groups in other countries in Europe before continuing his tour in Africa from August 18 through the end of the month. His itinerary remains flexible, and he welcomes invitations or conversations from groups interested in connecting.

We are aware that this period coincides with summer holidays and many people may be away. Nevertheless, we hope that some organizations and individuals will still be available and interested in arranging a meeting or hosting a conversation.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you would like to connect and meet with Dr. Bah.

Further background information: Africanist Press: Statement by Dr. Bah.

Below the Concept Note:

Concept Note – AFRICANIST PRESS Tour Download

A GLOBAL CALL TO ACTION: FOR DEMOCRACY THAT DELIVERS PEACE AND PROSPERITY FOR ALL

FOR DEMOCRACY THAT DELIVERS PEACE AND PROSPERITY FOR ALL

As we approach the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we, the undersigned organisations, call on governments and international institutions to reaffirm their commitment to a world free from nuclear weapons, honouring the demand of the Hibakusha and 2024 Nobel Peace laureate Nihon Hidankyo, and to prioritize sustainable development over militarism, people of collective power, accelerating military build-up and climate change, and diverting resources away from human development and peacebuilding.

As organisations from the peace, labour, economic justice, and climate movements, we share the belief that collective security can only be ensured through solidarity, by meeting the basic needs of all people.

IPB Press Release: For Democracy that Delivers Peace and Prosperity for All

27 July 2025, Berlin, Germany

The International Peace Bureau (IPB), in cooperation with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Greenpeace, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, Oxfam, and 350.org, has released a global call to action for nuclear and conventional disarmament, common security, and a prioritization of sustainable development over militarism.

IPB Statement on Thailand-Cambodia Border Clashes

25 July 2025

The International Peace Bureau (IPB) expresses deep concern over the rising military clashes and political tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, which have resulted in the death of at least 15 civilians and the mass displacement of civilians from border areas. The escalation of long-standing tensions over the border risks further exacerbating civilian suffering and displacement.

The IPB calls for an immediate ceasefire and a return to diplomatic negotiations and conflict resolution as the only tools that can solve the crisis. Nationalist and militaristic rhetoric must be replaced by dialogue and common security. Moreover, IPB calls on ASEAN, particularly neighbour states, in the region and those with military ties to either party to encourage de-escalation and peaceful resolution.

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Neutrality Colloquium: A Call to Action for Active Neutrality & World Peace

Neutrality Colloquium: A Call to Action for Active Neutrality & World Peace

Geneva, Switzerland | June 26-27, 2025

The Neutrality Colloquium took place on June 26–27, 2025, in Geneva, Switzerland, bringing together 90 experts in diplomacy, international law, peacebuilding, and digitalization, from 27 countries across five continents—including Colombia, Argentina, Costa Rica, the USA, the DRC, Syria, Moldova, Ireland, Japan, and China. Held in hybrid format, the Colloquium served as a critical platform to explore and promote active neutrality as a strategy for peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and global stability amid growing geopolitical tensions, rising militarization, and ongoing humanitarian crises.

This gathering followed the First International Congress on Neutrality, which was held in Bogotá, Colombia, in April 2024. That congress marked a milestone, with participants from 25 countries laying the groundwork for a renewed global conversation on neutrality. The Geneva Colloquium was conceived as a smaller, expert-level forum to build upon that momentum and shape the vision for the Second International Congress on Neutrality, scheduled for 2026.

The event was jointly organized by a coalition of organizations committed to peace and disarmament: Global Veterans Peace Network (GVPN), World BEYOND War, Inter-University Network for Peace (REDIPAZ), International Peace Bureau (IPB), Transnational Institute, the Colombia Peace Agreement, and the Geneva Center for Neutrality, which hosted the gathering. Their collaboration was essential to the success of the Colloquium.

Over two days, participants engaged in five thematic focus groups:

Current Neutrality Practices
Digital Neutrality in the Age of Cyberwarfare and AI
Neutrality and Media
Building a New Non-Aligned Movement
Neutrality and Common Security in a Militarized World

Each group developed specific recommendations, which were integrated into the final outcomes of the Colloquium: a Modern Neutrality Final Declaration and an Action Agenda to Promote Active Neutrality.

The Declaration stresses that neutrality is not indifference. Rather, it is a strategic, principled approach to international relations—one that prioritizes peace over power projection, sovereignty over dominance, and cooperation over confrontation. In light of the alarming rise in military expenditures—including NATO’s recent commitment to allocate up to 5% of GDP to defense—the declaration calls for redirecting resources from warfare to social, ecological, and economic justice.

“Active neutrality is neither passive nor indifferent. It is a proactive, values-based stance, rooted in non-alignment, non-intervention, and demilitarization. In a context of rising geopolitical rivalries, climate breakdown, and digital warfare, active neutrality means to:

Prioritize peace over power projection

Promote sovereignty and self-determination, especially for the Global South

Reject participation in arms races, military alliances or military interventions

Promote dialogue, diplomacy and multilateralism

Invest in social, ecological and economic justice instead of war”

The Geneva Colloquium marked a significant step in global efforts to redefine and reinvigorate the role of neutrality in the 21st century. The inputs and outcomes of this event will directly inform the Second International Congress on Neutrality in 2026—ensuring that the principles of active neutrality continue to evolve as powerful tools for peace and justice in our increasingly polarized world.

You can read and download the documents below:

Modern Neutrality Final Declaration
Action Agenda to Promote Active Neutrality
Press Release: Colloquium on Neutrality by Geneva Center for Neutrality Official

Modern Neutrality Final Declaration

Modern Neutrality Final Declaration Download

Action Agenda to Promote Active Neutrality

Action Agenda to Promote Active Neutrality Download

Press Release: Colloquium on Neutrality by Geneva Center for Neutrality

EN – Press release Download

The Helsinki +50 People’s declaration on common security and human rights

Drafted by Nordic Peace Alliance’s working group on Helsinki+50

Preamble

Inspired by the Helsinki Final Act signed on the 1 st of August 1975, we, civil society organizations and individuals from Europe and beyond, call for the reinvention and revitalization of cooperation for common security and human rights in Europe. The conference in Helsinki paved the way for several positive achievements, serving as the closest thing to a peace agreement for post-World War II Europe during the continued Cold War period. The allied victory in WWII led to the formation of the UN and the adoption of indivisible human rights and the UN Charter which is the basis of international law. The Helsinki Final Act built on these achievements and promoted economic, social, cultural, environmental, scientific, and humanitarian cooperation. Thus, the Helsinki Final Act created the necessary environment for détente, arms reduction, and a dynamic peace and human rights movement of global importance.

Final Declaration of the International Forum for Peace

For a world in peace

Stop the increase in military spending and the militarization of our society!

The world is at a crossroads. On the one hand, the world capitalist system, imperialism that insists on maintaining a unipolar order, anchored in centuries of colonial domination, with NATO acting as the military, political and ideological arm of that old and unjust international order. On the other side, there are the forces that seek to make way for a new multilateral order, committed to the principles of the UN, which is committed to peaceful coexistence, mutually beneficial cooperation, social progress and solidarity.

IPB Condemns U.S. Strikes on Iranian Nuclear Sites: An Illegal Escalation

Berlin, June 22, 2025

The International Peace Bureau (IPB) strongly condemns the United States’ recent military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Carried out in coordination with Israel, these attacks are a dangerous escalation that violates both international law and the U.S. Constitution—and brings the region closer to a devastating war.

Under international humanitarian law, nuclear facilities are protected due to the catastrophic risks they pose to civilians and the environment. Targeting them is inhuman and illegal. There is no credible evidence that Iran is currently pursuing nuclear weapons—U.S. intelligence has confirmed this repeatedly. Military action under these circumstances has no legal justification.

Domestically, the strikes also violate the U.S. Constitution, which grants Congress—not the President—the authority to declare war. Launching attacks without Congressional approval contradicts both the War Powers Resolution and the principles of democratic oversight.

This is more than a legal issue—it is a matter of global security. Attacking nuclear infrastructure risks the release of radioactive materials, retaliatory strikes, and rapid regional escalation. The consequences could be catastrophic—not just for Iran and the Middle East, but for the world. The USA and Iran should cease hostilities and return to serious, long-term negotiations.

NATO members must not follow a U.S. president who acts unlawfully, even within his own constitutional system. They have a responsibility to uphold international law and prevent escalation—not enable it. Silence or complicity only deepens the crisis.

There is no military solution to this crisis. IPB calls for an immediate end to all military operations, respect for international law, and return to diplomacy. Peace and common security can only be achieved through cooperation, not weapons.

Statements are available in English, French, and Russian. Check it below:

Statement in English

Statement IPB Condemns U.S. Strikes on Iranian Nuclear Sites Download

Statement in French

FR Déclaration IPB sur les attaques US contre l’Iran 22 juin 2025 Download

Statement in Russian

IPB statement (Russian Version) from Oleg Download

Statement: Call for De-escalation in the India-Pakistan Military Standoff

9 May 2025

The International Peace Bureau (IPB) condemns the heinous attack in Pahalgam -Kashmir on 22 April, where 26 civilians lost their lives, as well as the retaliatory attacks which have killed civilians on both sides of the line of control and in Pakistan’s sovereign territory. IPB condoles with the victims’ families and friends. Terrorism of any kind from any source is unacceptable to civilized society and the international community condemns such acts.

IPB understands that at times of national grief there is a call for retribution. However, we believe that military standoffs escalate an already tense situation and can spiral into full scale wars with disastrous consequences for countries and peoples. These military conflicts destabilize entire regions, disturb the economy, and immiserate people. Once initiated armed conflicts can go on for a long time. Any confrontation between two nuclear-armed powers like India and Pakistan is a threat to the world – as outlined in publications like the 2019 Bulletin of Atomic Scientists’ How an India-Pakistan nuclear war could start – and have global consequences – and both these countries must heed the calls of the international community and cease military confrontations that can lead to a nuclear exchange.

The IPB appeals to both the governments of India and Pakistan to immediately halt all military confrontations, cease the spiral of retributions and return to calm. All indirectly involved states – including the United States, Russia, and China – must likewise call for de-escalation and diplomacy and reject provoking the conflict for their own interests where all are major arms suppliers. There is no substitute for bilateral and regional diplomacy, dialogue, and engagement. World history has repeatedly shown that common security is the most rational and sustainable way to both peace and development.

The IPB hopes that both the Governments of India and Pakistan resort to reason and de-escalate these tensions with immediacy.

IPB Statement_Call for De-escalation in the India-Pakistan Military Standoff Download

FOR DEMOCRACY THAT DELIVERS PEACE AND PROSPERITY FOR ALL

You can read and download the documents below:

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