Author: Assistant Coordinator

Appeal From Barcelona To The World, To all Peace Movements and Shapers of The Future

Barcelona, 17th October 2021

The world stands at a historically unique crossroads – either the abyss of nuclear, ecological, and social disaster or a common, just, demilitarized and environmentally sustainable future.

14,000 nuclear weapons threaten humanities existence and with heightening tensions between big powers, the danger of their actual use is increasing, while $2 trillion in weapons spending kills each day. With their massive daily death toll, small arms are weapons of mass destruction.

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Mediterranean Declaration at the Second World Peace Congress

Barcelona, 17th October 2021

From the International Peace Congress, we feel committed to the rising global wave of civic activism and the powerful new generation of youth activists across the globe facing the global challenges. While here in Barcelona, we would like to take this opportunity to revisit the challenges in this Mediterranean Sea, observe the changes and encourage the action, support it, and call for more cooperation and human solidarity. We need as well to understand the interconnected causes of the conflicts in this area, as we pledge to achieve a peaceful transformation to all conflicts through our joint effort.

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Indigenous Peoples Declaration at the Second World Peace Congress

Barcelona, 17th October 2021

The world stands at a historically unique crossroads – either the abyss of nuclear, ecological, and social disaster or a common, just, demilitarized and environmentally sustainable future.

14,000 nuclear weapons threaten humanities existence and with heightening tensions between big powers, the danger of their actual use is increasing, while $2 trillion in weapons spending kills each day. With their massive daily death toll, small arms are weapons of mass destruction

Continue reading “Indigenous Peoples Declaration at the Second World Peace Congress”

The IPB Youth Network Statement for the II World Peace Congress

Barcelona – October 17th, 2021

Good afternoon, congress participants,

We want to thank you for your participation in this conference, and appreciate the opportunity to address you here.

The IPBYN – created in 2016, at the first IPB World Congress – is a collaborative platform for young people that have the common vision of building a climate of peace in this world. We are a global, inclusive, and open network striving for a peaceful and just future for all. We believe that youth, children, and future generations are not only currently the object of violence and injustice, but they are also part of the solution to such problems. As a network we build on the purpose and mission of the IPB, growing a voice for the agency of youth in facing ever increasing global challenges.

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The IPB Recognizes Black Lives Matter with the Sean MacBride Peace Prize

Black Lives Matter has been recognized by the International Peace Bureau’s (IPB) Steering Committee for the movement’s dedication and work to create a world where Black lives can thrive. On the second day of the World Peace Congress in Barcelona, Rev. Karlene Griffiths Sekou, community minister, scholar and activist and Director of Healing Justice and International Organizing, received the award in the representation of the social movement.

“Black liberation and complete freedom has always been our vision at Black Lives Matter. Our movement is not one moment in time — it’s a constant reminder to eradicate white supremacy, upend racist policies and topple oppressive systems. At its core, our movement also works to envision and create space that centers Black art, culture, and joy. I am reminded by the words of Black scholar Ruthie Gilmore who noted that abolition is presence, not absence, and it’s about building life-affirming institutions that allow all of us to thrive”, she said.

“Since its founding eight years ago, BLM has remained rooted in its community leaders, local advocates, and young activists. They are the ones that marched the streets, uplifted individuals and families impacted by unjust policies, and tirelessly advocated to make sure our voices are heard in the Halls of Congress. Our movement continues because our young and local leaders have and continue to lead our movement together in struggle and unceasingly. We know the world is watching us. We thank the International Peace Bureau for recognizing us, and thank the community leaders, local activists, and the ancestors, who fuel the unrelenting will of our movement and inspire us to reimagine a world for our children and for future Black generations to come”, she added.

Every year the IPB awards the Sean MacBride Peace Prize to a person or organization that has done outstanding work for peace, disarmament and/or human rights.

The ceremony held on the 16th of October gathered more than 70 attendees including remarkable peace activists and personalities, including Jeremy Corbyn and Binalakshmi Nepram.

IPB Joins International Peace & Common Security Advocates Opposing QUAD and AUKUS Alliances

Peace and Common Security Advocates from Around the World Oppose QUAD (Japan, India, US, Australia), & AUKUS (Australia, UK, US) Militarism & Urge Common Security Collaborations to Address Existential Nuclear, Climate & Pandemic Threats.

Meeting on the eve of the QUAD alliance summit, peace, justice and common security advocates from the QUAD and AUKUS member countries, and Australia, Philippines, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, India, Britain, Germany, and the U.S. met to analyze and build opposition to the dangerous and increased militarism of the QUAD and AUKUS alliances.

The incipient coalition decries the QUAD and AUKUS alliances which dangerously intensify geostrategic military tensions with China. In addition to increasing the dangers that accidents or miscalculations to trigger escalation to catastrophic wars, this increased military competition seriously undermines the possibility of U.S.-Chinese and broader international cooperation to reverse the existential threats of nuclear weapons, the climate emergency, and pandemics.  The strategic competition between the great powers includes the danger of a great power war which will destroy the planet.

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Announcement: 2021 MacBride Peace Prize recipients

Announcement: 2021 MacBride Peace Prize recipients

  • Alexander Kmentt, Ambassador and Director of the Department of Disarmament, Arms-Control and Non-proliferation, Austria
  • Assistant Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), Myanmar/Burma

About the Sean MacBride Peace Prize

Every year the IPB awards a special prize to a person or organization that has done outstanding work for peace, disarmament and/or human rights. These were the principal concerns of Sean MacBride, the distinguished Irish statesman who was Chairman of IPB from 1968-74 and President from 1974-1985. MacBride began his career as a fighter against British colonial rule, studied law and rose to high office in the independent Irish Republic. He was a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize (1974)

The award is decided by the IPB Steering Committee. IPB members are welcome to make suggestions and provide background documentation on potential candidates.

The Prize is a non-monetary one.

Assistant Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), Burma

Established in 2000, AAPP is a human rights organization that advocates for the release and rehabilitation of all political prisoners within Burma/Myanmar. The organization is headquartered in Mae Sot, Thailand, close to the Burman border as many of AAPP’s staff members are former political prisoners exiled from the country. The organization accurately states that “As long as political prisoners exist inside Burma, Burma will not be free”. Since the military coup d’état staged by the Burman military on February 1 2021, the AAPP have continued to tirelessly and diligently documented each and every death caused by the Junta. Their work makes them targets of the Junta, but this is a sacrifice they willingly embrace, placing the future and wellbeing of their country before themselves. In recognition of their bravery and commitment to securing the freedom and democratic rule of Burma, the IPB decided to award AAPP the Sean MacBride Peace Prize for 2021. The AAPP has graciously accepted this award which will be officially given during a ceremony in 2022.

Alexander Kmentt, Ambassador and Director of the Department of Disarmament, Arms-Control and Non-proliferation, Austria

Mr Alexander Kmentt is the President-designate for the First Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, a role he fulfils alongside his Directorship of the Department of Disarmament. Arms-Control and Non-proliferation within the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Kmentt has a long career behind him of advocating for a reduction in arms production, sale and use, especially nuclear weapons, bringing these issues to the highest levels of government and imploring decision makers to take notice and take action. Mr Kmentt was one of the key architects to the TPNW. In 2014 he organized the Vienna Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons which culminated in the Humanitarian Pledge which was endorsed by 135 States and played a significant role in the TPNDW’s fruition. For these reasons, among others, the IPB board decided to award Mr Kmentt the Sean MacBride Peace Prize for 2021. Mr Kmentt has humbly accepted this award, which will also be given during a ceremony in 2022.

To download the press note as a pdf, please click here.