Monday with Yurii

Let’s start the week with Yurii, debunking myths and providing updates on his case.

“I will not run from my home and my country; if I am sent to prison for pacifism, I will find a way to be useful for peace-loving Ukraine even in prison. I will think, write, and seek ways to contribute to a permanent worldwide dialogue on peace. I will educate fellow inmates about peace and human rights, and I will help them, especially if they are also political prisoners.”

In solidarity with Yurii, please support peace movements in your countries materially. Support Ukrainian peace and human rights activists, as well as his situation, by sharing information and providing funds. Give peace the budget!

As Yurii said today, together, through nonviolent action, scientific knowledge, faith, and hope, we can build a better world where everybody refuses to kill, thereby eliminating wars.

Yurii Sheliazhenko, an IPB Council Member and the Executive Secretary of the Ukrainian Pacifist Movement, is a legal scholar, journalist, writer, and human rights defender. IPB nominates the Ukrainian Pacifist Movement for the #2024NobelPeacePrize, along with two other organizations (Our House and the Movement of Conscientious Objectors), which focus on the right to conscientious objection.

Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcWh4F5XCPA

Justice for Yurii Sheliazhenko

Berlin, Germany – The International Peace Bureau strongly condemns the Security Service of Ukraine’s (SBU) decision to charge IPB Councilmember and Seán MacBride Prize Laureate Yurii Sheliazhenko with “justification of Russian aggression” and search of his apartment. The charge is based solely on Sheliazhenko’s “Peace Agenda for Ukraine and the World,” a document which explicitly condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine and promotes peace, justice, and the right to conscientious objection to military service.

Yurii and his organization, the Ukrainian Pacifist Movement, have always opposed both sides of the current war and advocated for dialogue, negotiations, and a peaceful resolution which addresses the underlying causes of the war.

We call on the Ukrainian government and the SBU to respect the rights of conscientious objectors and the right to free speech for peace in Ukraine, rights that cannot be violated even during times of war. We vow to support Yurii’s rights and to rally international support for his freedom and wellbeing.

Yurii’s response to the charges and search can be found at https://worldbeyondwar.org/we-object-to-the-illegal-search-and-seizure-at-apartment-of-yurii-sheliazhenko-in-kyiv/

A petition for the Ukrainian government to drop the prosecution of Yurri can be found here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-the-ukrainian-government-to-drop-prosecution-of-peace-activist-yurii-sheliazhenko/

Please see attached Press Release.

Mother’s Day Calls for an End to All Wars and the Protection of Peace, People and the Planet

IMA: The International Mothers Association launched on Mother’s Day Calls for an End to All Wars and Protection of Peace, People and Planet in Manipur, Ukraine, Sudan and Around the World 

“I am sure that if the mothers of various nations could meet, there would be no more wars.” – E.M Forster

14 May 2023: Afghan, Assamese, Karbi, Kurdish, Naga, Kuki, Meitei, Greek, Bolivian, Norwegian, American, Filipino, Chakma, African American, Indigenous women, mothers, people from Afghanistan, Bolivia, Turkey, Philippines, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh, Greece, Manipur, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Karbi Anglong, Guwahati, Assam, New York, Washington DC, Sakha Republic of Siberia, met on 14 May 2023 and successfully launched IMA: The International Mothers Association on Mother’s Day. 

The aim of the global organization is for mothers, women, people from all walks of life, across countries, cultures, ethnicities, and faiths to come and work together to find peaceful solutions to the world’s global conflicts and unite for protecting peace, people and planet. The International Mothers Association at the launch recognizes that currently there are 21 known conflicts in the world and 378 forgotten conflicts which have resulted in hundreds of thousands killed and 110+ million people displaced.  An average of one person in the world is displaced every two seconds. 

The launch highlighted the current ongoing conflicts in the world such as in Manipur, paid condolences for the 71 lives that were lost and mourned with families who’s over 1700 homes were burnt and 43,000 people displaced. The launch also highlighted the plight in Sudan which is experiencing violent conflicts resulting in over 600 killed and over 700,000 people displaced. IMA also highlighted the ongoing civil war in Myanmar where 2,890 people have died, 1.2 million people have been internally displaced and 34,000 civilian structures, including homes, clinics, schools and places of worship, have been burnt over the past two years. 

The launch highlighted the ongoing conflict in Ukraine where over 354,000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers have been killed. 61.1 percent of confirmed civilian casualties were men, and 39.9 percent were women. 14 million people have been displaced from their homes. At least 487 children were killed and 954 injured in the war to date. The IMA launch also highlighted the violence in Peru where over 17 people were gunned down during the protests in the beginning of 2023. 

The IMA launch highlighted the historic origins of one of the oldest women’s movements- namely Manipur’s Nupi Lan or Women’s War of 1904 and 1939 Against British Colonial Rule and Policies. It also noted the establishment of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom in 1915 when more than 1,100 women from 12 countries travelled across Europe to the Netherlands to protest against the war that was raging across their borders. 

One of the first mother’s organizations in Northeast India was the Manipuri Meira Paibis, meaning women with flaming bamboo torches that had its inception in the 1970s as the Nishabandi movement to tackle alcohol abuse and in 1980s when the Armed Forces Special Powers Act was imposed in Manipur valley area and many young people were killed and many disappeared. Mothers in Manipur built bamboo huts and took turns to patrol the streets at night with bamboo torches. Naga Mothers Association (NMA) is also another prominent civil society organization that was established by women in 1984 in Kohima, Nagaland. The Kuki Mothers Association (KMA) was formed after the Kuki-Naga Clash of 1992-1993 when hundreds of villages were burnt down, and thousands of people were rendered homeless on account of ethnic clashes in the hills of Manipur. 

The International Mothers Association shared information about the work of The Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, Argentina that was formed in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina on April 30, 1977. The organization was first formed to petition against the disappearance of their children. The Committee of Soldiers’ Mothers of Russia founded in 1989 as well as the “Saturday Mothers” founded on 27 May 1995 to remember over 1,000 Kurdish men and women who disappeared were also highlighted at the event. The Saturday Mothers gather in Istiklal Street in Istanbul at 12 PM every Saturday carrying red flowers and photos of the disappeared people, presenting them with letters and poetry and sit-in in silence. The launch also highlighted the work of the Million Moms March in the U.S.A., the mothers of the Disappeared in Kashmir and Sri Lanka and of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada and many other movements led by black, brown and indigenous women, mothers and people from around the world. 

Speaking at the launch of International Mothers Association, Professor Elsa Stamatopoulou, Director of the Indigenous Rights Program at Columbia University in New York City stated, “We are from different parts of the world and global hot spots. The beauty of this initiative is that we as women and mothers are joined together in solidarity.” 

Rose Mangshi Haokip, a noted Kuki Women Leader said, “Mothers are not turning back. All mothers are coming together for peace. They have done that during the past communal clashes, and they will come together now.” 

Bridget Moix, Secretary General of the Friends Committee on National Legislation said, “As a mother of two boys, I greatly worry about the gun violence and mass shootings that are taking place in my country. The U.S. can play an important role in reducing violence. We must continue to work to protect peace, people and the planet.” 

Nidia Bustillos from Bolivia said, “Groups are divided, and we create war. In our bodies, we are divided, that’s why we are at war. Not only people but animals and the planet are also dying. We don’t have to be divided between ourselves. We must be complete to stop the wars.” 

Cora Fabros, Co-President of the International Peace Bureau (IPB) from Philippines, Dr Pantibonliu Gonmei, President of Rongmei Lu Phum, Assam-Manipur-Nagaland, Hoinu Hauzel from Northeast Odyssey Fred Lubang and Mitzi Austero of Non-Violence International Southeast Asia, Farida Mohibi from Afghanistan,Megan Weise, human rights advocate, Sheryl Mendes of Freedom House, USA, Vera Solovveya from the Sakha Republic, Shaheen Hussain, President, CARDS & Poetess and motivational speaker, Tinat Atifa Masood from Assam, Pratima Enghiphee, Karbi Woman leader, Filmmaker Dr Meena Longjam, Amita Sangma from Civil Society Women’s Organisation, Meghalaya, Gilbert Smith from the Global Alliance of Indigenous Peoples, Gender Justice and Peace, Dr Nazan Bedirhanoglu from Turkey and Kelly Moltzen, Convener, Inter-faith Public Health Network, U.S.A. and Kristin Traavik from Norway also attended the launch meeting. 

The launch ended with a recognition that the world is seeing a rise in rampant violence that has ripped apart communities as seen in Manipur, Karbi Anglong, Myanmar and other parts of the world. Efforts are to be initiated to open strong peace research areas to enable the understanding of why wars are happening and who is benefitting from these conflicts. The formation of “Mother’s Peace Circles” in all villages, regions, nations of the world to share information and evolve Indigenous peace building techniques to pre-empt conflicts and prevent violence flare ups were discussed and efforts to strongly engage governments and multilateral bodies at local, national and international platforms to advocate the ending of all wars and resolve any conflict through dialogue and negotiation. 

Binalakshmi Nepram, Founder of the International Mothers Association at her closing statement of the launch event shared, “If wars and violence are engineered as we are seeing now, we, the women, the mothers will engineer peace. Imagine 100 mothers going to a conflict zone to urge warring parties to stop the violence before it flares up. Imagine 100 mothers for peace amidst us. This is the new Indigenous peace-making that the world and planet earth needs direly, and we call upon all mothers, all women, all people who care from around the world to join us in this effort to stop the wars. This violence must end – now and for all.”

The historic gathering reiterated on Mother’s Day a quote by Rumi, “We are born of love; love is our mother.”

For more details, contact: International Mother’s Association , Global Alliance of Indigenous Peoples, Gender Justice and Peace through Gaipgap@gmail.com 

OBJECT WAR CAMPAIGN: Petition to support Conscientious Objectors and Deserters from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine

Press Release posted on 21st September, 2022

➡️ Original post here: INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP OF RECONCILIATION

On the occasion of the International Day of Peace, 21st September, Connection e.V., the International Fellowship of Reconciliation, the European Office for Conscientious Objection, and War Resisters’ International are calling for a signature campaign for deserters and conscientious objectors from Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. The #ObjectWarCampaign calls on all citizens from everywhere to join the global effort to ensure protection and asylum for conscientious objectors and deserters from Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine involved in the current war in the region. They are our hope to refuse war and let peace prevail!

On April 6, 2022, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, had called on Russian soldiers to desert and promised them protection under refugee law. So far, this promise has not been fulfilled. 

Within the scope of #ObjectWarCampaign, a petition has been prepared for everyone to sign in. The petition is addressed to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Council Charles Michel, and the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola. The petition emphasizes the need to uphold the right to asylum for conscientious objectors and deserters from Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine by hosting states. The petition launched on the WeMove.eu website can now be signed in German, English, French, Italian and Greek.

There are an estimated 100,000 Russian military draftees and deserters refusing the war of aggression. An estimated 22,000 Belarusian military draftees have left their country because they don’t want to participate in the war in Ukraine. Everyone who has refused service risks several years of prosecution because of their stand against the war. They are hoping for protection in various countries.

Ukraine suspended the right to conscientious objection and closed the border for men between 18 and 60. Over 100,000 men have evaded war involvement in Ukraine and fled abroad. Currently, Ukrainian citizens have temporary residence in the European Union. The #ObjectWarCampaign petition demands that the right to conscientious objection to military service is fully guaranteed in Ukraine.

The petition signatures are a crucial sign of support for conscientious objectors and deserters. This campaign highlights the importance of opening borders to those who oppose the war at great personal risk in their countries and calls on everyone around the world to support those who refuse to fight and kill.

Every recruit can be a conscientious objector, every soldier a deserter. Let’s support those who refuse to kill and end war together! 

#ObjectWarCampaign
#StandWithObjectors

The launch of the petition has been anticipated by an appeal sent in June 2022, to the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe -supported by 60 organizations from 20 countries – detailing why protection and support for deserters and conscientious objectors on all sides of the Ukrainian war is necessary and moreover that it is a human right. There have already been discussions about this in the European Parliament. 

More information: 
The appeal to the European institutions can be found here.
Background information can be found here.

Contact and interview requests:
Zaira Zafarana, International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR), zaira.zafarana@ifor.org, www.ifor.org (English, Italian)
Rudi Friedrich, Connection e.V., +496982375534, office@Connection-eV.org, www.Connection-eV.org (German, English)
Semih Sapmaz, War Resisters’ International (WRI), semih@wri-irg.org, www.wri-irg.org (English,Turkish)
Sam Biesemans, European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO), +32477268893, ebco.brussels@skynet.be, www.ebco-beoc.org (French, Dutch, Italian, English)

📌 Share more on social media at https://www.facebook.com/InternationalFellowshipofReconciliation/photos/a.1751009778444220/3294203917458124/

📌 SIGN IT! https://you.wemove.eu/campaigns/russia-belarus-ukraine-protection-and-asylum-for-deserters-and-conscientious-objectors-to-military-service


The INTERNATIONAL PEACE BUREAU supports this campaign, as those who refuse to kill and refuse to take part in violent means of conflict resolution are also contributing to peace.

CND condemns UK decision to send depleted uranium shells to Ukraine

Statement from MARCH 21st, 2023

The UK government is sending depleted uranium shells for use in the Challenger 2 tanks gifted to Ukraine, a move CND has condemned as an additional environmental and health disaster for those living through the conflict. 

First reported by Declassified UK, Defence Minister Baroness Goldie admitted in the answer to a written question that armour-piercing rounds containing depleted uranium (DU) were included in its tank package for Kyiv. She added that the rounds “are highly effective in defeating modern tanks and armoured vehicles.”

A byproduct of the nuclear enriching process used to make nuclear fuel or nuclear weapons, DU emits three-quarters of the radioactivity of natural uranium and shares many of its risks and dangers. It is used in armour-piercing rounds as it is heavy and can easily penetrate steel. However on impact, toxic or radioactive dust can be released and subsequently inhaled. 

READ MORE: CND’s briefing paper on depleted uranium

DU shells were used extensively by the US and British in Iraq in 1991 and 2003, as well as in the Balkans during the 1990s.

It is thought that the extensive use of these shells is responsible for the sharp rise in the incidence rate of some cancers like breast cancer or lymphoma in the areas they were used. Other illnesses linked to DU include kidney failure, nervous system disorders, lung disease and reproductive problems. However, a lack of reliable data on exposure to DU means no large-scale study on its true impact exists. 

CND General Secretary Kate Hudson said: 

“Like in Iraq, the addition of depleted uranium ammunition into this conflict will only increase the long-term suffering of the civilians caught up in this conflict. DU shells have already been implicated in thousands of unnecessary deaths from cancer and other serious illnesses. CND has repeatedly called for the UK government to place an immediate moratorium on the use of depleted uranium weapons and to fund long-term studies into their health and environmental impacts. Sending them into yet another war zone will not help the people of Ukraine.”

Original Source: https://cnduk.org/cnd-condemns-uk-decision-to-send-depleted-uranium-shells-to-ukraine/

Summary of the demonstrations and actions on the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (24/02/2023)

February 24th, 2023 marks the 1-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine. After almost one year, weapons are still not silent. News are still dominated by new attacks and their humanitarian consequences. This cannot continue. Around the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, organizations and groups from the peace and disarmament movement organized actions all over the world to show solidarity with Ukraine and call for a ceasefire and negotiations.

We compiled many actions and demonstrations in a list made public to all:

01 year Ukraine – Peace Actions and Activities 22/02 to 27/02

Many of these events were also present on the page of Peace Initiatives of sbilanciamoci.info. It is worth following their page to be updated on their latest news.


Preliminary report on national activities in the ambit of Europe-For-Peace

 Here you can find a preliminary report about activities on the occasion of the first anniversary of the Ukraine war. So far we have reports from Italy, UK/London, Belgium/Brussels, and Croatia/Zagreb. More reports from Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Austria, and also Denmark might be added soon. We thank Martin Koehler for providing us with this preliminary report.


South Korea Action regarding 1 year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – PSPD

On February 23, on the occasion of the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, 56 South Korean civil society organizations took action to condemn the Russian invasion and call for a ceasefire.

You can find the statement here (In Korean)

Our partners of PSPD in Korea are currently translating the statement into English. We thank Sooyoung Hwang for helping us with this translation.


PEACE IS OUR VICTORY

On February 23-24, 2023, the winter session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) happened in Vienna. The meeting coincides with the launch of the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

During the OSCE session, representatives of the Austrian peace movement gather at the Vienna Hofburg and project their demand for peace in Russian, Ukrainian, English, and German on the façade of the building complex where the delegates meet: “Peace is our victory”.

Here you can find the photos: 

https://www.transform-network.net/blog/article/peace-is-our-victory/

https://www.european-left.org/campaigns/peace-is-our-victory/

https://twitter.com/ChrisNineham/status/1629147946242514945/photo/1

We thank Katerina Anastasiou from transform! Europe with this information on the activities in Vienna.


1,000 march in Helsinki to demand peace in Ukraine

Provided by our partners at Peace Union of Finland, here we have the register made by Yle News webpage.

“Events marking the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine continued in Helsinki on Saturday. Following a candlelight vigil on the steps of Helsinki Cathedral on Friday, there was a procession through the capital on Saturday afternoon calling for an end to the war and supporting those suffering due to it. […] ‘There are Ukrainians, Russians, and Finns here, and it seems that some foreign tourists have also joined,’ an organizer told Yle.”

We thank Laura Lodenius from the Peace Union of Finland for this information on the activities in Helsinki.


IPB Webinar – 365 Days of War in Ukraine: Prospects Towards Peace in 2023

One year after the beginning of the Ukraine war – the International Peace Bureau in cooperation with the Peace in Ukraine Coalition (USA), Movement de la Paix (France), CND (UK) and Transform! Europe held an international webinar to bring together different voices from different countries to discuss a lasting peace in Ukraine and the way towards it.

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  • Introductory words by Michael von der Schulenburg, a former UN/OSCE diplomat who also participated in the development of the Vatican peace plan;
  • Afterward, both Ukrainian and Russian activists will share their perspectives on the ongoing situation, including Oleg Bodrov (Public Council of the Gulf of Finland), Karyna Radchenko (100 Words for Peace), and Yurii Sheliazhenko (Ukrainian Pacifist Movement).
  • A roundtable discussion by different peace activists – including Corazon Valdez Fabros (IPB Co-President), Reiner Braun (former IPB Director, Germany), Lindsey German (Stop the War Coalition, UK), Alain Rouy (Movement de la Paix), Francesco Vignarca (Rete Italiana Pace e Disarmo, Italy), Medea Benjamin (CODEPINK) and Kate Hudson (CND) as moderator.

Настоятельная необходимость деэскалации для предотвращения ядерной катастрофы

– 27 февраля 2023 года –

Приостановка Россией действия договора СНВ-3 (the New START Treaty) знаменует собой последнюю опасную и безответственную эскалацию ядерных угроз после вторжения на Украину год назад. Быстрое ухудшение дипломатических отношений между Россией и Западом, наряду с усилением военных действий в Украине и прежними ядерными угрозами со стороны России, должно послужить тревожным сигналом для всего мира: мы ближе, чем когда-либо, к ядерному уничтожению.

Незадолго до российского вторжения, в январе 2022 года, лидеры пяти ядерных держав подтвердили то, что мы все знаем как истину: ядерную войну нельзя вести и ее нельзя выиграть. Вместо того чтобы принять это сообщение близко к сердцу, Россия и Запад продолжают полагаться на ядерное сдерживание как на фундаментальную стратегию своей внешней политики, в том числе в качестве щита для своих империалистических авантюр. Обе стороны виновны в подрыве режима контроля над ядерными вооружениями, установленного во время холодной войны — посещение ядерных объектов США в рамках СНВ-3 также было ограничено санкциями против России. Угроза применения ядерного оружия сейчас выше, чем когда-либо в истории со времен кубинского ракетного кризиса.

Международное бюро мира вновь призывает к немедленному прекращению огня в Украине и к участию всех вовлеченных сторон в переговорах, чтобы положить конец насилию и кровопролитию. Мы требуем, чтобы переговоры включали вопросы безопасности украинцев, россиян и западных правительств, чтобы они основывались на общей безопасности и немедленно возобновили действие договора СНВ-3, а также работали над восстановлением дальнейших договоров по контролю над ядерными вооружениями и об установлении доверия, на основе принципов общей безопасности.

Кроме того, Международное бюро мира призывает положить конец дорогостоящей модернизации ядерного оружия — многомиллиардному проекту, который ничего не делает для обеспечения безопасности, — и ко всем странам поддержать Договор о запрещении ядерного оружия (ДЗЯО) во имя безопасного и безъядерного будущего.

Мариенштрассе, 19-20

10117 Берлин, Германия

IPB Statement: The Urgent Need for Deescalation to Prevent Nuclear Disaster 

 – 27 February 2023 

Russia’s suspension of the New START Treaty marks the latest in the dangerous and irresponsible escalation of nuclear threats since the invasion of Ukraine one year ago. The rapid deterioration of diplomatic relations between Russia and the West, alongside the intensification of the war in Ukraine and Russia’s previous nuclear threats, must serve as a wake-up call to the world: we are closer than we have ever been to nuclear annihilation. 

Just prior to the Russian invasion, in January 2022, the leaders of the five nuclear-weapon states reiterated what we all know to be true: a nuclear war must not be fought and cannot be won. Instead of taking this message to heart, Russia and the West continue to rely on nuclear deterrence as a fundamental strategy for their foreign policies, including as a shield for their imperialist ventures. Both sides are guilty of eroding the nuclear arms control regime established during the Cold War – visits to US nuclear sites under New START were likewise restricted by sanctions against Russia. The threat of the use of nuclear weapons is now higher than at any point in history since the Cuban Missile Crisis. 

The International Peace Bureau calls again for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and for all involved parties to engage in negotiations to bring the violence and bloodshed to an end. We demand that negotiations include the security concerns of Ukrainians, Russians, and Western governments to rely on common security and to immediately resume the New START treaty, as well as to work for the re-establishment of further nuclear arms control and trust-building treaties, in line with the principles of common security. 

Furthermore, IPB calls for an end to the expensive modernization of nuclear weapons – a multi-billion dollar project that does nothing to ensure security – and for all nations to support the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons for a safer, nuclear-free future. 

–––––––––

You can download the PDF version of this Statement in English here:

You can download the PDF version of this Statement in Russian here:

➡️ Interact with us on social media especially to learn about our latest actions and activities: FacebookTwitterInstagram, and Youtube.

➡️ Our office is open to reply to any doubts regarding the documents that were above presented. To get in touch with us, e-mail us at info@ipb-office.berlin.

New article by Michael von der Schulenburg

Michael von der Schulenburg, a former UN/OSCE diplomat, who has lately been working on the Vatican peace plan has published a new article on the Ukraine war, the importance of the UN-Charta and the obligation to seek peace.

[…] The Preamble of the UN Charter states that “We the peoples of the United Nations (are) determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind…” Unfortunately, this appeal of the UN Charter seems forgotten today. Especially, the original founding members, and hence supposed protectors, of the UN Charter, the US, UK, France and now also Russia, have repeatedly eroded its principles for their own political aims or, indeed, ignored it altogether. As permanent members of the UN Security Council with a veto power they were in a position to do this. In the Ukraine war, these four veto powers have now become direct adversaries, making a mockery of the UN Charter meant to prevent such wars. They thus bear primary responsibility for this war and its consequences vis-à-vis humanity.[…]” (20.02.2023, Michael von der Schulenburg in “The war in Ukraine and our obligation to seek peace – A call to find peaceful solutions”)

If you’re interested in reading the full article, please click here.

Appeal for Peace – 5,000 signatures reached

The German-Austrian appeal for peace in Ukraine, which calls for ceasefire and peace negotiations between the warring parties involved, has now exceeded the 5000 signatures mark!

Almost all German and Austrian peace organizations and peace activists have signed the appeal. It calls on the German and Austrian governments, among others, to support a UN peace initiative. The idea of a diplomatic initiative, which is now widespread in various countries, calls on governments to advocate the formation of a high-level and highly legitimized UN commission headed by the UN Secretary-General. This commission, which would be legitimized by the UN General Assembly and would have to, among others, consist of foreign ministers from influential states, has the task to bring the governments of Ukraine and the Russian Federation to the negotiating table. The goals are to achieve a ceasefire and to negotiate a binding peace order between the opposing states as a prerequisite for a European security architecture involving Ukraine and the Russian Federation.

Read and support the appeal in German and English.