The International Peace Bureau (IPB; French: Bureau international de la paix), founded in 1891,[2] is one of the world's oldest international peace federations. The organisation was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1910 for acting "as a link between the peace societies of the various countries".[3][4] In 1913, Henri La Fontaine was also awarded the Prize "[For his work as] head of the International Peace Bureau".[5][6] As of 2012, eleven other Nobel Peace Prize laureates have been members of the IPB.[7]

International Peace Bureau
AbbreviationIPB
Formation13 November 1891; 133 years ago (1891-11-13)[1]
TypeNGO
Legal statusNonprofit
PurposePeace activism
HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
Coordinates52°31′21″N 13°23′01″E / 52.522454°N 13.383641°E / 52.522454; 13.383641
Region
Worldwide
MethodsSeminars and Conferences, Education, Advocation
FieldsWorld peace
Co-president
Corazon Valdez Fabros
Co-president
Philip Jennings
Main organ
Assembly of the International Peace Bureau
Award(s)1910 Nobel Peace Prize
Websiteipb.org
International Peace Bureau (IPB) council meeting at Bern, 1899
General Assembly of the International Peace Bureau, September 1935.

Its membership consists of 300 organizations in 70 countries.[8] IPB's headquarters are located in Berlin, Germany, with offices in Barcelona, Spain, and Geneva, Switzerland. Prior to 2017, the headquarters were in Geneva.

Its main programmes are the Global Campaign on Military Spending (GCOMS) and disarmament for sustainable development, which focuses both on nuclear and conventional weapons, as well as biological weapons, landmines, and small arms.[8][9]

IPB holds Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and associate status with the United Nations Department of Global Communications.[8]

IPB was founded under the name Permanent International Peace Bureau (Bureau International Permanent de la Paix). From 1912 onward it used the name International Peace Bureau. Between 1946 and 1961, it was known under the name International Liaison Committee of Organizations for Peace – ILCOP (Comité de liaison international des organisations de paix – CLIOP).

Global Campaign on Military Spending

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The Global Campaign on Military Spending (GCOMS) is a permanent, global, year-round campaign that was created in December 2014 by the IPB to tackle the worldwide issue of excessive military spending.[10]

The aim of the campaign is to pressure the world's governments to invest money in the sectors of health, education, employment and climate change rather than military. It also calls for an annual, minimum reallocation of 10% from the military budgets of all states. Finally, it advocates the reduction of arms production and international weapons trade.[11]

 
GDAMS actions in Halifax, Canada

The campaign organises the Global Day of Action on Military Spending (GDAMS) to bring public, media and political attention to the costs of military spending and the need to invest in new priorities.[12]

GCOMS is managed from the decentralised Barcelona, Spain, office of IPB in coordination with Centre Delàs of Peace Studies. More than 100 organisations from 35 countries have joined the campaign.[13]

Nuclear disarmament activism

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IPB has been in the forefront of nuclear disarmament activities since 1945, including:

Currently, the IPB is campaigning to encourage the signing and ratification of the TPNW so that it may enter into force.[14]

Seán MacBride Peace Prize

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Established in 1992, the Seán MacBride Peace Prize is awarded by the International Peace Bureau to a person or organisation that "has done outstanding work for peace, disarmament and/or human rights."[15][16] It is named after Seán MacBride, a Nobel Peace Prize winner who was chairman of the IPB from 1968 to 1974 and president from 1974 to 1985.[17][18]

Recipients

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The following are the recipients of the Seán MacBride Peace Prize since its inception in 1992:[15]

Year Recipient Notes Reference
1992 Michael D. Higgins For human rights advocacy domestically, and in Nicaragua, Chile, Cambodia, Iraq, and Somalia [19]
1993 Motarilavoa Hilda Lini "Played a key role in the WHO's decision to approve a request to the World Court on the legal status of nuclear weapons." [20]
1994 Mordechai Vanunu "Sentenced to 18 years solitary confinement for revealing details of Israel's nuclear arsenal." [19]
1995 The Committee of Soldiers' Mothers of Russia "Foremost among Russian citizens’ groups opposing the war in Chechnya." [19]
1996 Selim Bešlagić For "his fight against nationalism, ethnic cleansing and intolerance during his country's war." [21]
1997 Seeds of Hope Group "For disarming a Hawk aircraft bound for Indonesia." [19]
1998 John Hume For "his contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process." [22]
1999 Barbara Gladysch For her "extraordinary and year-long commitment to disarmament and practical solidarity with victims of wars and disasters." [23]
2000 1) Praful Bidwai
2) Achin Vanaik
For being at the "forefront of the international campaign against the nuclearisation of South Asia." [24]
2001 Rosalie Bertell For "her lifelong engagement to the cause of peace and for her deep concern for the well-being of peoples all over the planet." [25]
2002 Barbara Lee For "her sole vote against the bombing of Afghanistan." [26]
2003 Nihon Hidankyō "Survivors of the A bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. They have devoted the rest of their lives to the elimination of nuclear weapons." [19]
2004 Leaders of the Geneva Initiative on the Middle East [19]
2005 No award made [19]
2006 Mayors for Peace:

1) Tadatoshi Akiba
2) Iccho Itoh

For "its achievements in arousing international public demand for the abolition of nuclear weapons and lasting world peace." [27]
2007 Jayantha Dhanapala For "his dedication to the cause of disarmament and his initiatives towards creating the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapons Free Zone." [28]
2008 Jacqueline Cabasso For "her years of outstanding work with NGOs and initiatives toward peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons." [29]
2009 Betty Reardon For "her contribution to peace education and to the wider peace movement." [30]
2010 Binalakshmi Nepram For "her extraordinary efforts to promote disarmament and an end to gun violence in India." [31]
2011 1) Hanaa Edwar
2) Dr. Peter Becker
1) For "her contribution to the advancement of democracy and human rights, as well as her firm stand against violence and war;"
2) For his work with the German section of the International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms (IALANA).
[32][33]
2012 1) Lina Ben Mhenni
2) Nawal El Saadawi
For showing "great courage and ... substantial contributions to what is known as the Arab Spring." [34]
2013 Chelsea Manning For her "courageous actions in revealing information about US war crimes." [35]
2014 The People and Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands For "courageously taking the nine nuclear weapons-possessing countries to the International Court of Justice to enforce compliance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty and international customary law." [36]
2015 The People and the Island Communities of Lampedusa, Italy and Jeju Island, South Korea For showing "a profound commitment to peace and social justice." [37]
2016 IPB Secretary-General Colin Archer For 26 years "in the service of peace and of the IPB community." [38]
2017 1) All Okinawa Council Against Henoko New Base
2) Noam Chomsky
3) Jeremy Corbyn
1) For "its unflagging commitment to close the Futemna Marine Air Base, and for its nonviolent opposition to the construction of a massive new air, land and sea base in Henoko;"
2) For his "tireless commitment to peace, his strong critiques to U.S. foreign policy, and his anti-imperialism;"
3) For his "sustained and powerful political work for disarmament and peace."
[16]
2018 1) Association For Historical Dialogue and Research and Home for Cooperation
2) Helena Maleno
3) Douglas Roche
1) For its "efforts and promotion of [a] Culture of Peace and as well as the peace building activities;"
2) For her "efforts to save hundreds of lives in the Mediterranean Sea, and her strong commitment to defending human rights;"
3) For his "tireless efforts to promote international peace and disarmament."
[39]
2019 1) Bruce Kent

2) Elayne Whyte Gómez

1) An "internationally known peace activist and a 'real peace hero' who, even in his 90th year, remains an active campaigner and organizer for peace and human rights."

2) For "her invaluable contribution to the completion of the historic Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons."

[20]
2020 Black Lives Matter For its "leading roles in building resistance to and transforming local policies against systemic police violence and extrajudicial murders of Black people across the United States." [19]
2021 1) Alexander Kmentt

2) Assistant Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP)

1) "For his dedication towards disarmament and the elimination of nuclear weapons, bringing these issues to the highest level of government and imploring decision makers to take notice and action and being one of the key architects to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons."
2) "For their dedication, courage and diligence ensuring that every life taken by military during the country's struggle to return the power to the right hands is properly documented –  in the face of threats due to the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021."
[19]
2022 1) Hiroshi "Taka" Takakusaki

2) Asya Maruket & Yurii Sheliazhenko

3) Fred Lubang

1) "For his lifelong dedication to a just peace, the abolition of nuclear weapons and social justice, as well as his care and unstinting support for the Hibakusha."

2) "Two activists from Russia and Ukraine for their work towards peace, women's and human rights – showing us what commitment and bravery looks like in the face of unjust war."

3) "For his unflagging work and commitment towards peacebuilding, disarmament and non-violence, especially in the face of ongoing wars."

[19]
2023 1) Our House, Movement of Conscientious Objectors (MCO) & Ukrainian Pacifist Movement

2) Tore Nærland

1) "At the heart of this esteemed award are three remarkable movements that have not only made significant strides in advocating for the right to conscientious objection but have also symbolized the enduring spirit of peace in the face of adversity."

2) "Through his tireless efforts and determination, he has inspired countless individuals to embrace the idea that peace can be pursued actively, one pedal stroke at a time. His commitment to spreading a message of peace and understanding transcends national boundaries and resonates with people from all walks of life."

[40]
 
International Peace Bureau World Congress Berlin 2016

Leadership

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At the Triennial Assembly held in Ghent on 15 October 2022, a new group of IPB officials was elected.[41]

President

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The current co-presidents are:[41]

Country Name
  United Kingdom Philip Jennings
  Philippines Corazon Valdez Fabros

Treasurer

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The current Treasurer is:[41]

Country Name
  Germany Lucas Wirl

Vice-presidents

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The vice-presidents deputise for the president when necessary. The current vice-presidents are:[41]

Country Name
  France Arielle Denis
  France Alain Rouy
  Canada Steven Staples

Board members

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The board members are the following:[41]

Country Name
  Ghana Ernest Gibson Kpordotsi
  Congo Kitwe Guy Mulunda
  India Binalakshmi Nepram
  Mongolia Enkhsaikhan Jargalsaikhan
  South Korea Sooyoung Hwang
  United Kingdom Kate Hudson
  Japan Yayoi Tsuchida
  Pakistan Raza Shah Khan
  Guam Lisa Linda Natividad
  Belgium Etienne De Jonghe
  United States Emily Rubino
  Norway Aslak Storaker
  Russia Oleg Bodrov
  Australia Annette Brownlie
  Spain Jordi Calvo
  Colombia Angelo Cardona

Council members

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The Council members are the following persons:[41]

Country Name
  India Surender Singh Rajpurohit
  Palestine Amani Aruri
  Bosnia,   Germany Amela Skiljan
  South Korea A-Young Moon
  United Kingdom Sara Medi Jones
  Belgium Chloé Meulewaeter
  Russia Eset Maruket Gagieva
  Ghana Baroness Dayon Ako-Adounvo
  United States Ann Wright
  Cameroon Cyrille Rolande Bechon
  Norway Eskil Grav
  Philippines Marc Batac
  Sweden Tord Björk
  Liberia Tyson Smith Berry Jr.
  Germany Stephan Möhrle
  Ukraine Yurii Sheliazhenko

Staff

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The staff members are the following persons:[41]

Country Name
  United States Sean Conner
  Germany Reiner Braun
  Spain Quique Sánchez

Nobel Peace Prizes

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IPB's work was rewarded by the Nobel Peace Prize in 1910, which has also been awarded to some of its members:[42]

Presidents

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The IPB has a co-president system that ensures a gender-balance among leadership. Each president can currently serve up to two terms of three years.[43]

 
IPB "Bread Tank" in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "International Peace Bureau | UIA Yearbook Profile". Union of International Associations. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  2. ^ "Over a Century of Peace-Making". International Peace Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-04-15. Retrieved 2012-02-14.
  3. ^ "Award Ceremony Speech (1910)". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2011-10-06.
  4. ^ "The Nobel Peace Prize 1910". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2011-10-06.
  5. ^ Lundestad, Geir (2001-03-15). "The Nobel Peace Prize, 1901–2000". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2011-10-06.
  6. ^ "The Nobel Peace Prize 1913". Nobel Foundation. Retrieved 2011-10-06.
  7. ^ "IPB Nobel Prize Winners". Nobel Foundation. Archived from the original on 2012-07-18. Retrieved 2011-10-06..
  8. ^ a b c "IPB - Who we are | IPB - International Peace Bureau". Retrieved 2020-06-22.
  9. ^ "Homepage". demilitarize.org. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
  10. ^ "Who We Are". Global Campaign on Military Spendin. International Peace Bureau. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  11. ^ "What We Do". Global Campaign on Military Spendin. International Peace Bureau. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  12. ^ "GCOMS (Global Campaign on Military Spending)". Centre Delàs. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  13. ^ "Who we are -". demilitarize.org. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
  14. ^ "Nuclear Weapons | IPB – International Peace Bureau". Retrieved 2020-06-22.
  15. ^ a b "Sean MacBride Peace Prize". International Peace Bureau. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  16. ^ a b "IPB Unveils the Winners of Séan MacBride Peace Prize 2017". Centre Delàs. September 7, 2017. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  17. ^ Nordlinger, Jay (2012). Peace, They Say: A History of the Nobel Peace Prize, the Most Famous and Controversial Prize in the World. Encounter. p. 221. ISBN 9781594035982.
  18. ^ "International Peace Bureau Awards Sean MacBride Peace Prize 2013". Pax Christi International. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Sean MacBride Peace Prize | IPB - International Peace Bureau". Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  20. ^ a b "Sean MacBride Peace Prize | IPB - International Peace Bureau". Retrieved 2020-06-23.
  21. ^ "Bosnian wins MacBride prize". The Irish Times. Dublin. August 27, 1996. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  22. ^ "MacBride Prize for Hume". The Irish Times. Dublin. October 14, 1998. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  23. ^ "Barbara Gladysch erhält den MacBride-Friedenspreis 1999" [Barbara Gladysch receives the MacBride Peace Prize 1999]. Peace Forum (in German). Bonn: Netzwerk Friedenskooperative (Network of the German Peace Movement). Winter 1999. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  24. ^ "Peace Bureau to Award MacBride Prize to Indian Anti-Nuclear Activists". Archived from the original on 25 February 2004. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  25. ^ "Peace Bureau Awards Prize to Dr Rosalie Bertell". CADU News. Campaign Against Depleted Uranium. Winter 2001. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  26. ^ Irwin, Abrams; Gungwu, Wang (2003). Iraq War and Its Consequences, The: Thoughts of Nobel Peace Laureates and Eminent Scholars. World Scientific. p. 131. ISBN 9789814338103.
  27. ^ "Mayors for Peace Receives Sean MacBride Peace Prize Awarded by the International Peace Bureau(IPB)". Mayors for Peace. Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation. Archived from the original on September 30, 2020. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  28. ^ "UNU Council Chair Dhanapala Wins IPB Peace Prize". United Nations University. September 2007. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  29. ^ "Ms.Jacqueline Cabasso, the Mayors for Peace Coordinator in North America won 2008 Sean MacBride Peace Prize". Mayors for Peace. Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation. n.d. Archived from the original on September 30, 2020. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  30. ^ "International Peace Bureau Awards Pioneering Peace Educator, Dr. Betty A. Reardon, the 2009 Sean MacBride Peace Prize". Archived from the original on 2010-07-13. Retrieved 2018-11-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  31. ^ "Binalakshmi Nepram Receives Sean MacBride Peace Prize for 2010 in Oslo". Heinrich Böll Stiftung India. Heinrich Boell Foundation. September 23, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  32. ^ "Hanaa Edwar from the Iraqi Al-Amal Association Awarded the Sean MacBride Peace Prize 2011 by International Peace Bureau". Archived from the original on 2012-08-15. Retrieved 2018-11-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  33. ^ "International Peace Bureau awards the Sean MacBride PeacePrize 2011 to Hanaa Edwar (Iraqi women's rights and democracy activist) and Peter Becker (German anti-nuclear lawyer)" (PDF). Archived from the original on 2011-12-02. Retrieved 2018-11-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  34. ^ "International Peace Bureau to Award 2012 Sean MacBride Peace Prize to Nawal El-Sadaawi (Egypt) and Lina Ben Mhenni (Tunisia)". Action from Ireland. November 8, 2012. Archived from the original on November 28, 2017. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  35. ^ "International Peace Bureau awards the Sean MacBride Peace Prize 2013 to US whistleblower Bradley Manning". Canadian Voice of Women for Peace. July 23, 2013. Archived from the original on November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  36. ^ "MacBride Peace Prize to the Marshall Islands". Abolition 2000. August 5, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  37. ^ "International Peace Bureau to Award the 2015 Macbride Prize to Two Island Communities: Lampedusa (Italy) and Gangjeon Village, Jeju Island (S. Korea)" (PDF). International Peace Bureau. August 24, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  38. ^ "IPB to Award Sean MacBride Peace Prize 2016 to Colin Archer". Pressenza. November 11, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  39. ^ "Press Release: Seán MacBride Peace Prize 2018" (PDF). International Peace Bureau. September 12, 2018. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  40. ^ "2023 Seán MacBride Peace Prize for the Three Conscientious Objectors Organization: Our House, Movement of Conscientious Objectors and Ukrainian Pacifist Movement; and peace advocate Tore Nærland | IPB - International Peace Bureau". Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  41. ^ a b c d e f g "Structure | IPB - International Peace Bureau". Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  42. ^ "Nobel Peace Prize Laureates". International Peace Bureau. Archived from the original on 2016-04-15. Retrieved 2016-03-01.
  43. ^ "Structure | IPB – International Peace Bureau". Retrieved 2020-06-22.
  44. ^ "The Nobel Peace Prize 1901-2000". Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB 2014. Web. 1 Mar 2017. <http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/themes/peace/lundestad-review/index.html>

Sources

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  • Gobat, Albert, Développement du Bureau international permanent de la paix. Bern, 1910.
  • Herz, Ulrich, The International Peace Bureau: History, Aims, Activities. Geneva, 1969.
  • From Nobel Lectures, Peace 1901-1925, Editor Frederick W. Haberman, Elsevier Publishing Company, Amsterdam, 1972.
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