# International Peace Bureau

The International Peace Bureau (IPB; French: Bureau international de la paix), founded in 1891, 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". In 1913, Henri La Fontaine was also awarded the Prize "[For his work as] head of the International Peace Bureau". As of 2012, eleven other Nobel Peace Prize laureates have been members of the IPB.
Its membership consists of 300 organizations in 70 countries. 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.
IPB holds Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and associate status with the United Nations Department of Global Communications.
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

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.
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.
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.
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.

## Nuclear disarmament activism

IPB has been in the forefront of nuclear disarmament activities since 1945, including:
* Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)
* Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)
* World Court Project
* Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW)
Currently, the IPB is campaigning to encourage the signing and ratification of the TPNW so that it may enter into force.

## Seán MacBride Peace Prize

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." 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.

### Recipients

The following are the recipients of the Seán MacBride Peace Prize since its inception in 1992:
| Year | Recipient | Notes |
| 1992 | Michael D. Higgins | For human rights advocacy domestically, and in Nicaragua, Chile, Cambodia, Iraq, and Somalia |
| 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." |
| 1994 | Mordechai Vanunu | "Sentenced to 18 years solitary confinement for revealing details of Israel's nuclear arsenal." |
| 1995 | The Committee of Soldiers' Mothers of Russia | "Foremost among Russian citizens’ groups opposing the war in Chechnya." |
| 1996 | Selim Bešlagić | For "his fight against nationalism, ethnic cleansing and intolerance during his country's war." |
| 1997 | Seeds of Hope Group | "For disarming a Hawk aircraft bound for Indonesia." |
| 1998 | John Hume | For "his contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process." |
| 1999 | Barbara Gladysch | For her "extraordinary and year-long commitment to disarmament and practical solidarity with victims of wars and disasters." |
| 2000 | 1) Praful Bidwai 2) Achin Vanaik | For being at the "forefront of the international campaign against the nuclearisation of South Asia." |
| 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." |
| 2002 | Barbara Lee | For "her sole vote against the bombing of Afghanistan." |
| 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." |
| 2004 | Leaders of the Geneva Initiative on the Middle East | |
| 2005 | No award made | No award made |
| 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." |
| 2007 | Jayantha Dhanapala | For "his dedication to the cause of disarmament and his initiatives towards creating the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapons Free Zone." |
| 2008 | Jacqueline Cabasso | For "her years of outstanding work with NGOs and initiatives toward peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons." |
| 2009 | Betty Reardon | For "her contribution to peace education and to the wider peace movement." |
| 2010 | Binalakshmi Nepram | For "her extraordinary efforts to promote disarmament and an end to gun violence in India." |
| 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). |
| 2012 | 1) Lina Ben Mhenni 2) Nawal El Saadawi | For showing "great courage and ... substantial contributions to what is known as the Arab Spring." |
| 2013 | Chelsea Manning | For her "courageous actions in revealing information about US war crimes." |
| 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." |
| 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." |
| 2016 | IPB Secretary-General Colin Archer | For 26 years "in the service of peace and of the IPB community." |
| 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." |
| 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." |
| 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." |
| 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." |
| 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." |
| 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." |
| 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." |

## Leadership

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

### President

The current co-presidents are:
| Country | Name |
| United Kingdom | Philip Jennings |
| Philippines | Corazon Valdez Fabros |

### Treasurer

The current Treasurer is:
| Country | Name |
| Germany | Lucas Wirl |

### Vice-presidents

The vice-presidents deputise for the president when necessary. The current vice-presidents are:
| Country | Name |
| France | Arielle Denis |
| France | Alain Rouy |
| Canada | Steven Staples |

### Board members

The board members are the following:
| 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

The Council members are the following persons:
| 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

The staff members are the following persons:
| Country | Name |
| United States | Sean Conner |
| Germany | Reiner Braun |
| Spain | Quique Sánchez |

## Nobel Peace Prizes

IPB's work was rewarded by the Nobel Peace Prize in 1910, which has also been awarded to some of its members:
* 1901 : Frédéric Passy (France), IPB council member
* 1902 : Élie Ducommun and Albert Gobat (Switzerland), first honorary secretaries of IPB
* 1905 : Bertha von Suttner (Austria), writer and honorary vice-president of IPB
* 1907 : Ernesto Moneta (Italy), IPB council member
* 1908 : Fredrik Bajer (Denmark), honorary president of IPB
* 1910 : The International Peace Bureau
* 1911 : Alfred Fried (Austria), IPB council member
* 1913 : Henri La Fontaine (Belgium), president of IPB
* 1927 : Ludwig Quidde (Germany), IPB council member
* 1959 : Philip Noel-Baker (United Kingdom), IPB vice-president
* 1962 : Linus Pauling (United States), IPB vice-president
* 1974 : Seán MacBride (Ireland), IPB chairman and president
* 1982 : Alva Myrdal (Sweden), IPB vice-president

## Presidents

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.
* Henri La Fontaine – 1907–1943
* Ernst Wolf – 1963–1974
* Seán MacBride – 1974–1985
* Bruce Kent – 1985–1992
* Maj Britt Theorin – 1992–2000
* Cora Weiss – 2000–2006
* Tomas Magnusson – 2006–2013
* Ingeborg Breines – 2009–2016
* Reiner Braun – 2013–2019
* Lisa Clark – 2016–2022
* Philip Jennings – 2019–present
* Corazon Valdez Fabros 2022–present