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[update], eleven other Nobel Peace Prize laureates have been members of the IPB.[7]
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.
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.[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]
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
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
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
The following are the recipients of the Seán MacBride Peace Prize since its inception in 1992:[15]
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).
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."
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."
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."
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."
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.’
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.
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.
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.[42]
^"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.