Barcelona to host the 2nd World Peace Congress

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The first edition took place in 2016, in Berlin. Source: International Peace Bureau

Next autumn, the capital of Catalonia will host a large gathering of international movements for peace and justice.

The 2nd World Peace Congress, a global gathering to discuss the challenges of a world free of wars now has a venue and a date; it will be held in Barcelona from 15 to 17 October. The International Catalan Institute for Peace will be the local organiser together with the International Peace Bureau, the oldest and largest international federation for peace that is behind these congresses.

With the motto ‘(Re)imagine our world. Action for peace and justice”, this new edition of the congress aims to create synergies among organisations and individuals and among interconnected social movements fighting for global justice: peace and disarmament defenders, feminist and LGBTQIA+ activists, environmentalists and climate activists, anti-racist movements and indigenous people, human rights’ defenders and trade unionists. The goal is to promote inclusion in these movements from a peace perspective to better face the global challenges.

The organisers have prepared a draft programme full of presentations and discussions with experts from around the world of all disciplines like Noam Chomsky, Vandana Shiva, Jody Williams, Martin Chingong, Wada Masako and Beatrice Fihn.

The Congress is open to all and free. In organising this congress in Barcelona the following organisations are part of the local committee: Can Jonch, Centre Delàs, the Barcelona Youth Council, the School for a Culture of Peace, the Fundació Carta de la Pau dirigida a l’ONU, FundiPau, Jai Jagat, Justícia i Pau, laFede.cat, Novact, Pressenza and the Universitat Internacional per la Pau.

Looking back at Berlin 2016

Five years ago, the 1st World Peace Congress was held in Berlin with the motto “Disarm! For a climate of peace”. The goal was to launch a debate on the issue of military expenditure and how it affected the future of humanity and our planet.

With around 1,000 participants, the Congress contributed to strengthening the global peace activist movement, fostering collaboration and mutual knowledge among movements and activists.

This summary video shows some of the highlights of that first edition.