War Resisters' International
Choosing
Peace Together will be War Resisters' International's 22nd Triennial Conference
- and its first one in the Balkans. Created in 1921, War Resisters'
International is a world-wide network of independent organisations, groups and
individuals who all accept the WRI declaration:
War is a crime against humanity.
I am therefore determined not to support any kind of war,
and to strive for the removal of all causes of war.
It exists to promote nonviolent action against the causes of war, and to
support and connect people around the world who refuse to take part in war or
the preparation of war. Today there are over 70 groups affiliated to WRI in 33
countries.
WRI groups have often been best known for resistance to military service or war
taxes, campaigning against arms production and the arms trade, or working in
solidarity with pacifists in a war situation. But groups may also carry out
projects of psychic and physical reconstruction during and after wars,
facilitate dialogue among groups in conflict, or promote small-scale community
economic development.
WRI's "No to war" is intended to break the cycle of violence. In the most
difficult situation we insist on looking at what resources are available for
nonviolent action and on identifying how, and with what groups, nonviolent
action might contribute to reducing the violence.
This is how WRI has developed its work in the former Yugoslav countries over
the past ten years. Benefiting from the close links established with
independent peace activists in the 1980s, WRI was able to quickly start
supporting emerging citizens' or anti-war groups in the 1990s. Local activists
value WRI's approach of spending time with groups and listening to them, and we
are proud to already have three affiliates in the region: Women in Black in
Serbia, Peace Movement of Pancevo in Vojvodina, and the Antiwar Campaign in
Croatia.
WRI develops its nonviolent philosophy through a variety of means, including
working groups, publications, speaking tours, international solidarity
campaigns, specific projects, trainings, and international conferences such as
this one. We hope that our joint effort with the Antiwar Campaign of Croatia
will be at least one small step on the road towards "choosing peace together".
Add new comment