About War Resisters' International

War Resisters' International (WRI) works for a world without war. We are a global pacifist and antimilitarist network with over 90 affiliated groups in 40 countries. We remain committed to our 1921 founding declaration that

'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'.

All wars, including wars of 'liberation' and 'humanitarian military intervention' are used to serve some power ­political or economic interest. All war leads to suffering, destruction, and new structures of domination.

What we do

WRI is primarily a network of organisations, groups and individuals. We facilitate mutual support, by

• Linking people together through publications, events and actions
• Initiating nonviolent campaigns that actively involve local groups and individuals
• Supporting those who oppose war and who challenge its causes
• Promoting and educating people about pacifism and nonviolence

From the WRI office in London, we run three programmes of work that are important to the network. They are The Right to Refuse to Kill Programme, the Nonviolence Programme, and Countering the Militarisation of Youth.

Do you share our vision of a world without war?

• Are you part of a pacifist or antimilitarist group and would like to affiliate to WRI? Get in touch!
• Can you help with translation? Contact us!
• Sign up for email updates here.

War Resisters' International relies on your support. To support our work with regular donation, visit: https://www.wri-irg.org/en/donate

The history of WRI

War Resisters’ International’s archives are held at the Institute for Social History, Amsterdam. You can search them here. Another good place to find out about the history of WRI is our book War is a Crime against Humanity: The Story of The War Resisters' International.

WRI occasionally makes statements in support of nonviolent resistance around the world. Find them here.

Decision-making

Read our Constitution and Rules here.

Decisions about the work of the network are normally made using consensus decision-making. The International Assembly meets every 3-4 years, and this meeting is open to any member of any of our affiliates. The International Assembly makes decisions on our constitution, elects individual Council members, chooses an Executive Committee, and decides on the broad direction of the organisation for the coming years.

The Council is made up of a representatives of member organisations, plus twelve additional, individually elected members. The Council meets once a year, normally in person but occasionally online.

The Executive Committee is a smaller body of 5-6 people and is given responsibility for making decisions about WRI in between Council meetings. The Executive Committee is chosen from - and reports to - the Council.

WRI also has a small office and staff team, based in London. Our staff do much of the administrative work of the organisation, and work on various programmes of work and campaigns.

You can find bios for our staff, executive committee members, and individually elected council members on the ‘structure’ page.

Contact us here