International Summit for Peace in Ukraine:
June 10-11, 2023 in Vienna, Austria
International Peace Bureau and World BEYOND War
(June 1, 2023) — International peace organizations such as International Peace Bureau; CODEPINK; World Assembly of Struggles and Resistances of the World Social Forum; Transform Europe, Europe for Peace; International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR); Peace in Ukraine Coalition; Campaign for Peace Disarmament and Common Security (CPDCS); together with Austrian organizations: AbFaNG (Action Alliance for Peace, Active Neutrality and Nonviolence); Institute for Intercultural Research and Cooperation (IIRC); WILPF Austria; ATTAC Austria; International Fellowship of Reconciliation — Austrian branch; call for an international meeting of peace organizations and civil society, organized on the 10th and 11th of June.
The aim of the International Peace Summit is to publish an urgent global appeal, the Vienna Declaration for Peace, calling on political actors to work for a ceasefire and negotiations in Ukraine. Prominent international speakers will point to the danger around the growing escalation of the war in Ukraine and call for a reversal towards a peace process.
Speakers include: Former Colonel and Diplomat Ann Wright, USA; Prof. Anuradha Chenoy, India; Advisor to the President of Mexico Father Alejandro Solalinde, Mexico; Member of the European Parliament Clare Daly, Ireland; Vice President David Choquehuanca, Bolivia; Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, USA; Former UN Diplomat Michael von der Schulenburg, Germany; as well as peace activists from Ukraine and Russia.
The conference will also discuss controversial issues related to Russia’s war of aggression in violation of international law War. Civil society representatives from across Europe, North America, Russia and Ukraine will discuss together along side participants from the Global South to report on and discuss the dramatic consequences of this war for the people in their countries as well as how they can contribute to peace.
The conference will focus not only on criticism and analysis, but also on creative solutions and ways to end the war and prepare for negotiations. This is not only the task of states and diplomats, but nowadays more and more the task of global civil society and especially the peace movement. The invitation and the detailed program for the conference can be found at peacevienna.org
SUMMARIZED EVENT PROGRAM
Vienna, Austria – June 10th/11th 2023
A conference to discuss challenges related to the Russian-Ukrainian war, to hear the voices of civil society representatives of the various NATO countries, as well as representatives from Russia and Ukraine who support the aims of the Peace Summit. Participants from the Global South will share the dramatic consequences this war has had for the people in their countries and emphasize how they can contribute to peace.
The conference will creative solutions and ways to end the war and how to prepare negotiations. This is not only the task of states and diplomats but nowadays more and more also of global civil society. The conference will include a combination of statements, working groups, panels of experts and dialogues.
Location of the event: ÖGB-Catamaran, Johann-Böhm-Platz 1, Vienna 1020 (for direct Link to Google Maps, click here)
June 9th at 07 PM CEST (Friday)
June 10th & 11th (Saturday & Sunday)
Festive concert on the 180th anniversary of the Nobel Peace Prize winner Bertha von Suttner as a prelude to the the International Peace Summit.
For more info, click here (abfang.org/peaceconcert).
International Summit for Peace in Ukraine
Opening, Plenary, Working Groups, Pathway to Peace
Inviting Organizations: International Peace Bureau, CODEPINK, Assembly of the World Social Forum, Transform! Europe, Europe for Peace, International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR), Peace in Ukraine, Campaign for Peace Disarmament and Common Security (CPDCS), Prague Spring 2
Local Organizers and Supporters: AbFaNG (Action Alliance for Peace, Active Neutrality and Non-Violence), Institute for Intercultural Research and Cooperation (IIRC), WILPF Austria, ATTAC Austria, IFOR Austria
Sponsors: CODEPINK, Transform Europe, Rosa-Luxemburg Foundation, Meeting Destination Vienna
Satlurday, June 10
10:00 – 11:00 Opening Session
Opening music, Greetings & Welcome: Gerhard Kofler, (AbFaNG, Austria); Rosa Logar, (WILPF, Austria); Video greeting: Heinz Fischer (former President of Austria & Co-chair of the Ban Ki-moon Centre); Sean Conner (IPB).
Video Greetings: Noam Chomsky (USA); Francia Márquez (Vice-President of Colombia); Edgar Morin (France); Cardinal Álvaro Leonel Ramazzini Imeri (Guatemala).
11.00 – 12.30 Plenary: Actions for Negotiations and a Ceasefire
The plenary will focus on the current situation in Ukraine and how to shift the narrative from war and military support to a peaceful resolution and common security. This includes questions on the role of governments and civil society as well as arguments against and for a ceasefire followed by negotiations and a peace plan.
Speakers
Jeffrey Sachs (Professor at Columbia University and Pontifical Academy, USA) Anuradha Chenoy (Former Professor at Jawaharlal University, New Delhi India) David Choquehuanca (Vice-president of Bolivia)
Ann Wright (Former US Colonel and Diplomat) and video from Dennis Kucinich (Member of the US House of Representatives)
Moderator: Niamh Aine Ni Bhriain (TNI, Ireland)
13.00 – 14.15 Plenary: Civil Society Movement and Peace voices against the War from Russia and Ukraine With the support of the Rosa-Luxemburg Stiftung
Speakers
Oleg Bodrov (Public Council of the South Coast of the Gulf of Finland, Russia) Asya Gagieva (Activist, Russia)
Nina Potarska (WILPF, Ukraine)
Karyna Radchenko (Partnership for Advancing Innovative Sustainability, Ukraine)
Yurii Sheliazhenko (Ukrainian Pacifist Movement, Ukraine)
Mariia Levchenko (Patrir, Ukraine)
Moderators: Heidi Meinzolt (Germany) and Leo Gabriel (Prague Spring 2 Network, Austria)
14.15 – 15.15 Lunch Break
15.15 – 17.15 Working Groups (More information on next page) 17.00 Welcome “Hiking for Peace” in the entrance hall
17.30 – 18.30 Outcome of the working groups 18.30 – 20.00 Voices for Peace
17.30 – 18.30 Outcome of the working groups 18.30 – 20.00 Voices for Peace
Fabio Alberti (Italy), Baroness Ako-Adounvo (Ghana), Medea Benjamin (USA), Kai Frithjof Brand- Jacobsen (Romania), Annette Brownlie (Australia), Gianpiero Cofano (Italy), Simo Endre (Hungary), Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic (Austria), Phill Gittins (UK), Kate Hudson (UK), Jan Kavan (Czech Republic), Tamara Lorincz (Canada), Chloé Meulewaeter (Spain), Sylvie Jacqueline Ndongmo (Cameroon), Binalakshmi Nepram (India), Alain Rouy (France), Annemarie Sancar (Switzerland), Verena Winiwarter (Austria)
Chair: Katerina Anastasiou (Transform! Europe) and Reiner Braun (IPB
Working Groups
Analysis of the nature and context of this war
What is this war about? A multi-perspective analysis
Convener: Ludo de Brabander (Vrede)
Dynamics of war and the nuclear threat
Convener: IPPNW Europe
Initiatives to stop the war and working towards peace
Voices from inside the war
Convener: Lisa Clark and Sergio Bassoli (Europe for Peace)
Peace proposals – a critical assessment
Convener: Emily Molinari (IPB) and Reiner Braun (IPB)
The role of civil society, feminist perspectives and approaches on the way to peace
Convener: Rosa Logar (WILPF Austria), Annemarie Sancar (PWAG)
The geostrategic transformations
Convener: Cora Fabros (AEPF) and Leo Gabriel (Prague Spring 2)
Post-war lessons: The new peace architecture for Europe
Convener: Alessandra Fontanella (IPB) and Sean Conner (IPB)
Rediscovering Peace
Convener: Europe for Peace youth group
Living with war, struggling for peace
The (violation of the) right of conscientious objection to military service during the Russian-Ukrainian war
Convener: Yurii Sheliazhenko (WRI) and Zaira Zafarana (MIR Italy)
Sunday June 11
9.30 – 11.30 Pathways to peace
In the opening plenary session (10’) the conveners explain the procedure and present the two questions that will be discussed in 8 groups with moderators each — whisper groups and loud thinking.
Conveners: Heidi Meinzolt (WILPF, Germany) and Annemarie Sancar (PWAG, Switzerland)
11.30–12.15 Light Lunch 12.15–13.45 Panel Discussion
Dialogue of politicians and social movements for negotiations and a ceasefire – Acting together for peace!
Video from Lula Da Silva, President of Brazil
Video from Wang Danning (Charhar Institut, China) Speakers:
Martin Chungong (Cameroon, IPU General Secretary) (tbc) Michael von der Schulenburg (Germany, former UN diplomat) Clare Daley ( Member of the European Parliament, Ireland) Father Alejandro Solalinde (Mexico)
Ann Wright (Former US Colonel & Diplomat, USA)
Reiner Braun (IPB, Germany) Moderation: Medea Benjamin (CODEPINK)
13.45–14.45 Break
14.15–14.45 Closing Plenary
Presentation of the “Vienna Appeal for Peace in Ukraine” presented by Werner Wintersteiner (Austria) and the international team
Act now: the results of the summit and the next steps (conference & declaration documents)
Closing remarks by Alain Rouy (National Secretary of Mouvement de la Paix, France and IPB)
Logistics and Other Information
Speeches, videos and a peace wall will be included in the International Peace Summit. The International Peace Summit will be held in a hybrid format with the opportunity to join the conference virtually.
Contact: International Peace Bureau, Marienstraße 19-20, 10117 Berlin E-mail: viennaconference@ipb-office.berlin
Website: https://www.peacevienna.org/
The event is open to the public, but there are limited places available. Please, consider registering to guarantee your place. TO REGISTER, CLICK HERE!
Accommodation suggestions: Please visit https://www.wien.info/en
