Final Declaration of the International Forum for Peace

For a World in Peace

Stop the increase in military spending and the militarization of our societies!

The world stands at a crossroads. On one side, the global capitalist system and imperialism insist on maintaining a unipolar order, rooted in centuries of colonial domination, with NATO acting as the military, political, and ideological arm of this outdated and unjust international order.

On the other side are the forces striving to forge a new multilateral order, committed to the principles of the UN, based on peaceful coexistence, mutually beneficial cooperation, social progress, and solidarity.

The NATO Summit on June 24–25, with its proposal to increase military spending at the expense of social spending, deepens the arms race, which in 2024 amounted to a global military expenditure of 2.718 trillion dollars.

We believe that the Atlantic Alliance is part of a security system that has repeatedly violated the UN Charter and is generating greater insecurity in a global scenario marked by a multidimensional crisis that threatens humanity and the planet.

We are deeply concerned about the resurgence of fascism and the multiple crises threatening life on the planet, taking us further away from the goal of achieving a peaceful world. These crises are causing intensified exploitation, growing inequality, increased poverty in significant regions of the world, climate change, and escalating global violence.

The growing conflicts worldwide—including the genocide perpetrated by Israel in Gaza, the war in Ukraine, conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Western Sahara, Sudan, the recent Israeli aggression against Iran, and many others—are flagrant violations of international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

We recognize that these wars are economically driven, aiming to seize natural resources for profit.

The consequences of these crises manifest in death, suffering, destruction, and denial of the most basic rights of peoples. Wars especially affect the millions of human beings who lose their lives or are forced to flee their homes, particularly women—who are raped as spoils of war or trafficked—alongside children, the elderly, and people with special needs.

We also denounce the continued interference in the internal affairs of other countries by the United States and its allies, such as the European Union, as well as their manipulation campaigns and attempts to destabilize sovereign nations that do not bow to their interests.

We explicitly condemn the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed on Cuba, as well as its unilateral inclusion on the list of so-called state sponsors of terrorism, from which it must be immediately removed. These policies are unjust, inhumane, and contrary to international law.

We also condemn the recent U.S. bombing of facilities in Iran, which violates Iran's sovereignty and international law, posing a direct threat to global peace and stability.

Reducing security to merely a matter of armaments and military confrontation poses immense dangers for all peoples.

The growing militarization and increasing geopolitical tensions obstruct the multilateral cooperation urgently needed to solve global problems created by the current unjust international order—poverty, inequality, patriarchal violence, hunger, lack of housing, climate change, limited access to health and education, genocide, armed conflicts, and the nuclear threat.

The ongoing increase in military budgets diverts resources urgently needed to ensure real security for people and the planet.

History shows that many of the international security problems stem from a lack of respect for rights and sovereignty, often accompanied by the promotion of fascist forces, and rooted in socioeconomic and ecological disruptions, unbridled exploitation of resources, and the absence of diplomacy and multilateral mechanisms for collective security.

In response to the belligerent escalation proposed at the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague—which seeks more military spending, more rearmament, and a globalized NATO serving the dominance of a few—we emphasize the relevance of the Helsinki Accords, signed 50 years ago, which established essential principles such as respect for the sovereignty of peoples, peaceful conflict resolution, and non-intervention. We also highlight the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, which offers a cooperative model to be replicated in other regions of the world.

Now more than ever, we must move towards a multilateral, just, democratic, and equitable international order based on peaceful coexistence, solidarity, and international cooperation.

We, the organizers of this International Forum for Peace, believe that to build peace, we must unite, cooperate, and organize in all our diversity to support the struggles of the working class and the efforts of social movements—especially involving youth—in the project of constructing a common security architecture based on multilateralism and adherence to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

This must focus on diplomacy, disarmament, social justice, equality, and environmental sustainability, placing life at the center of all government actions, and rejecting power structures that fuel war, perpetuate poverty, and destroy the planet. We stand in solidarity with all those who fight for a dignified future in every corner of the world.

Therefore, we call to action:

• Work to stop the genocide in Gaza and the military conflicts unfolding in various regions around the world.
• Reject any increase in military spending that may be approved at the NATO Summit, and challenge the logic of the "new Cold War," which divides humanity into hostile blocs. We call instead for global cooperation and solidarity beyond political and cultural differences.
• Support and promote campaigns demanding reduced military spending and greater investment in social welfare, gender equality, education, healthcare, etc., with particular attention to the “Stop Rearm Europe” campaign.
• Prioritize diplomacy, de-escalation of belligerence, and mutual security guarantees.
• Propose organizing actions in every region on September 21, International Day of Peace, to highlight the defense of peace and solidarity among peoples.
• Support a shift at the 2025 UN General Assembly towards a truly just and multilateral international order and reaffirm the founding principles of the UN Charter aimed at preserving humanity from war.
• Propose expanding the “Group of Friends of Peace” within the UN to include social movements and political parties as a broader “Group of Organizations for Peace.”
• Demand the elimination of nuclear weapons and the closure of foreign military bases worldwide, as well as an end to policies of blockades and interference.
• Call for increased aid to civilian victims of war, with special attention to the protection of children, women, the elderly, and people with special needs who suffer the most from armed conflict.
• Condemn the use of unconventional or fourth-generation warfare methods used to subdue countries and political processes that do not comply with imperial domination.

Finally, the organizations gathered in this International Forum for Peace consider it essential to maintain this framework for collaboration, cooperation, and information exchange that brings together social movements, unions, parties, and other organizations and networks in the fight for peace, against war, and to tackle its structural roots.Brussels, June 24, 2025

13:00-14:00

Registration

14:00-14:30

Opening Session
Coordination: Maite Mola


• Welcome by Maite Mola


• Video Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico
• Özlem Demirel, MEP Die Linke, on the Conference on Peace and Security in Europe, European Parliament, 11–12 June


• Iván Orosa, on the Peace Counter-Summit in The Hague, 21–22 June

14:30–16:30

Plenary Session: International Mobilization for Peace and Security

Coordination: Bert De Belder


With contributions from:
• Layla Hazaineh (Palestina), Progressive International and The Hague Group
• Peter Mertens, General Secretary, PVDA-PTB
• Jorge Cano Pérez, Chargé d'Affaires, Embassy of Cuba in Belgium
• Giulia Contes, co-chair CNAPD, Stop Militarisation Belgium
• Jimmy Dijk, leader of the SP, MP, Netherlands
• Danilo Della Valle, MEP The Left, M5E Italy
• João Oliveira, MEP The Left, PCPortugal
• Esther Lynch, General Secretary, ETUC
• Qi Wei, China Center for Contemporary World Studies
• Walter Baier, President of the Party of the European Left (ELP)

18:00–19:00

Public Action for Peace

[Facebook Event]

Organized by the Belgian platform Stop Militarisation


• At Place de la Monnaie


• "Die-in" action with giant PACE flag, alarm siren, placards with slogans, music, peace songs


• Short speeches by Belgian and international activists, trade unionists, and public figures from e.g. Stop Militarisation, Intal, Stop ReArm Europe

20:00–22:30

Political-Cultural Event “Struggle for Peace!”
• At BeursSchouwBurg (BSB)


• Food and drinks, video screenings


• Messages and calls of solidarity, introduced by Marc Botenga (MEP PVDA-PTB), with Giorgia Gusciglio (BDS Movement), Tings Chak (IPA, Tricontinental Institute), Peter Mertens (PVDA-PTB), Imani Umoja (PAIGC, Guinea and Cabo Verde)

• Informal meetings and exchanges
• Concert for peace with the group TURIKUMWE, Brussels-based collective that performs and teaches Afro-Colombian folklore

09:30–11:15 | Thematic Panels 1 and 2

Theatre Room | 1 | Against Militarization, War, and the Arms Race

Coordination: Sean Conner, IPB

With contributions from:


• Laëtitia Sédou, ENAAT (European Network Against Arms Trade)
• Lichen Ullmann, Vredesactie, Stop Militarisation, Belgium


• Hillal Sor, General Secretary, MWB-FGTB (Belgian union)
• Katerina Anastasiou, transform!europe, Stop ReArm

1b | Migration and Refugees: Consequences and Struggles

• Gil Puystiens, Amistad Sin Fronteras, Bélgica
• Dr. Erik Guerrero Márquez /Frente Migrante de Madrid / Frente Morena España
• Nuvpreet Kalra Singh, Codepink UK

Workshop Room | 2 | For the Diplomatic and Negotiated Resolution of Conflicts

Coordination: Gabriel Aguirre, WBW

With contributions from:


• Sean Conner, President, IPB – International Peace Bureau


• Niahm Ni Brian, Transnational Institute (TNI)


• Brian Carty, EU Parliament team Sinn Féin, Ireland


• Ghassan Saliba, Lebanese Committee for Peace and Solidarity


• Giulia Bordin, Pax Christi International
• Nerea Fernández, IU
• Alejandro Rusconi, FSP

11:45–13:15 | Thematic Panels 3 and 4

Theatre Room | 3 | A Multipolar World: A Pact for the Future

Coordination: David Adler, Progressive International

With contributions from:


• Ingar Solty, RLS, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Germany


• Coll McCail, Progressive International
• Tings Chak, IPA and Tricontinental Institute


• Brenno Almeida, Fundación Perseu Abramo, Brazil
• Austin Cole, Black Alliance for Peace

• WILPF, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom

Workshop Room | 4 | For an Autonomous and Peaceful Europe

Coordination: Marga Ferré, transform!europe
With contributions from/on:


• Gavin Rae, transform!europe
• Representatives of peace movements:


◦ In Italy: Anna Bruna Camposampiero, PRC


◦ In Belgium: Ansje Vanbeselaere, President of Intal


◦ In France: Mouvement de la Paix (tbc)


◦ In Norway/Nordic countries: Arnljot Ask, RED Party


• Representatives of trade unions in Europe, e.g., CGT, CCOO, ver.di, and EU trade union confederations (tbc)

14:00–15:00 | Plenary Session

For a peaceful future in Europe and the world

Coordination: Jose Luis Centella

• Maurizio Copolla, IPA
• Nguyen Trung Viet, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Vietnam
• Amal Jadou; Ambassador of Palestina to Belgium and the EU
• CP of Spain
• Frente Amplio, Uruguay
• Cristina Simó, FDIM, Women’s International Democratic Federation

Presentation of the Declaration: For a Future of Peace in the World

Format: Presentations and testimonies will be brief to allow space for broad participation and interaction with the audience.

Languages: The event will be held in English, French, and Spanish. Opening and closing sessions, plenaries, and panels will have professional simultaneous interpretation. Workshops will not.