The Peace Alliance is a founding member of the Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace, a rapidly growing association of grassroots activists and elected government officials from countries in Africa, Asia, Australia/Pacific, Europe, and North and South America.

Two countries already have such ministries – the Ministry of National Unity, Reconciliation, and Peace in the Solomon Islands; and the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction in Nepal. Costa Rica is poised to be the third, with unopposed legislation pending to expand the scope and title of the Ministry of Justice to the Ministry of Justice and Peace.

At the London Summit, Member of Parliament John McDonnell (center front), Dot Maver and other summit members in group photo in front of Parliament.

The Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace began in October 2005 in London at the First Global Summit for Departments of Peace, attended by 40 people from a dozen countries. The Second Global Summit was held in June 2006 in Victoria, Canada, and was attended by 60 people from 18 countries. The Third People’s Summit was held in Japan in September 2007, with participants representing 21 countries on six continents. The Sydney (Australia) Summit is scheduled for September 2008.

The Global Alliance's website is a source of valuable information on latest news events, trainings, publications, web links, etc., in the growing field of peacebuilding and conflict transformation around the world. At the website you can also subscribe to a regular email newsletter, participate in discussion forums about a culture of peace and departments of peace, and discover tips on actions you personally can take to help foster a culture of peace in the world.

Current countries in the
Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace

For more on the history of the Global Alliance and the role of the Peace Alliance and the Peace Alliance Foundation (now Peace Partnership International) in it, click here.