Pro Peace

Pro Peace (legally Forum Ziviler Friedensdienst e. V., formerly Forum Civil Peace Service / forumZFD) is a German non-profit organisation dedicated to non-violent conflict transformation and civil peace work. Founded in 1996 in response to the Balkan Wars, it grew out of a civil-society movement that sought professional, non-military responses to violent conflict. The organisation is headquartered in Cologne and operates programmes in 13 countries across Europe, the Middle East and South East Asia. Its work focuses on advising and supporting local civil-society actors, peace education, and training through its Academy for Conflict Transformation. Pro Peace is a government-recognised member of the Civil Peace Service consortium and finances its international projects largely through the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It has received several peace awards, including the Göttingen Peace Prize and the Reconciliation Prize of the Klaus Jensen Foundation.

Pro Peace was founded in February 1996 as "Forum Civil Peace Service" (Forum Ziviler Friedensdienst) by German peace and human rights groups. The initiative emerged from the early 1990s, when the wars in the disintegrating former Yugoslavia prompted many in Germany to seek new, non-military ways to address violent conflict. Starting in 1993, actors from churches and civil society developed a concept for professional peace work, drawing on experience in nonviolent action and conflict mediation. The idea of a Civil Peace Service initially faced resistance from the federal government, but gained political support in 1997 from Johannes Rau, then Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia. Over the following decades, Pro Peace expanded its operations internationally. It began work in the western Balkans and Israel/Palestine, added the Philippines in 2008, Lebanon in 2009, Cambodia in 2015, and Jordan and Ukraine in 2017. In 2006, it also started advising and supporting local communities within Germany. The organisation runs an Academy for Conflict Transformation, offering part-time, full-time and online training in peace and conflict work. In 2014, a foundation of the same name was established by members. Pro Peace is a founding member of the European Network for Civil Peace Intervention (EN.CPI) and the global Nonviolent Peaceforce. It has received several awards, including the Gustav-Heinemann-Bürgerpreis (1997), the Göttingen Peace Prize (2005), the Friedenspreis Sievershäuser Ermutigung (2014), and the Reconciliation Prize of the Klaus Jensen Foundation (2022).

• 2022

  Awarded the Reconciliation Prize of the Klaus Jensen Foundation.

• 2017

  Opened programme offices in Jordan and Ukraine.

• 2015

  Opened programme offices in Phnom Penh and Battambang, Cambodia.

• 2014

  A foundation of the same name was established by members; awarded the Friedenspreis Sievershäuser Ermutigung.

• 2009

  Started programme in Lebanon.

• 2008

  Added the Philippines as a project region.

• 2006

  Began advising and supporting local communities in Germany.

• 2005

  Awarded the Göttingen Peace Prize.

• 1997

  Received political support from Johannes Rau, then Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia.

• 1997

  Awarded the Gustav-Heinemann-Bürgerpreis.

• 1996

  Founded as Forum Civil Peace Service (Forum Ziviler Friedensdienst) in February.

Non-profit, non-governmental organisation promoting non-violent conflict transformation and civil peace work.

• Academy for Conflict Transformation

  Training institution offering courses, seminars and workshops for professional peace and conflict work.

• Civil Peace Service (CPS) projects

  Deployment of peace experts to conflict regions to support local civil-society actors.

• Peace education programmes

  Programmes for children and young people.

1. 1Pro Peace | Pro Peacepropeace.de
2. 2Our Story | Pro Peacepropeace.de
3. 3Who we are | Pro Peacepropeace.de
4. 4Job Ad: Biographer and Oral History Writer | Pro Peacepropeace.de
5. 5Forum Ziviler Friedensdienstde.wikipedia.org
6. 6Wikidatawikidata.org