Stand for Just Peace
As global leaders prepare to gather in The Hague for the 2025 NATO Summit, we call for a balanced vision of peace and security, one that places people at its heart.
At a time when the focus is increasingly drawn toward defense capabilities and military preparedness, we urge equal and sustained attention to and investment in the long-term work of building resilient, inclusive, and just societies. This is not an alternative to security, it is the foundation of it.
We invite all individuals and institutions committed to a more just and peaceful world to endorse this statement and stand together in building a future where peace is not only protected, but cultivated.
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"The Hague Speaks for Peace: Rebalancing Security”
Public Statement for Peace and Resilience Ahead of the 2025 NATO Summit
Issued during the Just Peace Festival, The Hague
As global leaders prepare to gather in The Hague for the 2025 NATO Summit, we call for a balanced vision of peace and security, one that places people at its heart.
At a time when the focus is increasingly drawn toward defense capabilities and military preparedness, we urge equal and sustained attention to and investment in the long-term work of building resilient, inclusive, and just societies. This is not an alternative to security. It is the foundation of it.
We cannot rely solely on military force to prevent and resolve conflicts. We also need policies that eliminate the social, economic and political roots of conflict. This means investing in resilience, in stable institutions, equitable economies, inclusive and just societies, and the rule of law. Today’s complex and compounding global problems: conflicts and geopolitical tensions, the climate crisis, deepening inequalities all call for a balanced approach. Our collective security and well-being everywhere—including here in the Netherlands—relies on it.
However, while military spending is increasing, investments in prevention of root causes of conflict are decreasing.
We need to act now. Here in the Hague, across the Netherlands and beyond, many individuals and institutions are working tirelessly to prevent conflict, protect human rights, uphold international law, and build the foundations of just and peaceful societies. These efforts are essential to global security and must be valued and resourced alongside defense.
We therefore call on political leaders, civil society, international institutions, and concerned citizens to:
Champion policies that recognize addressing root causes as a vital part of our approach to security alongside defense;
Ensure that the pursuit of peace remains a shared and resourced priority in both national and international agendas;
Increase investments in developing stable institutions, equitable economies, inclusive and just societies, and the rule of law;
Recognise and support the vital contributions of peacebuilding and humanitarian organisations and professionals in the Netherlands and worldwide;
As the Just Peace Festival reminds us, peace is not found in the absence of war— it is found in building resilient, inclusive and just societies as the pathway to sustainable peace. Let us not lose sight of that truth. And let us act on it.
We invite all individuals and institutions committed to a more just and peaceful world to endorse this statement and stand together in building a future where peace is not only protected, but cultivated.
This statement is an initiative of The Hague Humanity Hub