On 21 June, PAX Director Rolien Sasse delivered a powerful speech at the SP Peace Summit in The Hague, just a few kilometres from where NATO leaders were meeting. At a time of growing militarisation and global instability, Sasse made a compelling plea for a comprehensive, human-centred approach to peace and security, grounded in justice, international law, and solidarity.
She questioned the stark imbalance between rapidly increasing defence budgets and the lack of commitment to peacebuilding, diplomacy, and development:
“Where are the commitments to peace? Where is the investment in a security strategy rooted in human dignity and protection for all — not just the few?”
Reflecting on her visit to Ukraine, Sasse underlined that military support, while vital for survival, must go hand in hand with support for democracy, economic resilience, and social cohesion. Resistance to occupation, she argued, is not a rejection of peace — it is a precondition for peace.
She also addressed the situation in Gaza, criticising the silence and complicity of Western governments in the face of severe human rights violations. PAX co-organised the recent demonstration in The Hague, where more than 150,000 people drew a symbolic red line — against both the violence in Gaza and Europe’s continued military cooperation with Israel.
As a prominent member of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and recipient of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize, PAX renewed its call for the Netherlands and other European states to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).
Sasse concluded her address by outlining five guiding principles for a just and lasting peace:
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No European peace at the expense of others.
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Positive peace: not merely the absence of war, but the presence of justice and dignity.
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Human security: protecting people, not just borders or regimes.
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Consistency in upholding human rights and international law.
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Global cooperation through diplomacy, development, and solidarity.
“Real peace requires courage — to invest in diplomacy and human rights, to uphold international law consistently, and to act in solidarity with people across the world who long for dignity and freedom.”
We are proud to count PAX among our network members: a bold and principled peace organisation holding governments accountable, giving voice to those affected by violence, and working tirelessly for a world in which peace is not a privilege, but a right for all.