image: OCHA-Philippe Kropf
Half of the Dutch population feel there is apartheid in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories
image: activestills.org
Photo: PAX Ayman al-Amiri.
Photo: Sven Torfinn
Photo: © PAX Ayman al-Amiri
Photo: © European Union CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
PAX is the largest peace organization in the Netherlands. We work to protect civilians against acts of war, to end armed violence and to build inclusive peace. We work in conflict areas worldwide, together with local partners and people who, just like us, believe that everyone has a right to a dignified life in a peaceful society.
Stay informed on the latest developments in Ukraine
Russia and Ukraine have been in conflict ever since the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Late in February 2022, the conflict erupted again when Russia invaded Ukraine for no reason and under false pretences. Since then, big cities such as Kharkiv, Odessa and Kyiv have been under missile fire every day, causing thousands of deaths. The number of casualties is rising rapidly, with large-scale ground attacks on Kyiv and Kharkiv now expected. The destructive power of the arms used in this conflict is colossal. Should Russia use them without much restraint, tens of thousands of people will die, and Ukraine will be largely destroyed.
Read more on the conflict in Ukraine and the stories of our courageous partners
Stop trade with settlements
Building illegal settlements in occupied territory is a war crime, the European Union agrees. However, the EU does allow European trade with such settlements. This trade contributes directly to the expansion of settlements worldwide.
Thid has to stop. That is why PAX supports the European #StopSettlements initiative. The objective? With hundreds of thousands of votes, we are pushing for an EU law to definitively end trade with illegal settlements — including the illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
An European citizens' initiative gives European citizens the opportunity to can call on the European Commission directly to initiate legislation. But to make this happen over one milion people have to sign up.
PAX supports #StopSettlements. Will you?
The Civilian Protection Podcast: New episode!
An introduction to the Civilian Protection Podcast
Every day, 100 civilians are killed in conflict and countless more are harmed, often without recognition, recourse, or justice. Yet their perspectives are repeatedly missing from the stories we tell about war and the way we think about war’s costs.
The Civilian Protection Podcast, brought to you by CIVIC and PAX, shares the voices of people affected by war, the dangers they face, the choices they make, and what can be done to better protect them -- because we believe it’s time to put them at the center of the discussion.
On Civilian Harm
A comprehensive book on the realities of civilian harm
What negative effects of the use of force do civilians experience in conflict beyond the direct, physical impacts? And how can we reduce both immediate and long-term suffering in future missions? We address these and other questions in our book ‘On Civilian Harm.’