Peace Brigades International
206-145 Spruce Street.
Ottawa, ON K1R6P1
Phone: (613) 237-6968
Fax: (613) 563-0017
Web: http://www.peacebrigades.org

About PBI:

PBI is an international NGO that has been promoting nonviolence and protecting human rights since 1981. The founders of PBI shared a profound conviction that ordinary people can take action to stop war and human rights violations even when their governments cannot or will not.

Our work is based on the principles of non-partisanship and non-interference in the internal affairs of the organisations we accompany. We believe that lasting transformation of conflicts cannot be imposed from outside, but must be based on the capacity and desires of local people. Therefore we do not take part in the work of the organisations we accompany. Rather our role is to open political space and provide moral support for local activists to carry out their work without fear of repression.

Our non-partisanship means that we are free of the constraints faced by the UN and governments. This enables us to build relationships of trust with the organisations we accompany. Our unique access to information and our objectivity increases our credibility with all parties to the conflict and gives us access to authorities nationally and internationally. This strengthens our ability to argue the case for international support for human rights defenders under threat.