Peace and Climate Justice Conference, Vilnius, 24–27 April 2025

Key Outcomes and Next Steps:

1. Appeal: “The World Needs Peace, Social and Climate Justice NOW!”
– Call for regular international days of action led by civil society and faith communities.
– Defense of the UN, OSCE, human rights, and ecological cooperation is more urgent than ever.

2. Support for Belarusian and Russian Refugees in Lithuania
– Immediate appeal to EU citizens and organizations to stop deportations and protect those fleeing repression.
– Specific cases of hardship shared during the conference.

3. Launch of the “Peace Corridor” Proposal
– Vision: a 100 km-wide demilitarized zone through Eastern Europe.
– A call to popular movements and faith-based groups to promote disarmament, healing, and reconciliation.
– Concrete steps proposed: nonviolence advocacy, trauma support, cross-border solidarity, and building peace infrastructure.

4. Stop the Nuclear Threat
– Powerful speech by Olga Karach (Our House), condemning deployment of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus.
– Emphasis on Belarus’ past trauma (Chernobyl) and current risk (Astravets NPP).

5. “We Will Live in Peace”
– Speech by Tord Björk highlighting the need for both peace on Earth and with Earth.
– Strong call to build solidarity-based communities against war profiteering and ecological destruction.

6. “Stop Astravets”
– Activist Roland Rittman shared experience from Sweden’s anti-nuclear movement.
– Lessons learned from stopping Barsebäck reactors applied to the Astravets threat.

7. “Use OSCE for Peace”
– Speech by Hans Hedrich, calling for a new Helsinki 2.0 process.
– Introduction of the SMILE criteria for lasting peace: Structured, Multilateral, Inclusive, Legal, and Emancipatory.

Next Steps:

  • Follow-up meetings to further develop the Peace Corridor and other proposals.
  • Advocacy campaigns for refugee protection.
  • Outreach to peace and climate networks across Europe.
  • Preparation for joint international actions marking 80 years since the end of WWII and 50 years of the Helsinki Accords in 2025.

For any suggestions, support, or collaboration – please reach out.
Let’s continue building this movement together!

With peace and solidarity,
Organizers of the Peace and Climate Justice Conference
Vilnius, 24–27 April 2025
Network for Peace and Climate Justice (Sweden)
Our House (Belarus/Lithuania)