The Global Peace Movement (GPM) is an international civic initiative dedicated to preventing conflict, protecting human dignity, and building resilient communities through non-violent, rights-based approaches. Founded as a movement on 20 December 2022, GPM brings together civil society, youth, faith and traditional leaders, mediators, policy-makers and everyday citizens to create practical, community-level solutions that scale to national and global impact.
The movement’s visible leader and founding Global Convener is John Terence Ononuju of Nigeria, who initiated the Movement on 20 December 2022 to promote a sustained, people-centered path to peacebuilding and human rights preservation.
Founding & History
Founding date: 20 December 2022.
Founder / Global Convener: John Terence Ononuju (Nigeria).
Why it started: GPM was established to respond to recurring local, national and cross-border tensions by strengthening grassroots capacities for mediation, promoting civic dialogue, and pushing for policies that protect human rights while reducing drivers of violence such as poverty, exclusion, and misinformation.
Early focus areas: community reconciliation, electoral peace, youth engagement, women’s leadership in peace processes, education for peace, and rapid response to localized flare-ups.
About the Global Convener — John Terence Ononuju
John Terence Ononuju (Nigeria) is the Global Convener of GPM and the individual who initiated the movement on 20 December 2022. As Global Convener he provides strategic leadership, public representation, and programmatic direction for the Movement. His role centers on convening stakeholders, developing program frameworks, and championing inclusive policies that translate grassroots peacebuilding into national and international impact.
(Note: the movement description above references John Terence Ononuju as the founding Global Convener and originator of GPM on 20 December 2022.)
Mission, Vision & Values
Mission:
To
prevent and resolve conflict by empowering local actors, nurturing
inclusive dialogue, and promoting policies that safeguard human rights
and social justice.
Vision:
A world where
communities resolve disputes non-violently, where vulnerable voices are
protected and heard, and where peace is sustained through inclusion,
accountability and development.
Core values:
Non-violence and human dignity
Inclusion (gender, youth, marginalized groups)
Transparency and accountability
Local ownership and subsidiarity
Evidence-based and results-oriented action
Strategic Objectives
Strengthen community capacities for mediation, early warning and conflict de-escalation.
Promote civic education and peaceful democratic participation, especially around elections.
Elevate marginalized voices, particularly women and young leaders, in peace processes.
Advocate for human rights-friendly policies at national and international levels.
Facilitate cross-sector partnerships (civil society, governments, faith groups, private sector) for sustainable peace investments.
Measure impact through monitoring and learning systems to scale proven practices.
Signature Programs & Initiatives
Community Peace Hubs: Local centers that train mediators, run conflict clinics, and host dialogues.
Youth Peace Corps: Youth-led teams trained in non-violent organizing, digital literacy, and early warning.
Electoral Peacewatch: Non-partisan local observation, rapid response to election-related tensions, and civic education campaigns.
Women in Peace Leadership: Mentorship, capacity building and advocacy to increase women’s meaningful participation in peace processes.
Policy & Advocacy: Research papers, briefings, and campaigns pushing for laws and budgets that reduce drivers of conflict.
Rapid Response Mediation Teams: Small, trained teams that deploy to mediate local disputes before they escalate.
Structure & Governance
GPM is organized as a movement rather than a traditional hierarchical NGO, with a mixture of:
Global Convener / Steering Council — provides strategic direction.
Regional Coordinators — adapt programs to local contexts.
Local Chapters & Peace Hubs — implement activities on the ground.
Advisory Panels — experts in human rights, mediation, education and policy provide technical guidance.
The movement prioritizes local leadership and transparency in decision-making, with clear reporting and accountability practices.
Partnerships & Collaboration
GPM works with:
Community and faith leaders
Local and national civil society organizations
Academic and research institutions (for monitoring and learning)
International agencies and donors for technical and financial support
Media partners to amplify peace messaging
Collaborations are framed around mutual goals: conflict prevention, resilience building, and rights protection.
Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL)
GPM uses a results-oriented MEL approach: collecting baseline data, tracking indicators (e.g., reduction in violent incidents, number of mediations, women/youth participation rates), learning from pilots, and scaling successful interventions. MEL is used both for accountability to communities and for continuous program improvement.
How to Get Involved
Join or start a local chapter: community leaders can set up a Peace Hub following GPM guidelines.
Volunteer: mediators, educators, researchers and communications volunteers are often needed.
Partner: NGOs, schools, faith groups and private sector entities can collaborate on programs.
Donate: financial and in-kind support helps sustain trainings, hubs and rapid response teams.
Advocate: share GPM’s messages, participate in public dialogues, and push for policy reforms.
Communication & Brand Suggestions
Tagline examples: “People-Powered Peace” / “Build Peace. Protect Rights.”
Visual identity: dignified colors (deep blue, gold accents), simple logo combining a globe and olive branch or interlocked hands; prioritize accessible, readable typography.
Messaging tone: inclusive, action-oriented, evidence-based, and culturally sensitive.
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