Our Story
Committed to Peace since 1996
What if wars and conflicts were not met with military force, but with dialogue, participation, and nonviolent action? From this idea, Pro Peace was founded in 1996—then still under the name Forum Civil Peace Service (forumZFD).
How It All Began
In the early 1990s, the wars in the disintegrating former Yugoslavia shook Europe to its core. As violence escalated, many people in Germany began searching for new ways to overcome war and violent conflict. Mere protest no longer seemed enough—they wanted to take active steps for peace. From this movement emerged a bold vision: conflicts should not be addressed with military force and weapons, but by professionally trained peace experts.
In the early 1990s, the escalating violence in the Western Balkans sparked in many people a desire to find new paths toward peace and reconciliation. Out of this commitment, forumZFD was founded—today known as Pro Peace.
Starting in 1993, actors from churches and civil society began developing a concept for professional peace work, drawing on experience in nonviolent action and conflict mediation. Before long, the initiative had a name: Civil Peace Service.
At the time, many people around us were sceptical and even dismissive, considering it entirely unrealistic that the state and civil society would join forces in such a peace policy programme. They were soon proven wrong.
In February 1996, the association “Forum Civil Peace Service" was officially founded—today known as Pro Peace. Many of the already engaged organisations and individuals joined this new initiative, united by the goal of turning the shared vision into reality.
Political Challenges—And Support
After the end of the Yugoslav wars, the goal of establishing a Civil Peace Service seemed within reach, but initially failed due to resistance from the federal government. The breakthrough came in 1997 with support from Johannes Rau, then Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia and later Federal President, who remained closely connected to the Civil Peace Service until his death. For the first time, public funding was made available for training peace experts—marking the birth of what is now the Academy for Conflict Transformation. Prominent voices from politics and culture also supported the “Berlin Declaration for a Civil Peace Service.”
At a small ceremony in Berlin, the first Civil Peace Service practitioners were officially deployed in November 1999—centre: the former Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul.
With the change of government in 1998, the path was finally cleared: the Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens anchored the Civil Peace Service in their coalition agreement—a political breakthrough. Since then, investments in civilian peace work have continued to grow, not least thanks to sustained political advocacy.
Working Worldwide
Since 1999, Pro Peace has been working in international conflict regions—initially in the Western Balkans and the Middle East, later also in Ukraine and Southeast Asia. In addition, we have been applying our expertise in conflict transformation at the local level in Germany since 2006.
Nearly 4,000 children took part in the 10th Berlin Peace Run in 2015.
In 2001, the first Peace Run took place in Aachen. Today, more than 10,000 children and young people take part each year in runs across various cities, raising donations and learning how they can stand up for peace, nonviolence, and tolerance.
A New Beginning As Pro Peace
Three decades after our founding, our mission is more relevant than ever. As wars flare up around the world and political focus shifts toward military strength and deterrence, nonviolent paths risk fading from view. Now more than ever, a renewed commitment to peace is needed—just as strong and determined as when the Civil Peace Service first became reality.
At the beginning of 2025, we therefore took an important step: forumZFD became Pro Peace. With our new name, we make a clear and unequivocal statement of our vision for a more peaceful and just world.
Because peace is not just an ideal. It is a responsibility—now more than ever.