The 1935 Peace Ballot in Wales

By Rob Laker, History Masters Researcher, Swansea University (student placement with WCIA’s ‘Peace Heritage’ programme).

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The 1935 Peace Ballot was a UK wide poll of Britain’s electorate designed to measure the public’s opinions regarding the key debates in international relations at the time. Despite lacking government sponsorship, the Ballot received extraordinary attention across the United Kingdom – nowhere was engagement higher, however, than in Wales, which quickly came to be recognised as a leading light in the cause of internationalism.

“1,025,040 people in Wales voted in the Peace Ballot of 1935… 62.3% of eligible registered voters”

Between the wars, a new form of outward-looking patriotism had become an important part of Welsh national identity, as ordinary people worked actively to create a Wales which existed at the centre of the international community. Local branches of the Welsh League of Nations Union were active in every corner of Wales, running cultural events such as ‘Daffodil Days’ – the since forgotten annual custom of selling daffodils in aid of the League – and coordinating networks of local activists. This pride in their nation’s role in the quest for international harmony manifested itself in Welsh responses to the Peace Ballot, producing an overwhelming endorsement for the cause of internationalism.

The UK Ballot

By the end of 1933 it seemed that the international order was unravelling: the World Disarmament Conference had failed to produce results, Germany had withdrawn from the League of Nations, and the organisation had proved itself unable to resolve the Manchuria Crisis.

Internationalists in Britain, however, were anxious that the government remain committed to the League, and so the League of Nations Union set about organising the Peace Ballot in order to demonstrate the British people’s unwavering commitment to internationalism. Between the end of 1934 and the middle of 1935, half a million volunteers canvassed door to door, collecting ‘yes’ or ‘no’ responses on five key questions:

1)    Should Great Britain remain a member of the League of Nations?

2)    Are you in favour of all-round reduction of armaments by international agreement?

3)    Are you in favour of an all-round abolition of national military and naval aircraft by international agreement?

4)    Should the manufacture and sale of armaments for private profit be prohibited by international agreement?

5)     Do you consider that, if a nation insists on attacking another, the other nations should combine to compel it to stop –

       a) by economic and non-military measures?

       b) if necessary, military measures?

Credit – Northern Friends’ Peace Board, c/o Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) 

Despite being independently conducted, the Ballot – which received 11.6 million responses nationwide – has been described as Britain’s first referendum, and was highly effective in stimulating engagement with the key issues dominating international politics. The poll did not disappoint its organisers, for the result was an emphatic endorsement of internationalist policies from the British public.

  • An astonishing ninety-seven percent of voters felt that Britain should remain in the League
  • while ninety-four percent believed that it should outlaw the arms trade
Read more

WLNU Postbox in the Temple of Peace today.

The Welsh Case

In Wales, the organisation of the Ballot fell solely on the shoulders of the Welsh League of Nations Union (WLNU), a challenge which it took up with great enthusiasm. Vast reserves of internationalist sentiment, which permeated every corner of Welsh society, were an important part of interwar society. To believe in Wales was, in this period of salient hope, to actively pursue the cause of peace, thereby locating the Welsh as a ‘force for good’ at the crux of global anxieties.

Google Map of Communities who organised Daffodil Days between 1925-39, collated by Rob Laker for his feature article on Daffodil Days of the WLNU . Zoom, or click on pins, to find individual communities. Further info on local activism can be gleaned from Welsh League of Nations Union reports (digitised by WCIA on People’s Collection Wales).

Lord David Davies of Llandinam  (painted by Sam Morse Brown:  National Museum of Wales collections)  

As a result, Lord David Davies (who co-founded the Welsh League of Nations Union with Rev Gwilym Davies) was determined that Wales should produce a spectacular result in the Ballot which he viewed as the very ‘essence of democracy’.

Drawing upon a committed network of volunteers across Wales, supplemented by an army of canvassers (paid at the personal expense of Lord Davies), WLNU representatives went door to door in nearly every Welsh town and village collecting responses.

The responses proved to be an affirmation of Wales’ internationalist credentials, as over one million adults voted in the Ballot – which at the time, represented 62.3 percent of the Welsh electorate (24 percent higher than the average across Britain as a whole).

As of 6th June 1935, the top twelve constituencies in Great Britain with the highest percentage turnout were all in Wales, in some of which over eighty percent of the total electorate responded to the ballot (RH).

In a few cases, turnout was particularly spectacular. In Llanerfyl (Montgomeryshire), for instance, all 304 of its adult inhabitants responded to the poll, likely a testament to the zeal of local activists.

Turnout was in fact much higher in villages than in large towns across the board, and despite hosting the headquarters of the Welsh League of Nations Union, Cardiff produced some of the lowest turnouts of the poll.

We can interpret this as evidence that the success of the Ballot in Wales rested not just in the League’s popularity, but in the strength of Welsh community activism. It is highly likely that organisers in villages such as Llanerfyl (Montgomery) and Nantlle (Gwynedd) were able to achieve a 100 percent response rate because they operated in a tight-knit community, allowing them to rally support face-to-face, one neighbour at a time, in a way which proved more difficult in larger cities.

It is worth noting, however, that despite the strategy of going door-to-door in their local communities, activists were still able to obtain phenomenal results from many larger towns. In Port Talbot, for example, 82.8 percent of the town’s 27,000 adults voted.

Viewed in this light, the results of the Ballot are a testament to the strength and scale of the local networks upon which the Welsh League of Nations relied upon for support.

The way in which Welsh people voted also reflects the strength of their commitment to internationalism. In fact, just 1.7 percent of voters in Wales wanted to leave the League – around half the national average – while Welsh voters were consistently more often in favour of disarmament.

Wales had proved itself a ‘special case’. As historians such as Helen McCarthy have noted, the League of Nations Union was the largest ‘League themed’ society of any in Europe and easily enjoyed the most popular support. It is not unreasonable then, in light of the disparity between Wales and the rest of Britain in Ballot responses, to conclude that…

“in 1935 the Welsh ‘were the most ardently internationalist nation in Europe’.”

Digitised Wales Peace Ballot Records

This collection draws together leaflets, voting forms, campaigner bulletins, articles and analysis by the Welsh League of Nations Union for the 1935 Peace Ballot - a national canvass of public opinion on Peace in the context of the then-escalating European Arms Race. Although the Peace Ballot was an initiative by the UK League of Nations Union, Wales set out explicitly to 'lead the way' and 'top the polls,' to demonstrate the strength of feeling in favour of peace, 16 years after the end of WW1.

The bulletins gave a detailed breakdown of progress on the Ballot, returns from each county of Wales (with comparisons to England), and analysis / encouragement from key figures in Wales' Peace movements. The bulletins carried motivational 'Opinion Pieces' from leaders of Wales Peace movements, such as Gwilym Davies and David Davies; and in depth analysis of the returns received from constituencies all over Wales

Later bulletins and introduction of 'YMLAEN / ONWARD' newsletter, explore implications of the results for Wales' peace building movements, and impact upon domestic and international political affairs - in particular, the meeting of the 1936 League of Nations in Geneva, which was regarded as a failure on the part of national governments. A poster graphic illustrates the UK-wide results, and Wales' leading place within the polls - with 5 of the top 10 constituency returns being Anglesey, Aberdare, Swansea East, Rhondda West and Merthyr Tydfil.
1935 Peace Ballot – Briefing for Households 1935 Peace Ballot – Canvassers’ Briefing ‘Peace Calls for Plain Answers to Simple Questions’ – 1935 Media Article Bulletin 2, Jan 22 1935 Bulletin 3, Feb 6 1935
Bulletin 4, Mar 9 1935 Bulletin 5, Apr 9 1935 Bulletin 6, June 7 1935 Bulletin 7, Oct 1935: ONWARD YMLAEN / ONWARD Bulletin, May 1936

Outcomes for Britain

The will of the people was unequivocal – Wales and Britain wanted to remain in international circles – what this meant, however, remained open to interpretation.

The organisers of the Ballot presented the result to the prime minister and his cabinet, but it quickly became clear that, due to the binary nature of responses, that the format of the Ballot was a poor vehicle for dictating policy.

‘Remain may have meant remain’, and ‘disarm may have meant disarm’… but the Ballot gave no sense of the scale or manner of which these aims should be pursued.

This left little room for nuance, and instead general opinion was measured without details of its practical implementation. The failure of Ballot organisers to frame the poll’s questions within the myriad complexities of Britain’s international position, made integration of the Ballot’s result into policy making both confusing and impractical – and so the consequences of the Ballot in Britain’s foreign policy are hard to identify.

The Ballot may have failed to significantly influence policy, but the strength of the poll lay in its ability to measure popular opinion. It demonstrated that an overwhelming majority of the population supported Britain’s active involvement in the League of Nations, even if there was no uniform vision of what that involvement should look like.

Across Britain, League of Nations Union branches enjoyed a surge in membership and enthusiasm for the League which, despite the Abyssinia Crisis and the aggression of Hitler, was maintained right up until the outbreak of the Second World War.

UK wide returns against the 5 questions posed by the Peace Ballot.

 

Outcomes for Wales

WLNU Organiser Rev Gwilym Davies

The Welsh League of Nations Union had a very clear idea of what the result should mean for Wales. For Gwilym Davies (Organiser of the WLNU) the result of the Ballot was ‘the vindication of the democratic right of a free people’ and a demonstration of the ‘notable achievements’ of Wales in the cause for world peace.

In a bulletin on the subject of ‘facing the future’, Davies called for the ‘Welsh million’ to be converted into one hundred thousand new members across Wales. While this roughly eight-fold increase failed to materialise itself,

the WLoNU organisation more than doubled in size, reaching 27,545 paid members by 1937 – the highest at any point in the interwar period.

For Wales, Gwilym Davies published a Constituency by Constituency Analysis of the 1935 Peace Ballot voting returns – which can be viewed on People’s Collection Wales at: www.peoplescollection.wales/items/1247091

Clearly then, far from being a fleeting spike of interest, the Peace Ballot was the source of revitalisation of Wales’ identity as an international nation.

Furthermore, the setbacks suffered by the League of Nations in the mid and late 1930s – instead of leading to disenchantment – only made people in Wales more determined that the principles they had committed to in the Peace Ballot should be upheld. This wave of enthusiasm for peace through internationalism was carried right through to the outbreak of war in 1939 and beyond, later providing the support structures and the much of the personnel for the creation of the United Nations.

One such example is Gwilym Davies himself, Director and co-founder of the WLNU, who not only became president of the Welsh National Council of the United Nations Association, but is considered to be a key architect in the creation of world education & scientific body UNESCO.

Temple of Peace: Headquarters befitting a ‘Booming’ Movement

One of the most striking and longstanding results of the Peace Ballot in Wales is the Temple of Peace and Health, which was opened in Cardiff in 1938.

Envisioned by Lord Davies as ‘a memorial to those gallant men from all nations who gave their lives in the war that was to end war’, construction of the building was started in 1937 at a time when the organisation was rapidly expanding.

'A New Mecca'

Account from the Opening Ceremony, ‘A New Mecca’, from the Temple of Peace Archives

It was felt that, in light of the precarious international situation, it was more important than ever for Welsh internationalism to have a headquarters which suitably reflected its growing influence. Thus rose the Temple – a bastion of peace, intended to make good the sacrifice of those who fell in the ‘war that was to end war’.

Today the Temple of Peace still stands – an enduring legacy of the Ballot’s success. The organisations it now houses continue to work in the spirit of the Ballot’s organisers, inheriting the desire that Wales should be at the centre of the international community.

The WCIA – Welsh Centre for International Affairs, founded in 1973, is the modern iteration (the ‘grand daughter’, via UNA Wales) of the Welsh League of Nations Union. WCIA continue the work and vision of WLNU, and the million Welsh people who voted in the 1935 Peace Ballot, to build a better, more peaceful world.

WCIA, like their predecessors, believe that Wales is a nation which can create real and lasting change in the wider world. It is for this proud tradition – driven by the dedication and commitment of local people across Wales – that the galvanising effects of the Peace Ballot should be remembered today.

Blog article and research by WCIA Research Intern Rob Laker, on placement with Wales for Peace from Swansea University History Dept over Summer 2019 with ongoing research through 2020. Drawing on materials from the National Library of Wales and Temple of Peace Archives; and Annual Reports of the Welsh League of Nations Union 1922-45 on People’s Collection Wales, digitised by WCIA (with support of Swansea doctoral student Stuart Booker) for open access research. Final edit by Craig Owen, Wales for Peace.

Rob Laker, WCIA Archives Intern



Global Perspectives on COVID Pandemic: Solidarity, Community and Cooperation

Published on 25th March, in a fast changing international situation.

As the COVID Pandemic of 2020 has reached ‘lockdown’ for the UK and many other nations, the need for our communities – and community of nations – to work together has never been greater. Wales and the World are inextricably linked through global health: pandemics know no borders – and information is international. In an age of social media we are intertwined, and interdependent; we are Humankind.
Kindness, compassion and clarity will help us to face this world crisis, and support the most vulnerable, through cooperation and humanity – from the local to the global. Over coming weeks, WCIA will be sharing (via WCIA’s website, Twitter and Facebook feeds) ‘stories of solidarity’, links to reliable information / updates, and examples of inspiring civil society, individuals and community leadership from around the world.

View WCIA’s ‘Global Perspectives’ Blogs

 

Wales amidst a Global Health Crisis

Wales and Welsh communities must do all we can within a crisis of global proportions – and requiring global solutions. Summarised below are quick links to key sources of information and updates from around the world; ways that people can take action in local to global solidarity; learning from our heritage; and stories of solidarity from individuals around the world.

Quick References and Information Sources

UK & Welsh Government, NHS and Voluntary Sector

Global Health Bodies & Cooperation

Reference Resources and Useful Articles

temple of peaceWCIA and the Temple of Peace & Health

As with all venues and workplaces, the Temple of Peace is closed throughout the shutdown period and WCIA staff have been working from home since Monday 16th March (though as with many in this challenging time, our capacity is limited).

  • Venue bookings, and all WCIA events, have been postponed until the COVID situation becomes safer.
  • WCIA are sharing Stories of Solidarity (see below) from around the world; and useful resources (such as home learning and means to take action) via WCIA’s Twitter and Facebook social media feeds.
  • WCIA are supporting international volunteers on placements through UNA Exchange to self-isolate if in UK, and to find passages to their home countries where possible / appropriate.
  • Hub Cymru Africa and the Wales Africa Health Links Network are offering guidance to local linking organisations and charities supporting or whose work is affected by COVID.

Internationalism in Action: Taking a Global Stand

How are internationally-minded individuals in Wales able to contribute to understanding and combating the COVID crisis in any way… on top of looking after themselves and their loved ones in a lockdown? WCIA will be gathering and sharing actions and ideas of people Wales and world-wide via our social media channels, and here:

Community Action

Gemma from Hong Kong shares her experiences of COVID in WCIA’s Global Perspectives blog.

Global Learning

Global Action

Global Partnerships

Global Perspectives: Stories of Solidarity

Campaigner Glenda Fryer with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, whose leadership has been praised worldwide, shared her feelings as Kiwis entered a month long lock-down.

At the WCIA, we understand that the outbreak of COVID-19 is difficult for so many people across the world. In uncertain times like these, it is heartwarming to see communities uniting in solidarity, and even song in some cases. We are reaching out to people worldwide to share global perspectives on COVID-19, recognising the global nature of the issue, and some of the similarities and differences of experiences in different countries. We want to identify and share the positive stories emerging from the situation as a source of inspiration for people in these challenging times.

Personal ‘Stories of Solidarity’ from across the world, mapped.

Learning from the Past: Heritage of Cooperation

Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire – Canadian War Graves from 1918-19 Spanish Flu Epidemic (Geograph)

Not since the ‘Spanish Flu’ pandemic of 1918-1920, has the world experienced something of the scale the world is facing today in COVID19. Affecting as many lives globally as World War 1 itself, “Spanish flu” (so called, ironically, as Spain was the only WW1 nation that allowed uncensored reporting on it to save lives), ended up infecting 500 million – of whom 17-100 million died, making it the world’s worst epidemic since the ‘Black Death’ Plague of 1331-1353. In Wales, between 8,700 and 11,400 people are thought to have died.

Alongside Tuberculosis, the combined impact of World War One and Spanish Flu inspired the creation of Wales’ Temple of Peace and Health – home to WCIA today, and opened in 1938 as a beacon for the nation’s efforts to end the scourge of tuberculosis, and secure sustainable peace through global cooperation – initally through the work of the WNMA (Wales National Memorial Association for Eradication of Tuberculosis) and WLNU (Welsh League of Nations Union).

After World War 2, these movements evolved to support creation of the NHS (National Health Service) and the United Nations – two of humanity’s greatest achievements in facilitating cooperation for the common good. In the words of the Temple’s founder, David Davies:

“A ‘Temple of Peace’ is not of bricks and mortar: It is the spirit of man. It is the compact between every man, woman and child, to build a better world.”  

Has a generation taken our grandparents’ inheritance for granted? Over recent decades, support for and resourcing of these ‘institutions of humankind’ has fallen, health services and social care have suffered strident Austerity cuts, and many nations – the UK and US in particular – have turned inwards and away from the very bodies that enable international cooperation in times of crisis.

The COVID Pandemic will seriously test – and potentially reverse – many of these policy approaches. Working in global cooperation and solidarity with others, we will owe it to a generation who lose their lives, to come through this crisis to build a better world.

 

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford addresses the nation on 23 March.  



Global Climate Justice Cymru – Nov 2025 Week of Action for COP30, and Manifesto for 2026 Elections

View Climate Cymru November Actions brief

As Wales prepares for the 2026 Senedd elections, Global Climate Justice Cymru calls for policies that root climate action in fairness, solidarity, and justice, both here in Wales and globally. This week, we have seen the unstoppable power of global movements around the world…

  • We told the Welsh government to #ActNowChangeForever at our mass lobby at the Senedd.
  • Today, we #DrawTheLine against destruction, against inaction, and for a just, liveable future.
  • In London, thousands of people are taking to the streets to say #MakeThemPay and demand that the super-rich and polluters foot the bill instead of workers and communities.

All of this is taking place during the Week of Action for Peace and Climate Justice, which highlights the deep connections between war, militarism, social injustice and climate breakdown. This is our moment to draw the line – and take back our future from those who profit by destroying it.

More

2026 Senedd Elections Manifesto

Wales has a proud record of global leadership, from Fair Trade Nation to the Well-being of Future Generations Act. As the climate crisis deepens, we must lead again, with justice and global solidarity at the centre.

Global Climate Justice Cymru is a coalition of organisations from across Wales accelerating collective action for global climate justice with WCIA being a proud member. Our 2026 Senedd manifesto briefing sets out practical steps for the next Welsh Government to keep global responsibility close to its heart: a fast and fair transition, ethical public investment and procurement, real global solidarity and finance for loss & damage, and education that embeds global citizenship and climate justice.

Read the briefing

https://climate.cymru/global-climate-justice-group/

COP30: Community Actions for Global Climate Justice 

This November, as world leaders gather for the UN COP30 climate summit, communities across Wales are taking action. 

Global Climate Justice Cymru is a coalition of organisations across Wales committed to climate justice rooted in international solidarity. We work to ensure that Wales plays its part — not only in cutting emissions at home, but in standing with communities worldwide who are already living with the impacts of climate breakdown.

On 15 November, we join movements across the world for the Global Day of Action for Climate Justice, united under the message: This world is ours — and it is not for sale. From Wales to Brazil, from the Valleys to the Amazon, ordinary people are resisting extraction, exploitation, and inequality, and lighting the way towards climate and social justice.

Cymru Cares — Justice for All is our shared call. We stand in solidarity with communities across the globe. 

Explore our upcoming events and get involved:

Global Day of Action for Climate Justice — 15 November

Take local action in your community

Whether you’re a school, youth group, faith group or community hub — you’re invited to host a simple lantern-making session and walk together with your lanterns or display them in windows, halls or local spaces on Saturday 15 November 2025 as part of the Global Day of Action. Alongside the lanterns, we will deliver a shared letter to our political representatives calling for fairness, care and courage in response to the climate crisis.

Download the Step-by-Step Booklet for Community Groups in Wales

Questions? Contact Michi — michaela@climate.cymru

Senedd Gathering for Climate Justice – 19 November

Tuesday 19 November | 12–1pm
Senedd Steps, Cardiff Bay

During COP30, we’re gathering at the steps in front of the Senedd for a visible moment of solidarity — calling on Members of the Senedd to back real climate justice.

Day of Climate & Migrant Justice — Film Screening, 23 November

Sunday 23 November | 3–5pm
Temple of Peace, Cardiff

Hosted with the WCIA Global Learning Team, this special event is part of the UK-wide Our Shared Futures – Climate & Migration Film Festival.

We’ll watch a powerful film exploring lived experiences of climate displacement, followed by a welcoming conversation on resilience, solidarity and action.

More Info and Tickets



Welsh Young People’s Competition for Global Education Week, 17-24 Nov 2025

Global Education Week 2025

You are warmly invited to join WCIA in celebrating Global Education Week 2025. Global Education week is an opportunity for all the countries of Europe to come together to learn about the world and take coordinated action to help make it a better place.

For 2025, our focus and theme is on shaping a just, peaceful and sustainable future. We want to encourage young people to look forward in hope and agree a clear idea of what the world needs to do next.  

This November, WCIA is launching a competition for young people. We would like children aged between 4-25 to give us their ideas about what this year’s theme means to them. Their entries can use any creative medium that can be sent to us including music, artwork, creative writing or drama.  

Since the theme is pretty broad, we’re including a few ideas to get you started. Young people are absolutely free to do what they want and these guidelines are here to help you get started: 

Justice  (short story) “The day the world became fair” (collage) Fairness in action (Protest songs) write own protest songs based on justice for all  
Peace  (Haiku or poem) What peace means to me (Exploring images of peace) Creating your own image of peace Peace song’ – write a song describing a peaceful world and how we would get there   
Sustainability  (speech) What we should do to make the world more sustainable? (drawing/painting landscapes) What part of the world do we want to protect? (soundscapes) Create soundscapes with hands/feet/ everyday objects based on nature 
Hope  (Non fiction – report)  If hope was an animal, what would it look like? Why? (mythology) Pandora’s Box  (sculpture) make a sculpture of hope (songwriting) Imagine someone you care wants to give up. Create a song to inspire them to keep going 
The Future  (Short story) Imagine you went in a time machine to a future where things were better. What does it look like? (Still life) Look at an object now (a car, a house, a shop) and redesign what you think it will look like in 50 years time.  (Making sounds) Look at old instruments and design new ones to play in the future. 

We will pick a winning entry for art, music and creative writing and the winning entries will be awarded a £10 book voucher, plus displayed proudly on our website and social media. Any entries will also receive a named certificate for being a fantastic global citizen.  

Please send completed entries to Sionedcox@wcia.org.uk or Amberdemetrius@wcia.org.uk, or you can use these email addresses to get in touch with any questions.  

 We are really excited to hear what you come up with! 

 All the best, the WCIA team 



Wales for Peace in Gaza: Ceasefire a fragile moment for Hope

Original October 2023 Feature ‘Wales for Peace in Israel & Palestine’
DEC Appeal Update Oct 2025 – click to view clip. Credit – DEC Cymru

October 2025 – Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Appeal

The ceasefire agreement in Gaza provides desperately needed hope and relief for so many people whose lives have been devastated by conflict. DEC charities and their local partners are scaling up their work in Gaza again after months of extraordinary challenges delivering aid. The DEC Middle East Humanitarian Appeal has raised over £3 million here in Wales and over £50 million at UK level since it launched in October 2024.

The DEC is now renewing its appeal for donations to help meet the overwhelming needs in Gaza following the ceasefire agreement. As people look towards an uncertain future, your support can be a lifeline. Please donate now. donation.dec.org.uk/middle-east-appeal

DEC Cymru brings together the Welsh Centre for International Affairs with Oxfam Cymru, Cymorth Christnogol / Christian Aid, CAFOD, Save the Children and British Red Cross in Wales.

Welsh Government Response

On 15 October, Welsh Government donated (a third amount of) £250,000 to the DEC Appeal, bringing its donation total to £450,000 to date – and confirms that the first children from Gaza have arrived in Wales for medical and emotional support as part of a UK-wide effort.

The First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip MS issued a written statement entitled “Supporting Gaza”

“This week, like millions around the world, we have welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, and the return of the remaining Israeli hostages held. We now hope this will become a lasting peace settlement and there will be no return to the cycle of violence which has plagued the lives of Palestinians and Israelis. There is now a renewed opportunity for aid agencies and their partners to get urgently needed food, shelter, water and medical care into the Gaza strip. For this reason, the Welsh Government will be providing a further donation of £250,000 to the DEC Middle East Humanitarian Appeal to support the aid effort.”

Welsh Government statement

‘Red Line for Peace’ at the Senedd, Summer 2025

Welsh Civil Society Advocacy and Campaigning on Gaza

However, whilst Welsh civil society and community groups have welcomed both the fragile ceasefire and the Welsh Government’s humanitarian contribution, groups continue to express concerns over supplying arms, and holding governments – in the UK, Middle East and globally – to account for their responsibilities to both the Palestinian and Israeli people.

Global Advocacy Perspectives – Autumn 2025

June 2025 – Welsh Government & Civil Society Urge Calls for Ceasefire

In May 2025, First Minister for Wales Eluned Morgan spoke out against the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with Welsh Government releasing an official statement on the humanitarian blockade in Gaza. Oxfam Cymru have critiqued the statement as “well-meaning, but… In the face of imminent famine and where humanitarian protections are systematically violated… devastatingly short of what is needed: polite appeal where moral outrage is called for.”

The First Minister stated:

“I continue to watch in horror at the situation unfolding in Gaza, and I know many of you feel the same way. The devastating images we see – families sleeping in rubble, children starving and crying out for food and water, hospitals on the verge of collapse – aren’t just snapshots of a distant crisis, they’re the daily, brutal reality for people living through unthinkable suffering, with no end in sight.

Let’s be straightforward – what’s happening is an atrocity, and it needs to end. I encourage leaders across the world to put real pressure on the Israeli government to stop the suffering of innocent Palestinians. This isn’t about politics – it’s about basic humanity.”

Responding to the First Minister’s statement, Oxfam Cymru said:

“If we do not speak, the silence will bury the truth. The people of Gaza are not dying because of crop failure, or logistics. They are being starved – deliberately – through a military blockade that contravenes international humanitarian law. Water sources have been bombed. Food convoys have been denied entry. Humanitarian workers have been killed in record numbers. This is an overt attack on the basic human rights of Palestinians in Gaza. It is not a tragedy it is a crime.”

WCIA support Oxfam and civil society organisations Wales-wide in calling for tougher action for Welsh Government to:

  • Publicly demand the immediate, unconditional reinstatement of humanitarian aid access to Gaza.
  • Advocate to UK counterparts for the suspension of arms sales and export licences to Israel, in line with the UK’s legal obligations under international humanitarian law.
  • Ensure Welsh public resources and government operations are not complicit in this crisis.

“You must do everything in your power to push for a permanent ceasefire, to allow humanitarian aid for people facing intolerable suffering. The siege of Gaza must be stopped, and water, food and fuel allowed in. We ask you to work to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza” Oxfam Ceasefire Petition

The Welsh Government have contributed £100,000 towards the DEC (Disasters Emergency Committee) Middle East Humanitarian Appeal in October 2024, and a further £100,000 in January 2025.

Welsh Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and community groups have been very active in pressing Senedd Members for action on Israel and Gaza through the Senedd over 2023-25, bolstered by firm advocacy from Wales’ Future Generations Commissioner calling for Peace in Palestine.

“[Wales’] voice on the global stage should not only celebrate achievements but also confront injustices. I urge the Welsh Government to reaffirm its leadership in global responsibility and peacebuilding, advocating for immediate and impactful actions to address this pressing issue.“

Quakers have become the first British church to state their belief that the Israeli government is committing genocide in Gaza, following their annual gathering over 27 May. “Radical peacemaking requires us to engage with and to acknowledge truth in all its discomfort, complexity and cruelty. Quakers historically have spoken truth to power. We believe that genocide and mass displacement are underway in the actions of the Israeli government and its military towards the population of Gaza.”  

In a formal statement, the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS) has characterised the situation in Gaza as a “genocide in real time”. The organisation cites mass starvation, targeted bombings of civilian areas, and the forced displacement of over 1.5 million people as evidence of a “systematic, targeted destruction of a people”.

A joint statement on Palestine was issued on 16 May by the governments of Ireland, Iceland, Malta and Luxembourg; and on 19 May, the UK Government alongside France and Canada issued a joint statement on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank:

“We call on the Israeli Government to stop its military operations in Gaza and immediately allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.”

On 20 May the UK Government FCDO issued a release stating that sanctions are hitting West Bank Violence Networks.

On 31st May, Israeli authorities arrested Irish citizen D. Murphy aged 70, currently living in Swansea, from Khalet Al-Daba’a, in Masafer Yatta, located in the southern part of the occupied West Bank. D had been volunteering with the International Solidarity Movement at the time of her arrest, as a witness to events taking place in the West Bank.

On 10 June, the UK Government joined Canada, Australia, New Zealand & Norway to formally sanction far-right Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, for “incitement of violence” against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza. Both will be banned from entering the UK and will have any assets in the UK frozen.

United Nations Responses

The United Nations Relief Chief has called on the UN Security Council to act decisively to prevent genocide in Gaza:

“Every single one of the 2.1 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip face the risk of famine. One in five face starvation – despite the fact that UN donors have funded the food that could save them. The few hospitals that have somehow survived bombardment are overwhelmed. The medics who have somehow survived drone and sniper attacks cannot keep up with the trauma and the spread of disease.”

The UN publishes daily updated Situation Reports @ The UN and the crisis in the Middle East: What you need to know

UN Human Rights Chief, Volker Turk, condemned Israeli strikes that continue to kill civilians and the ongoing blockade of essential aid, which has now entered its 10th week. “Any use of starvation of the civilian population as a method of war constitutes a war crime, and so do all forms of collective punishment.”

University of Bristol has published on the international legal implications of supporting Israel, in light of the ICJ’s (International Court of Justice) provisional measures and advisory opinion (view ICJ Convention on Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel).

Taking Action – What can I do?



Hibakusha Portrait Exhibition comes to Cardiff: A Powerful Call to Peace

Visit the Exhibition

Cardiff, UK – 23rd October 2025 – 80,000 Voices is proud to announce a landmark exhibition of lenticular portraits of hibakusha, the survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, hosted at the Norwegian Church Arts Centre from October 24th to November 30th, 2025. This moving exhibition, first shown at the United Nations in New York in 2023 and Tokyo last year, titled “Portraits of the Hibakusha – 80 Years Remembered,” marks the 80th anniversary of the bombings and coincides with the UN’s Disarmament Week (October 24th – 30th).

The exhibition will feature fourteen powerful three-dimensional portraits, each paired with a heartfelt message of peace from the survivor, translated into English, Welsh, and Japanese.

Portraits Of The Hibakusha Exhibition launch @ Norwegian Church
Click LH / RH to view Flickr Album – images credit: Craig Owen/WCIA, event by 80,000 Voices

Featured individuals are members of Nihon Hidankyo, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning organisation that advocates for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

“This exhibition is a testament to the enduring resilience of the human spirit and a powerful call for peace,” says Gina Langton, Creative Director and CEO of 80,000 Voices. “Each portrait tells a unique story, a narrative of survival and hope that transcends time and borders, allowing the hibakusha to leave a lasting human record of national and global significance that can be exhibited for future generations.”

The “Portraits of the Hibakusha – 80 Years Remembered” exhibition aims to promote international educational engagement on nuclear disarmament, particularly as the number of Japanese hibakusha dwindles and their messages risk being lost. The need for the hibakusha’s messages to be heard is increasingly pertinent in today’s political climate, as the global commitment to peace is put under growing pressure and the grip on nuclear warfare tightens.

Accompanying the exhibition will be a program of talks, workshops, and educational outreach throughout the five weeks, with participation from peace groups and volunteers.

The Norwegian Church Arts Centre will also provide volunteers and leverage its social media contacts and partnerships with schools and universities for publicity.

Exhibition Highlights:

  • Context: This exhibition is timely due to the ongoing Wales & Japan cultural exchange and Nihon Hidankyo’s recent recognition with the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize.
    It further showcases the Japanese organisation’s incredible work and honours their prestigious award, marking the first time it has been publicly displayed in the UK. The complete collection of 52 portraits has recently been shown in Nagasaki to great acclaim, with 10,000 visitors in 5 days who have left moving reviews. It will also be touring Fukuoka and Hiroshima simultaneously with the Cardiff exhibition.
  • Striking Images: The exhibition features holographic photographs produced by 80,000 Voices creative director Gina Langton and photographed by renowned artist photographer Patrick Boyd, using specialised equipment and technology to create 3D lenticular images.

Quotes

  • Hibakusha’s Message: Sadae Kasaoka, photographed in Hiroshima, states:
    “When I was 12 years old, I lost both my parents in front of my eyes. was completely lost. I want you to know about the world’s first atomic bombing, the turning of Hiroshima into a burnt plain, the realities of life for the hibakusha and the aftereffects of radiation”
    Visitor Review (Tokyo): “This exhibit astounded me. As someone who spent almost five years in Japan in the 1980s, I was very familiar with the hibakusha and the impact of the nuclear war on the country. The beautiful presentation of the hibakusha and their words was a collective wake-up call to remind us of the horrors of war and the devastating power of nuclear weapons. This show needs to be seen by as many people as possible around the world.” – Visitor from Berlin, Germany.
    Expert Insight: Dr Rebecca Johnson, Executive Director of Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy (AIDD) and International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), encourages attendees to reflect on “your impression of the hibakusha and their heartfelt messages, and a summary of the TPNW and how the UK government needs to get on board!”

Key Information:

  • Open to the Public: Friday October 24th (United Nations Day and 80th Anniversary) to Sunday November 30th, 2025.
  • Launch Reception and Partners’ Viewing: Thursday, October 23rd, 2025. Opening messages will be delivered by

    • second-generation hibakusha Kyoko Gibson,
    • Keith Dunn OBE, Honorary Consul to Japan,
    • Dr Rebecca Johnson, ICANN Campaign for Nuclear Weapons Treaty
    • Richard Outram, Secretary of Mayors for Peace UK & NI
    • Hayley Morgan, Chief Executive of the Welsh Centre for International Affairs, speaking on behalf of Dr Bethan Sian Jones from Academi Heddwch Cymru.

For more information, please visit www.80000voices.org

Visit the Exhibition


Wales Uniting Nations: Building a Better World after World War 2

Updated to mark #UN80, the 80th Anniversary of the United Nations in October 2025.

https://www.wcia.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/SundaySupplement-20251019.mp3

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United Nations Day home

24 October every year is United Nations Day, with activities worldwide appearing on Twitter using the hashtags #UNDay #UNDay2024. This feature spotlights some of the connections between Wales and the story of the UN.

The Foundation Stone of Wales’ Temple of Peace was laid in 1937 by ex-Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax – who over WW2 worked ‘behind the scenes’ to create the United Nations. The 1945 UN Charter bears his signature.

24 October 2024 marked the 79th ‘UN Day’ since the original signing of the UN Charter in San Francisco, the founding document of the United Nations. It was signed for the UK by Lord Halifax, who 9 years before had laid the foundation stone for Wales’ Temple of Peace & Health in Cardiff. Thus have the UN, the WCIA, and the Temple of Peace been linked at our very foundations ever since.

On 8 May 2020, Wales and the world marked #VE75, the 75th Anniversary of VE Day – the end of World War Two in Europe. Over 15,000 Welsh men and women lost their lives in WW2, out of an estimated 75 million globally; and the horrors of the Holocaust and of Hiroshima have defined generations to this day. But out of the ashes of WW2 emerged the United Nations, and many of the institutions of global cooperation that, in the 75 years since, have prevented another world war to date – despite nuclear proliferation, the Cold War and many conflicts that could have escalated even further without the machinery of human cooperation. A little known aspect, one of Wales’ ‘hidden histories’, is just how involved Welsh men and women became in shaping the ‘new world order’ after World War Two.

Building on the League of Nations

During the interwar years between WW1 and WW2, Wales’ peace building movement had become woven into the fabric of Welsh society; over 800 communities had local branches of the Welsh League of Nations Union, with many thousands of campaigners Wales-wide actively advocating for internationalism through annual Daffodil Days, the 1935 ‘Peace Ballot’, and culminating in the opening in 1938 of Wales’ Temple of Peace and Health by founder Lord David Davies alongside WW1-bereaved mothers. The Temple had been intended as a headquarters ‘befitting to international cooperation’ – and yet, within months of its opening, the world’s deadliest war had consumed a generation and swept aside all international order. Had the efforts of Wales’ post-WW1 peacemakers all been in vain?

David Davies at the opening of Wales’ Temple of Peace, Nov 1938.

Lord David Davies, founder of the Temple of Peace, League of Nations Union and of the world’s first Department of International Politics (at Aberystwyth University) tragically did not live to see the post-WW2 peace he had spent his whole life working for; he passed in June 1944, months before his son and heir Michael Davies was also killed in action leading the liberation of Eindhoven, Holland. Lord Davies had spent his last years writing propitiously on possibilities for a post-war international order, a ‘United Nations’ machinery with an ‘international police force’, an ‘equity tribunal’ (international court, furthering human rights) and supporters’ associations mobilising the peoples of every land.

However, the widespread internationalism garnered Wales-wide over 20 years by the Welsh League of Nations Union, had fostered a whole ‘new generation of Welsh internationalists’ who would shape the post-WW2 landscape of peace building and global cooperation. A perhaps disproportionate cohort were among the founders and leaders of many of the international agencies that came into being following WW2, as people sought to build a better world – and to learn the lessons of the failed post-WW1 peace process that had created the conditions for World War 2 in the first place.

“Those who want peace, it is said, prepare for war. Those who are already at war, prepare for peace. So, before the second world war was even halfway through, debate began about the new organisation which was to be established at its end.”

Evan Luard, History of the United Nations

The First United Nations

Jan 1 1942: Signing in Washington of the Atlantic Charter, the ‘Declaration of United Nations’ (Wikipedia Commons)

Proposals for a United
Nations had been
floated from 1941 among the WW2 Allied Powers – UK, USA, Soviet Union and China
– with the name itself promoted by President Roosevelt of the US on 1 Jan 1942.

The task
of pulling together a Secretariat for a fledgling United Nations was delegated
to Gladwyn Jebb of the Foreign Office – who
became the UN’s First Secretary General – supported by Welsh Economist David Owen, Assistant to the Lord Privy
Seal (Sir Stafford Cripps).

David Owen, founder of UN Secretariat and UN Development Programme

“I was Jebb’s deputy,” Sir David recounted. “He turned to me and announced: I’ll handle the high diplomacy; you take on the rest. Find an office and a secretary and get this thing started.” ‘This thing’ was a world organization formed by 51 war time allies without a staff or money – and only a promise that it could make London its temporary home.

David rushed back to London to borrow a typewriter from the Foreign Office and a secretary from the War Office. “Together in a taxi we leaded for Church House in Westminster, and knocked on the door. The old custodian peered at us across barricade of sandbags and demanded to know who we were.

“‘We are the United Nations,’ I remember answering. And that was the beginning.”

David financed the early days of United Nations operations with a £30 loan from his London bank account. “We lived on that £30 for almost two weeks in 1945.”

New York Times Obituary of David Owen, June 1970

David Owen went on to found the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

1st UN General Assembly Welcome Programme from Temple of Peace Archives

The First UN General Assembly (UNGA)

The first
United Nations General Assembly
(UNGA) was held
in the Methodist Central Hall, London from 10 January 1946, bringing together
representatives of 51 nations.

A ‘British Welcome’ staged at the Royal Albert Hall had a distinctly Welsh flavour. The programme was fronted by the Choir of Wales’ Temple of Peace, performing 6 songs in total – including ‘Nos Galon’ and ‘Men of Harlech’.

1945 Leaflet for the Temple of Peace Choir
Megan Lloyd George, Wales 1st female Member of Parliament

The keynote address was delivered by Lady Megan Lloyd George, daughter of the WW1 Prime Minister and Wales’ first female Member of Parliament, for Anglesey (and later Carmarthen).

The event closed with 51 nations singing “These Things Shall Be” by composer John Hughes.

The first UNGA lasted 5 weeks in total, and at its conclusion on February 14 1946 had established the UN General Assembly, the UN Security Council, UN Economic and Social Council, the International Court of Justice, and elected Trygve Lie, Foreign Secretary of Norway, as the UN’s first elected Secretary General.

Creating a ‘World Education Organisation’: the origins of UNESCO

Gwilym Davies, League of Nations / UNA Wales’ 1st President, and one of the founders of UNESCO

“Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed.”

Jacob Jones, Chairman of WEAC, 1929 – now the opening lines of the UNESCO Constitution, and quoted by (and often attributed to) UK Prime Minister Sir Clement Attlee at the founding of UNESCO in 1946.

Gwilym Davies, Honorary Director of the Welsh League of Nations Union from 1922 (and UNA Wales’ 1st President, from 1945) had long advocated Welsh efforts in the field of world education. 32 leading Welsh educationalists, alongside teachers Wales-wide, had set up the ‘Wales Education Advisory Committee’ (WEAC) from 1922 to develop ‘the world’s first global citizenship curriculum’ – supported by the Davies sisters of Gregynog Hall, and leading thinkers of the day such as Gilbert Murray, who headed the UK League of Nations movement.

From 1930, the Central Welsh Board (CWB – now the WJEC) became the first Education Authority in the world to integrate the principles of the League of Nations into teaching in schools – a move which projected Wales to international recognition, and led to ‘the Welsh model’ being held up and adopted by educationalists worldwide eager to instil a culture of engaged and informed internationalism among their societies. WLNU established a Women’s Advisory Committee, chaired by Annie Hughes Griffiths – who had led the 1923 Welsh Women’s Peace Petition to America – to involve Welsh women in promoting peace education Wales and world-wide.

Annie Hughes Griffiths

In January 1941, Prof Murray chaired a conference at Oxford to which he invited Gwilym Davies to present a paper, drawing on the interwar experiences of the WEAC, advocating the idea of establishing a post-war international organisation for education. This paper was to have a profound impact on shaping the thinking of the British – and Allied – governments, and in 1943 the London International Assembly and newly established CEWC (Council for Education in World Citizenship) delegated two tasks to Wales:

  1. To conduct a survey / study of global intellectual cooperation between the wars
  2. To draft a model constitution for an international organisation for education

Gwilym Davies’ proposals informed discussions across the Atlantic among the movements that led directly to the creation of UNESCO – the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

The first UNESCO conference was held in Paris in November-December 1946. Attending proceedings, Gwilym Davies reported back to Wales:

Ben Bowen Thomas, Chair of UNESCO

“(UNESCO)… was unlike any other conference I have attended, with writers, thinkers, educationalists and scientists present from 24 countries. They are the true creators of public opinion.”

Gwilym Davies

Gwilym Davies was nominated to the Board of UNESCO; his Vice-President within the newly established CEWC Cymru (Council for Education in World Citizenship, founded Jan 1944) was Ben Bowen Thomas from Treorchy in the Rhondda. Later Sir Ben, he became active with UNESCO from 1946-1962, and Chairman of UNESCO’s Executive Board in Paris from 1958.

‘We, the Peoples’: the United Nations Association

Between the wars, the Welsh League of Nations Union (WLNU) had been one of Wales’ biggest membership organisations, with over 30,000 peace campaigners active in 1,000 communities. Although membership had fallen – and activities suspended with the onset of WW2 – a network of groups and advocates remained. WLNU Annual Reports produced between 1939 and 1946 offer an insight into work undertaken in the background of war. 

The WLNU reconvened following WW2 for their final Annual Conference at the Temple of Peace on October 27 1945. They proposed to ‘ring out the old, ring in the new’ in immediately becoming the United Nations Association (Wales), or UNA Welsh National Council.

UN Charter Commemorative Stamp – Wikimedia Commons

UNA Wales’ first Executive Committee met in Shrewsbury on Feb 1 1946, and produced their first Annual Report covering the whole 1943-1946 transition period. The first UNA Wales Conference and AGM was held at the Guildhall, Wrexham on May 31 1948. In August 1946, Gwilym Davies assisted in organisation of the first World Federation of United Nations Associations in Luxembourg, establishing 5 commissions and a UN grassroots movement: “We, the Peoples…” – echoing the opening words of the United Nations Charter.

UNA Wales produced their first post-war ‘Bulletin’ (above) in 1949 – emerging from 4 years of continued rationing and paper shortages – which casts light on the challenges of re-establishing a campaigning network, and of the activities of local branches.

Sept 1945 Cover of UNA’s ‘Headway’ magazine

UNA Wales became Wales’ leading network of community groups campaigning on internationalism, human rights, security and global development through the 1950s and 1960s; and continued as a national body until the decision was taken in 2014, alongside CEWC Cymru, to pool resources and merge into WCIA – the Welsh Centre for International Affairs. UNA Cardiff and UNA Menai branches continue to organise local activities in 2020, and many branches have a rich history of local activism.  

International Youth Volunteering and post-WW2 Reconstruction

Robert Davies and friends digging a soakaway in Austria, 1960.

The demands of post-WW2 reconstruction both in Britain and across Europe, and the desire to mobilise young people in healing the wounds of war by fostering understanding through relationships with other communities and cultures, led UNA UK and UNA Wales to link with the ‘World Forum of Youth’ out of which gradually emerged the UNA International Youth Service (IYS) movement.

By the mid-1950s, substantial parts of Europe’s population remained displaced, refugees often within their own countries. Through IYS, youth volunteers from Wales and all over the UK participated in work camps supporting the construction of housing and community facilities, from Austria to Greece. One of those volunteers in the 1950-60s was Robert Davies from Port Talbot, who lived through the Cardiff Blitz during WW2 while his parents worked in the steelworks.

View Robert Davies’ post-WW2 volunteering memoir ‘All Together’

Robert’s experience of participating in an international workcamp in Austria inspired him to become a lifelong champion of youth volunteering between Wales and the world. He sett up VCS (the Cardiff Volunteer Service bureau) in 1965, and then UNA Exchange in 1973 – which continues to operate today from the Temple of Peace, as an integral part of the WCIA’s work, aiming to inspire a new generation of internationalists with the challenges of global cooperation today.

UNA Exchange International Volunteers enjoying a 2015 youth workcamp at the Temple of Peace, renovating Wales’ National Garden of Peace.


Young peacemakers gather in Cardiff to celebrate peace in schools

Reproduced from Quakers UK, with many thanks

Almost 100 young peer mediators from across South Wales came together in Cardiff Bay on 15 October to celebrate their shared commitment to resolving conflict peacefully, photo credit: Isaac Peat for Quakers in Britain

Almost 100 young peer mediators from across South Wales came together in Cardiff Bay on 15 October to celebrate their shared commitment to resolving conflict peacefully.

The event, ‘Celebrating the Peacemakers of the Future | Dathlu Heddychwyr y Dyfodol’, was the first children’s peace conference of its kind in Wales.

It was organised by the Welsh Centre for International Affairs (WCIA) and Quakers in Britain, bringing together pupils aged 9+ trained as peer mediators from schools across South Wales.

The children presented their hopes for more peaceful schools, communities, and a more peaceful world to members of the Senedd and invited guests.

When a pupil asked Senedd member Heledd Fychan: “Do you wish you had peer mediators at the Senedd to help you when you have arguments?” she admitted it could be helpful.

Throughout the day, the children practiced listening, empathy and creative problem-solving, exploring how mediation skills improve not only schools, communities and even global conflict.

Children from Merthyr Tydfil schools were delighted to find they were part of a proud tradition of peace building, beginning with international peace arbitrator and Merthyr Tydfil MP Henry Richard in the 1800s.

Katie Wainwright, deputy head of Radnor Primary School, said: “Peer mediation has really helped limit low level conflict in the playground.

“Because all of our year 5 and 6 students have been trained in peer-mediation, they’re generally more assertive and resilient in the face of disagreements with friends, which is really great to see.”

The programme supports the aims of the new Welsh curriculum, which aspires to nurture “healthy, confident individuals” and “ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world.”

Pupils from Ysgol y Graig Primary School said: “Peer Mediation is when we help children who’ve had an argument talk about what’s happened, how they feel, and find a solution. It teaches us how to be patient, respect people’s feelings, and not take sides.”

Jane Harries, peace education manager at WCIA, said: “This conference is the culmination of a year and a half’s work to support 20 schools across South Wales to develop peacemaking skills in pupils.”

The work was made possible by support from Southall Trust, South Wales Quakers and the Sallie Davies Memorial Fund.

Quakers in Britain and WCIA are working together to help more schools across Wales and beyond introduce peer mediation and peace education.

“Peer mediation has really helped limit low level conflict in the playground.” – Katie Wainwright, deputy head of Radnor Primary School

Read more about peer mediation here



The Welsh Worker’s Peace Appeal Memorial of 1928 to the ILO (International Labour Organisation), Geneva

This article is under development over Autumn 2025, having recently digitised archival materials from the 1929 ILO Workers Memorial campaign which will be available here shortly.

In 1929, following the momentum from previous Peace Memorial Campaigns led by Women of Wales over 1923-4, and Churches of Wales over 1925-6, over 1928-29 The Welsh League of Nations Union coordinated with Trade Unions and other bodies to create a memorial petition and bronze bust of the Newtown, Powys-born social reformer Robert Owen, to the headquarters of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Geneva – where it remains to this day on display in the ILO Library, as a symbol of Wales’ wish to play an active role among the world’s nations.

The ILO campaign was driven and coordinated by WLNU board member Gwilym Hughes of Barmouth, who took on the organisation and coordination of the ‘Robert Owen Memorial Fund’ over 1928-9, and made the preliminary arrangements for its presentation in Geneva. In the event, he became stranded on a visit to the United States and was unable to join the handover ceremony; however, Rev Gwilym Davies did so in his place, accompanying WLNU Chair Major David Davies (who would later become Lord Davies of Llandinam from 1933).

Archives to be added shortly

Unveiling of Wales’ Bust of Robert Owen in the ILO Library, Geneva, on March 11th 1929. Rev Gwilym Davies is centre looking directly at the photographer, with David Davies 2nd from RH (moustache and bald head).

A booklet was produced marking the occasion of the ILO Memorial presentation in Geneva, containing the text of David Davies’ address to the ILO

International Workers Memorial Day, held on 28 April annually, commemorates workers who have lost their lives in labour but also those who fought for hard-won rights of workers past present and future (see TUC).



‘Capturing the Castles for Peace!’ How Wales marked the 10th Anniversary of the League of Nations, 1930

One of the many ‘hidden histories’ as yet unexplored among the Temple Archives of the Welsh League of Nations Union – many of which are held at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth – is the fascinating account of the WLNU’s 10th Anniversary campaign, when peace campaigners ‘stormed the strongholds’ of Wales’ historic castles to reclaim them in the name of peace.

Over gthe course of summer 1930, a diverse array of events involving thousands were staged in

  • Harlech Castle (May 10th 1930)
  • Beamaris Castle (May 17th 1930)
  • Gwydir Castle (June 5th 1930)
  • Criccieth Castle (July 6th 1930)
  • Caernmarfon Castle (July 25th 1930)

Harlech Castle in the 1920s, where the WLNU’s 10th Anniversary campaign was launched

From the 1931 WLNU Annual Report of the Welsh League of Nations Union, among the collections digitised on People’s Collection Wales, the folllowing account is offered of the campaign:

Surviving Script of 1930 Peace Pageant by Cynan

Cynan - a Pageant of War & Peace, 1930, Caernarfon Castle
Click RH / LH to explore the script and storyboard of Cynan’s ‘Pageant of War & Peace’, written especially for the setting in Caernarfon Castle.

Image of the Caernarfon Castle Peace Pageant being performed, written by the Welsh bard Cynan.



United Nations World Peace Day, 21 Sep 2025

2025 #PeaceDay theme: “Act Now for a Peaceful World“

“Around the world lives are being ripped apart, childhoods extinguished, and basic human dignity discarded, amidst the cruelty and degradations of war.”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres

From the office of the UN Secretary General:

In a time of turbulence, tumult, and uncertainty, it is critical for everyone to take concrete action to mobilize for peace.

From peacekeepers on the front lines of conflict, to community members, to students in classrooms around the world, everyone has a role to play. We must speak up against violence, hate, discrimination, and inequality; practice respect; and embrace the diversity of our world.

There are many ways to act right now. Spark conversations about the urgent need for understanding, non-violence, and disarmament. Volunteer in your community, listen to voices different from your own, challenge discriminatory language in your workplace, report bullying both online and off-line, and take the time to verify facts before you post on social media.

You can speak up with your choices, opting to purchase items from socially-conscious brands, or donating to organizations that promote sustainability and human rights.

The United Nations works in each of these areas, leading global efforts to advance human rights, fight climate change, and prevent and respond to conflict.

Through its Peacebuilding Commission, which is marking its twentieth anniversary in 2025, the United Nations works to address poverty, inequality, discrimination, and injustice – all potential drivers of violence. Through its 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the United Nations supports countries’ efforts to increase prosperity, raise health and living standards, and end all forms of discrimination and injustice. UN peacekeepers work in difficult and dangerous conditions around the world, inspiring us all to take action.

And in its recently adopted Pact for the Future, the United Nations promised to address emerging challenges and opportunities – such as in science, technology and innovation – and support the active engagement of future generations.

The United Nations’ ActNow Campaign has helped millions of people around the globe choose issues they care about, commit to action, and track their impact. You can download the ActNow mobile app and see the difference your actions make for a more peaceful world.

All of our efforts are connected. From UN-supported health clinics to youth-led advocacy for the rights of the world’s most vulnerable, and from debates in parliaments to debates in history class, we can all do our part to build a more peaceful world.

Let our actions for peace resonate louder than words.

Background

UN International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. Two decades later, in 2001, the General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the Day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire.



2025 ‘Young Peacemakers’ Awarded at Llangollen International Eisteddfod

On 10 July, Wales’ 2025 Young Peacemakers Awards took to the main stage of the Llangollen International Eisteddfod – an opportunity to celebrate what children and young people from across Wales have done to create kinder, safer and more inclusive communities locally, nationally and internationally.

It is often said that peace starts with ourselves. This is certainly true for children and young people, who have a keen understanding of elements in society such as discrimination, inequality and injustice which undermine peaceful communities.  Many young people also feel led to address these ills and to work for positive change.   

The annual Young Peacemakers Awards, organised by the Peace Education team at the Welsh Centre for International Affairs (WCIA), taps into this desire to create a more cohesive, peaceful society by celebrating achievements of children and young people from across Wales.  These can take the form of works of art, creative writing or projects which foster understanding, enhance wellbeing and address issues such as bullying and racism.   

This year we celebrated the 9th Young Peacemakers Awards at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod on Thursday, 10th July

WCIA’s Peace Schools Coordinator Jane Harries opens the 2025 Young Peacemakers Awards from the main stage at Llangollen International Eisteddfod – July 10th 2025. Credit: Sioned Cox / WCIA

“Today we celebrate the extraordinary achievements of these young individuals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to peace, justice, and understanding in our communities here in Wales and beyond. Their passion, creativity, and resilience serve as a spark of hope for a brighter future.​ Let us take this opportunity to recognise their outstanding contributions and to draw inspiration from their amazing dedication to building a more peaceful and equitable world for future generations.”

Jane Harries, WCIA Peace Schools Coordinator

2025 Young Peacemakers Awards at Llangollen International Eisteddfod
Flickr Album from Llangollen Young Peacemakers Awards (credit WCIA / Sioned Cox) – click LH / RH to view (credit Sioned Cox / WCIA)

Young Community Peacebuilder

Urdd Peace Message 2025 participants, who were awarded ‘Young Community Peacebuilders’ of the year (Credit: Urdd Gobaith Cymru)

1st – Urdd Gobaith Cymru

The Urdd’s Message of Peace and Goodwill was intended to unite children throughout the ​world and support them to call for a fairer, more equal and more peaceful world. ​This year, the theme ‘poverty’ was chosen for the message by students from Coleg ​y Cymoedd and other young people (members of the Urdd), responding to the poverty crisis ​by giving voice to current children who can be seen in Wales and across the world. The young people show ​courage and leadership by sharing their personal experiences, and gives young people a strong voice to call for justice and equality in their communities and globally. The group (which also included the Save the Children charity, the poet Katie Hall, the designer Steffan Dafydd, and the facilitator Elan Evans) has worked hard to spread the message widely – it has reached 25 countries, inspired hundreds of schools and organizations in Wales, the group has done television and radio interviews, and two of the young people have written a blog containing personal, powerful experiences.

2nd Prize: Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bryn Tawe

2 videos were prepared by Year 7-13 pupils to promote peace in their school community and more widely. The enthusiasm of the pupils is evident from the videos and their messages are powerful. They convey an understanding of the effects of a lack of social justice on young people in Wales, and advocate for young people who suffer from a lack of peace in other countries. They connect Wales’ peace heritage with the call to action for peace today. ​The pupils’ efforts to share the importance of peace for Wales and the world, in their local community and beyond, deserve this award.

Young Wellbeing Advocates

1st – Holly Abbott

Holly created a not-for-profit organisation ‘Cardsofcalm’ which focuses on creating cards with messages of support, wellbeing packages and links to local helplines. Holly has shown young leader entrepreneurial spirit to support others. Her kindness and thoughtfulness to remind hundreds of others that they are not alone qualifies her as a winner!

2nd – Nathan Robertshaw

Nathan found his own wellbeing hobby by taking part in his local park run. This improved his confidence and helped him feel less isolated away from home. He developed his volunteering skills, helped out training others, started learning Welsh and became first aid trained to help others through running in his community!​

Commendation – Freya Rees

Having spent periods in hospital herself, Freya has used her experiences and her skills to create works of art that bring brightness and nope to others. Her beautiful acrylic painting ‘Flourish’ is now on display at CAMHS and the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Rhyl. ​‘My aim’, she says, ‘was to reinforce the message that they are not alone and to bring some vibrancy and colour to mental health, helping to normalize it as a common experience shared by many people in my generation.’

Young Peacemaker

Award sponsored by Academi Heddwch Cymru

Joe Wright Roberts of Connah’s Quay High School

Joe has shown passion, leadership, commitment and innovation in his work to promote and develop anti-racism in his school. He has taken his message to school governors and encouraged Senior Management to sign anti-racist pledges and act as role models themselves. His ambition to develop the scheme by involving cluster primary schools is admirable, as is the desire to demonstrate inclusive behaviours in his own community by celebrating different languages and cultures. ​

​2nd – Mili Davies, Ysgol David Hughes

We received two pieces of art from Mili – both extremely impressive. The first is a jigsaw which delivers a clear anti-racist message – the pieces represent different skin colors and emphasize the fact that everyone is unique, different and deserves respect. ​
​The title of the second piece of work is ‘Album Heddwch’ featuring a series of quotes and photos after she meets a student protesting against the situation in Gaza, and realizes the further significance of the demonstration. The album is basically a personal journey, but created in a subtle and elaborate way. The album is effective because it takes us on a journey with the illustrator. ​

​2nd – School Council, Ysgol David Hughes, Menai Bridge Anglesey

An impressive application containing a description and evidence of the way the School Council at Ysgol David Hughes has tackled the problem of bullying in their school community. ​

The judges liked the way the Council has involved pupils and staff in their work, acted as a team and ensured that policies and activities were developed in a sensitive way which is based on the pupil’s voice and respects confidentiality where this is possible. The Council has tackled the problem on several levels – developing awareness and understanding of the nature of the problem, and developing a number of ways of responding, using technology (QR codes and the website) to ensure confidentiality. ​

It is good to see that the holistic campaign has created an atmosphere where pupils feel more confident to talk about bullying – also understand the importance of treating each other with respect.

Young Environmental Champion

Award aponsored by Environmental Platform Wales

Youth Climate Ambassadors

The ‘Youth Climate Ambassadors’ have presented their work on reducing the social and​ environmental impact of fast fashion. This has involved researching the negative impacts of​ Fast Fashion, publishing a blog article on ‘The True Cost of Fast Fashion: Why It’s Time to Break​ The Buy-and-Bin Cycle’ and organising a Sustainable Fashion Show And Clothes Swap in 2024 to spread the word, they will continue to raise awareness of peace, justice and sustainability.​

Future Generations Champions

Award sponsored by Future Generations Commissioner for Wales

Ysgol David Hughes, Menai Bridge, Anglesey

They have held a wide range of activities to promote Welsh language and culture, from music concerts, a Cymraeg themed Bake Off, Eisteddfodau etc. They show how Cymraeg is fun and the advantages of being bilingual. They bring Cymraeg to life and celebrate it in all its cultural forms.

Young Peacemakers Workshop

The awards ceremony was followed by a creative workshop on the Eisteddfod Maes, in which young people created crafts based on peace themes.

Welsh young people are joined by Eisteddfod performers visiting from Indonesia (Ruang Karya ID)

Case Study of Youth Peacemakers in Action: The Urdd’s Nomination

Since 1922, the Urdd has produced a message of Peace and Goodwill conveyed initially through Morse code, then by the BBC World Service, and more recently through digital media, with the aim of uniting children around the world, and supporting them to call for a fairer, more equal and more peaceful world. 2025’s Message theme is Poverty. With the current child poverty crisis visible in Wales and across the world, the Urdd and the young people of Wales have chosen to focus on this crucial issue. With 1 in every 3 children and young people in Wales living in poverty, the Peace Message 2025 clearly states the need for change.

The content and direction of this year’s message was decided by Coleg y Cymoedd students and Urdd Members. The workshop was held at YMa, Pontypridd at the end of January. Elusen Achub y Plant presented the message to the participants, working together with Elan Evans (Facilitator), Steffan Dafydd (Designer) and the poet Katie Hall. It was a successful workshop which encouraged the young people to share their experiences and feelings about the situation of child poverty in Wales. Following the workshop, Katie set about creating a powerful Message giving the young people a strong voice and identifying the main themes of the day:

• Giving young people a voice
• Breaking down stigma
• The importance of community
• No child should live in poverty.

The message is available on the Urdd website in over 50 languages, including BSL.

For creating the 2025 message, 14 young people who are Coleg y Cymoedd students and Urdd Members were chosen to be part of the project after an open call process asking people to join. They were very willing to share experiences and feelings about poverty, and gave the poet Katie a lot of inspiration with their words following the workshop in January. A short film was created from the young people’s words, and their voices are heard reading the words out. They were very willing to be part of the work of promoting the Message, speaking on radio and television giving the theme an important platform.

The Message reached over 25 countries around the world, with hundreds of schools and organizations throughout Wales celebrating and raising awareness of the important Message. 2 young members who were part of the project have written a small blog about why they feel it is important that they took part.

Edication Pack produced to accompany the 2025 Peace Message


Cymru Can be a Nation of Peace: Llangollen 2025 Peace Lecture

Written by and reposted (with thanks) from The Office of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales. Event organised between Academi Heddwch and Llangollen International Eisteddfod. View ‘Cymru Can’ campaign here.

“”Wales has a role to champion true peace. But to fully embrace the role of a Nation of Peace, however, we must acknowledge and consider the role we still play in Cymru and in the UK, in global conflict”.

– Derek Walker, Future Generations Commisioner for Wales

Lecture by Derek Walker , Future Generations Commissioner for Wales Llangollen Eisteddfod – Main Stage, Wednesday 9th July 2025

“Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi am y croeso cynnes. Thank you so much for the warm welcome.

It’s a real privilege to be with you today at this Llangollen Eisteddfod – a festival that has become one of the world’s great celebrations of peace, culture, and international friendship. I’m especially pleased to join you on such a joyful and energetic day in the heart of the Eisteddfod.

Today and for the whole week we will enjoy some wonderful performances by young people, those voices and creativity are a powerful reminder of what this festival is about: hope, connection, and peace. And what a perfect way to begin a conversation about Wales as a Nation of Peace, with future generations in mind.

There’s something deeply symbolic about this. Because peace isn’t just something adults talk about at conferences. It’s something we live and that we pass on. And what we’ve seen and heard today—from children, communities, and choirs—is a big part of what peace looks like in action.

Llangollen and the Legacy of Peace

This is a festival that was born in the shadow of war.

Back in 1947, just two years after World War II ended, Llangollen made a radical choice. Instead of turning inward, it opened its doors to the world. It said: Let’s bring people together—not through politics or power, but through song and dance.

Let’s let music do the talking. Since then, this stage has welcomed people from around two hundred different cultures. And from the very beginning, the Eisteddfod has celebrated what unites us—not just what makes us different. I think that’s what makes this place so special. And it’s why I believe this festival has something important to say to the world right now.

Because in a world that feels more divided, more uncertain, and more unequal than ever, Wales has powerful stories to tell—stories of peace, compassion, and care for future generations. I believe therefore that Cymru, our country, has some strong foundations on which to build Wales as a nation of peace. And one of the cornerstones of those foundations is the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act, which created my role.

Think about the youngest person you know

Some of you may be wondering what is that role, what on earth is the job of a Future Generations Commissioner?

Well, it wouldn’t be surprising if you were asking that question as there is no one in the world with a job quite like mine.

I’m fortunate to hold the responsibility of being the guardian of the interests of people who haven’t yet been born – the generations who will live in Wales after us.

When I’m speaking with public bodies across Wales – the organisations that run our hospitals, our councils, and our other public services – one of the ways I explain my role is to ask people to think of the youngest person they know.

And I invite you all to do that now.

It might be your daughter or grandson or the young person living next door. (For some o the youngsters in the hall, that person might not be much younger than you are now.)

I think of my youngest niece Erin. Erin is 11, soon to be 12, living in Cwmbran. She hates most vegetables and loves playing football. And she’s a talented player too.

I want Erin to have a good education and food on the table and a roof over her head tonight. Of course I do. But in 50 years’ time I also want her to have the chance of healthy and happy life, with clean air and rivers, a health system that is sustainable and access to arts and culture. We all want that for our children and grandchildren.

This is what the Well-being of Future Generations Act is here to do. It is here to guide our public bodies to improve the lives of people today and to improve the lives of generations to come.

And the people of Wales get that. Wherever I go in Wales, people support the need to avoid sticking plaster solutions, to act for the long term for the sake of their children and grandchildren. They want their leaders to be acting today for a better tomorrow.

Peace as More Than the Absence of War

We often think of peace as silence. As stillness. As the end of, or absence of, fighting.

But peace is also found in laughter. In fairness. In community. In protecting nature. In the confidence a child feels when they’re safe, healthy, and free to dream.

This is what we might call positive peace.

This idea is set out clearly in the excellent publication from Academi Heddwch Cymru called Wales as a Nation of Peace, published in August last year.

A positive peace is about creating the right conditions for people to thrive. It is about well-being.

And that’s exactly what Wales set out to do when we passed the Well-being of Future Generations Act ten years ago.

It’s one of the most ambitious laws in the world.

It puts down in law the collective, long-term vision we have for this country, as developed by the people of Wales through the Wales We Want national conversation and as set out in our seven national well-being goals.

Among them:

    • A more equal Wales
    • A Wales of cohesive communities
    • A prosperous Wales
    • A Wales of vibrant culture and a thriving Welsh language
    • A globally responsible Wales

It says that public bodies must think, not just about short-term results, but about long-term impact.

They must consider how their actions affect children, families, communities, and the natural world—not just today, but for years to come. Each of these goals echoes the core principles of positive peace.

Together, they form a guide—not just for sustainable development, but for how a small nation like ours can lead with values and vision. This law is about what matters to people.

When doing this job, people don’t talk to me about abstract terms like economic growth. They talk to me about wanting:

· rivers clean enough to swim in,

· air that is clear and fresh,

· a warm home without damp,

· a job that provides financial security and self-respect,

· healthy food,

· access to arts, literature, and culture as we can today here in Llangollen.

These are the conditions for well-being. Our well-being law is creating the conditions for that positive peace.

Our History of Peace

Wales has a history of promoting peace.

My strategy for my 7 years in this role is called Cymru Can, Wales Can. It is deliberately positive – recognising what Wales has already achieved, whilst urging us all to do more.

In relation to the subject of peace, I believe Cymru Can be a nation of peace.

We’re not starting from scratch. We can look back with pride at what previous generations achieved.

Last year Dr Rowan Williams talked about this history when he delivered this same lecture.

He spoke about ‘Yr Apel’ – the women’s peace petition of 1923 – and how this petition of 400,000 women helped shaped the debate and build support for America to join and lead the new League of Nations.

Let me read a small part of the women’s peace petition. I confess, I had not read it before drafting this speech. It gave me goose bumps because of its foresight and application to my work and the world today.

The petition says:

“The future is big with hope if we as the women of this generation do our part. To us has come an opportunity, as real as the responsibility is grave. We would therefore appeal to you, women of the United States of America, with malice towards none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us, to see the right to aid in the effort to hand down to the generations which come after us the proud heritage of a warless world”

That was a century ago. But it feels relevant, doesn’t it?

It clearly shows the strong desire to bring about lasting peace.

But it also shows a motivation to act in the interests of future generations in the way we do today through the Well-being of Future Generations Act.

Those women were saying the same thing we’re saying today: we want a world that’s safe, fair, and full of opportunity for our children and their children.

Welsh connections to the institutions of peace are more than the remarkable women’s peace petition and its link to the League of Nations.

There are also significant connections between Wales and the successor of the League of Nations, the United Nations.

    • There was Welsh involvement in shaping the UN in the early years. The UN celebrates its 80th birthday this year. David Owen, a Welshman, was seen as one of the midwives in preparing a draft of the Charter in 1945. He later became the first Assistant Secretary-General responsible for Economic Affairs.
    • In the 1940s, he set courses that have proved to be of immense international significance such as the basis for the UN Development Programme, one of the most significant achievements in UN history.
    • And, the Secretary-General of the UN, Perez de Cuellar, visited Wales in 1986.

There are many more links. Wales and Welsh people have a history of helping to build the conditions for peace.

And I am pleased to say those connections to the UN continue today.

Our Well-being of Future Generations Act influenced last year’s UN Pact for the Future – which has a chapter on international peace and security – and, in particular, our experience influenced the Declaration on Future Generations, in which nations agreed to create a job just like mine, a special envoy for future generations, but for the world not just for Wales.

I continue to work with the UN team to promote action for future generations around the world.

When I started this role, I was knocked down by the level of global interest in our future generations law. My office regularly receives enquiries from politicians, civil servants, academics, NGOs and interested citizens from around the world who want to hear about our innovative approach.

Which tells me Cymru is a pioneer, but not an outlier.

The Well-being of Future Generations Act is a soft superpower for our country, helping Wales to punch above its weight.

But, whilst this interest is flattering, we must continue to be humble as we still have a long way to go in terms of implementation. We still have some way to go before we are truly a nation of peace.

Peace as a Practice

The absence of peace has felt much closer to home for me in the last couple of years. Since January 2023, my partner and I have been hosting a Ukranian refugee.

When watching the bombing of Kyiv on televison, we are watching a city where she had made her home and had to flee. She does not know her future and worries constantly for the safety of her friends and family.

War no longer seems distant to me.

This same week I am also remembering my university friend, Miriam Hyman, who died in the 7/7 London bombings twenty years ago. Miriam was kind and generous. She was talented and had a very bright future ahead of her. A callous terrorist attack took that away from her. Many of us here today will have similar tragic stories. The absence of peace affects us all.

Peace is something we all have to work on every day; in the day-to-day decisions we make. Peace isn’t just a policy. It’s a practice.

That’s why the Well-being Act talks about behaviors not just goals. We call these the ways of working: thinking long-term, working together, listening to people, and preventing problems before they happen.

We are aiming to make these behaviours part of the culture of how we do things in Wales. And if we can succeed, we have the opportunity of embedding a strong sense of well-being for all of our citizens and of establishing the conditions for a nation of peace, of positive peace.

And that is why events like this are so important. We need to spread these values and ways of working. Because peace isn’t only made in government buildings. It’s made in schools, in community halls, in choirs, in classrooms and in cultural festivals like this one.

It’s made right here.

Wales in the World

Some people ask, “Can Wales really make a difference? We’re a small country. We don’t control foreign policy. We don’t decide defence spending.”

But I think that’s missing the point.

We can make a difference— we already have, and we must do more.

The Senedd has spoken out on Ukraine and on Gaza.

I have joined those calls for an immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza and to secure the safe release of all hostages.

Wales has welcomed refugees through our Nation of Sanctuary programme – my Ukrainian guest Natalia is one of them.

We’ve taken bold steps with our Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan and the LGBTQ+ Action Plan, to be a more equal Wales.

We’re also teaching the next generation how to be citizens of the world—through our new curriculum, our Peace Schools initiative, and international exchange programmes like Taith.

On the international stage, Cymru is setting an example and, as I have said, countries are looking to develop their own similar legislation for future generations.

Our future generations law directs us to do what we can for peace around the world. Let me read you the text. The globally responsible Wales goal requires us to be:

“A nation which, when doing anything to improve the economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales, takes account of whether doing such a thing may make a positive contribution to global well-being.”

To me that is a call for action to promote global peace.

It is important that in Cymru we make the most of the opportunity we have, to lead by example, speaking out on the global stage and making a case for positive peace in these troubled times.

Wales has a role to champion true peace. But to fully embrace the role of a Nation of Peace, however, we must acknowledge and consider the role we still play in Cymru and in the UK, in global conflict.

The Work Ahead

So, we still have much work to do – both here in Cymru and abroad-, to fully realise the vision of positive peace set out in the Well-being of Future Generations Act.

One of the reasons I am delivering this lecture today, is that, as well as being the 80th year of the UN, this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Sustainable Development Goals as well as the tenth anniversary of the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act. It is a decade since Wales made this bold commitment to people not yet born – to the next generation and then next – to that young person who you all thought about back at the start.

Are we building the Cymru that every citizen deserves?

Yes, we are making progress, we’re investing more in healthy travel like cycling, walking, and wheeling and less on road building than we were.

We’re second in the world in recycling.

We’re growing our green energy industry.

But we still have big problems to solve.

    • We are not yet on track to restore nature.
    • We are not on track to eliminate poverty.
    • We are not on track to reverse worrying long term health trends.

That’s why my recent advice to the Welsh Government and our public bodies has recommended:

    • Stronger action for climate and nature
    • A Real Living Wage for all workers
    • And a much bigger focus on prevention – so we spend more time avoiding problems rather than dealing with the consequences.

Because when families are healthy, when communities are strong and nature is thriving, that’s peace in practice.

We also need to listen better. Real peace needs real dialogue. That means giving people- especially young people – more opportunities to shape the decisions that affect their lives.

Again, this was a theme that Dr Rowan Williams spoke about last year. He talked about needing to “build a culture of inclusive democratic optimism.”

I wholeheartedly agree. And it is something that I am paying more attention to in my work as well. The Well-being of Future Generations Act requires our public bodies to involve them in decisions that affect them. And to do this in a meaningful way.

This is not happening to the extent that the law requires, with the result that we are not hearing the concerns of many of our citizens. And we are not sufficiently harnessing their ideas and energy to implement the solutions for tomorrow.

Conclusion: Cymru Can

So let me end by saying thank you to the Academi Heddwch Cymru as I have learned something important for my work when preparing this talk.

I have learned that Wales’s future generations law, and therefore my role in promoting it, is a law that is significantly about peace.

I’ve come to understand more clearly than ever: peace isn’t just about avoiding conflict. Peace is about how we live. It’s about fairness, kindness, and making sure the decisions we take today don’t harm the world that tomorrow’s children will grow up in.

Here in Llangollen, a town that chose music as its language of peace. In a nation that gave the world a petition for peace written by mothers and daughters. In a country that enshrined the rights of future generations into law.

We have a choice.

In a world that seems to be drifting from peace, Wales can be an example.

We can show what it means to lead with culture, compassion, and courage. We can be a Nation of Sanctuary, of solidarity, of sustainability—and yes, Cymru Can be a Nation of Peace.

Diolch yn fawr.”

– Derek Walker, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales



WCIA Branding & Identity Survey: Help shape our Future!

WCIA are in the middle of a rebrand, and we’d love your input.

Over the last few months, we’ve been working hard to make it easier for people to understand what we do and why it matters. That’s meant refining how we talk about ourselves by sharpening our messages and aiming for something that’s clearer, more inclusive, and more emotionally engaging. We want to build stronger connections and reach more people, and that starts with a narrative, name and brand design that truly reflect who we are.

Through research and stakeholder feedback, we’ve learned that our current name which is now 50 years old, no longer fully captures what we do. We heard that the name sounds like we’re part of government, is similar to other organisations in our sector, and isn’t easy to remember. As a bilingual organisation with a focus on global citizenship and unity, we want a brand that is more open, more accessible, and more inviting – to everyone.

As you can imagine finding a new name isn’t easy but we’re pleased to say that we have two potential names. We also have two supporting strapline options (short, memorable phrases that sit alongside and help contexualise our name) and a new brand design direction.

In this short survey, we’re asking for your thoughts. This isn’t a vote to decide the final result, but your feedback will directly inform the next stage of the process and ultimately our decisions.

We’re asking for your views on:
– Two new name options
– Two strapline options
– Our brand design direction

Thank you for taking the time to complete our survey.

Please watch this short video (above) first, then…

Take the Survey

This survey will close on 31 July 2025.

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