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what it is

The Parliamentarians Network, launched at the European Parliament in Brussels in October 2008, is an initiative of the EastWest Institute’s International Task Force on Preventive Diplomacy. It is an international, non-partisan, standing structure with a growing membership of—to date—over 170 parliamentarians from 58 countries across the globe. The Network connects members of parliament to mobilize efforts towards the prevention of conflicts turning violent through diplomatic initiatives and effective collective action. It was conceived in response to the paucity of strategies and lack of political will on the part of many national parliaments, governments, and the international community to respond early and effectively to prevent conflicts turning violent.

what it does

The Network applies its collective early warning capacity to raise government, media and public attention to prospective violent conflicts. It advocates for a greater allocation of resources for preventive action and for increased capacity building. Members work to:

• Foster political attention and raise awareness, both with the media and the broader public
• Hold governments accountable
• Influence legislation
• Improve resource allocation and capacity building for conflict prevention
• Support advocacy work with concrete action

how it works

The Network is supported by a Secretariat and guided by a five-person Executive Council, which is regionally and gender-balanced. The Network convenes two to three face-to-face meetings per year, and regularly communicates using online and other interface technologies.

ideas into action

Parliamentarians are particularly well-placed to advance preventive diplomatic approaches to conflict and to translate them into national and international action. Thus, members can spearhead the reframing of traditional security and development policy thinking towards diplomatic alternatives to violence that are both sustainable and cost effective.

the challenge

Worldwide we are confronted with countless human security challenges. The interconnected nature of today’s new threats demand no less than a global concerted effort at preventing violent conflict.

It is our shared responsibility to reach beyond our borders, and to do what we can to achieve peace, security, and the non-violent resolution of conflicts. This challenge is a moral imperative, an economic necessity, a humanitarian must, and a political obligation for us all.

the moral imperative

It is intolerable that millions of civilians die from violent conflict at a time when the international community is capable of generating the political will to prevent it. It is unacceptable that so many of our children have to grow up in a climate of fear of violence and insecurity.

Yet the response of the global community is often inadequate, too late, and as a result, too costly.

the economic necessity

Conflict preventive approaches not only save civilian and military lives, they constitute an astute financial investment. Conflict prevention is cost prevention. Preventive efforts cost less than post-conflict reconstruction and result in many thousand fewer casualties.

the humanitarian must

In a globalized world no country is isolated from the after-effects of violent conflict in another part of the world. Mounting frustration and desperation linked to the global recession is resulting in social unrest and rising instability across the globe. This is compounded by burgeoning population growth, rapid urbanization, increasing joblessness, resource insecurity, especially of food and water, environmental degradation, and climate change.

the political obligation

The international community must strengthen efforts to address conflict preventive approaches and human security issues. This includes safety from hunger, disease and repression, and protection from unexpected and violent disruption in the patterns of everyday life.

This can only be done though the full mobilization of our collective means and efforts and through the proper allocation of resources towards conflict prevention.

the Parliamentarians Network for Conflict Prevention

The Parliamentarians Network was established by the EastWest Institute’s International Task Force on Preventive Diplomacy. The Network is an international, non-partisan initiative that brings together parliamentarians from across the globe to direct political will and resources to prevent conflicts before they begin.

the EastWest Institute

The EastWest Institute is an international, non-partisan, not-for profit policy organization focused solely on confronting critical challenges that endanger peace. EWI was established in 1980 as a catalyst to build trust, develop leadership, and promote collaboration for positive change. The institute has offices in New York, Brussels, and Moscow.

The Parliamentarians Network’s Secretariat is based in Brussels, Belgium. For more information about the EastWest Institute or the Parliamentarians Network, please visit:

Email:          parliamentarians@ewi.info
Telephone: + 32 2 743 4635