Starting point
At the start of the period the Institute had a defined research question and an approach that partners had applied in practice. It held special consultative status with the United Nations. It had no peer-reviewed publication and no grant funding, and its work rested on the voluntary time of a few people. The first priority was therefore to publish its research under peer review.
Strategic aims and progress
The framework has five aims. Research under the first provides the basis for the other four.
- research on the meaning of peace
- engagement with the United Nations
- scholarly review
- research capacity
- outreach to the peace movement and the public
Aim 1: research on the meaning of peace
The aim is a precise, published account of what peace is.
- A first peer-reviewed article: “Reframing the Ontology of Peace Studies”, Peace and Conflict Studies, 2023.
- A second peer-reviewed article, applying the research to international law: “The Sovereignty of Sentience”, Journal on the Use of Force and International Law, 8 October 2026.
- A systematic review of published definitions of peace, with written coding rules and coding by more than one reviewer: the 61 Peace Definitions Review.
Aim 2: engagement with the United Nations
The aim is to bring the question of what peace is into the work of the United Nations.
- At least two written statements published by the United Nations. Three were published in 2025, to the Human Rights Council and the Economic and Social Council.
- At least one event organized by the Institute at a session of a United Nations body: a side event at the fifty-eighth session of the Human Rights Council, 24 March 2025.
Aim 3: scholarly review
The aim is to test the Institute’s research with the scholarly community.
- Presentations at two or more academic events organized by others. The Institute was invited to present at O.P. Jindal Global University in 2023 and at the University of Geneva in 2025. It also presented at the conference of Concerned Philosophers for Peace in 2025 and at the International Studies Association in 2026.
Aim 4: research capacity
The aim is to strengthen research capacity among students and early-career researchers.
- A remote research traineeship, with written agreements and coding rules, launched in 2025. Since then, 19 Research Trainees have taken part.
Aim 5: outreach to the peace movement and the public
The aim is to connect the Institute’s research with the peace movement and a wider public.
- Membership of at least one international network of peace organizations: the International Peace Bureau and the Alliance for Peacebuilding.
- At least one plain-language summary of a major output: the commentary “What would it take for law to be built for peace?”, October 2026.
Reporting and review
The Board reports on progress each year to the spring session of the Members’ Assembly.