Wales’s National Peace Institute
Vision, mission, structure
Our vision is of a peaceful Wales, where respect, justice and fairness contribute to a world without violence or the fear of violence.
Our mission is to help people in Wales contribute to peace: locally, nationally and globally. Through research, education and engagement, we work with communities, organisations, government and researchers to create a fair, just and non-violent future.
Academi Heddwch is an alliance of several organisations. The founding partners are:
· Cymru Global – (the new name for WCIA)
· Learned Society of Wales
· Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol
· Aberystwyth University
· Bangor University
· Cardiff University
· Cardiff Metropolitan University
· Wrexham Glyndŵr University
· University of South Wales
· Swansea University
· University of Wales Trinity Saint David
We’re also supported by representatives from the Peace Movement in Wales, Race Council Wales, Urdd Gobaith Cymru and the office of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales.
Through research, education and engagement, we help people and communities contribute to a fair, just and non-violent future.
To support our mission, we:
· Conduct research, working with peace specialists in Welsh universities and beyond.
· Promote peace research and provide evidence to decision-makers (such as Welsh Government), to make sure peace is on their agenda and reflected in their work.
· Act as the hub for peace information in Wales.
· Aim to ensure peace issues are well recognised and understood in Wales by hosting debates and bringing different groups together.
· Celebrate Wales’s peace heritage and inspire people to become peacemakers, through events and educational programmes.
· Develop international recognition by sharing information globally, highlighting Wales’s peace work.
Our team is based at the Temple of Peace and Health in Cardiff and hosted by Cymru Global (the new name for WCIA). We focus on contributing to peace through research, education and engagement, and we are part of a global network of peace institutes.
Our journey began in 2008 when peace activists began to develop proposals for a ‘Peace Institute for Wales’ based on the Flemish example. The campaign grew to include Cymru Global (the new name for WCIA – Welsh Centre for International Affairs), Welsh academics and other organisations.
We began work in 2020 with funding from Welsh Government.
In 2021 we recruited our first staff member and appointed the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, as our first Chair.
In 2023 our team of staff was formed with the appointment of our:
– Academic Research Lead
– Project Development Manager
– Women’s Peace Petition Project Manager
– Two Project Coordinators
– Four Community Outreach Officers for the Women’s Peace Petition Project
In 2023 we received funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the Welsh Women’s Peace Petition Centenary Project, 1923-24.
In 2024, we published our first report, ‘Wales as a Nation of Peace’. This work acts as a foundation for our subsequent reports. It argues that Wales can build on its historical legacy, proud culture and contemporary legislation to lead the UK in becoming a nation of peace – which is not only about acting as a globally responsible nation, but also about promoting social justice, human rights, fairness and trust within Wales.
