The Washington Peace Center envisions a world based on respect for people and the planet that is achieved through nonviolence, peace and social justice.  

A peaceful world is one that seeks, sustains and nurtures collective liberation both for those who have been historically marginalized and those who have been historically privileged. 
A peaceful world is one that fosters the dignity of the human person and prioritizes the leadership and perspective of traditionally oppressed communities.
A peaceful world is one where we acknowledge our long-term commitment to living well together, locally and globally.

Peace is not just the absence of war, but the absence of violence, including structural or systemic violence (deprivation, social exclusion and oppression) and the presence of justice. 

A world at peace is not just one without war and militarism, but one without racism, heterosexism, misogyny, economic exploitation and other forms of injustice.   We know that we can never truly have a peaceful and just world as long as such oppressions exist. 

Peace is not a static state.  It is a process of confronting oppression and working towards justice.  

The process of building peace involves illuminating conflict that stems from the systems of injustice, as well as creating tension as a catalyst for change – this is why those in power are so afraid of heightened tension and exposure of conflict.  

We believe that the means inevitably impact the ends for which we are working.   We work with and advocate tactics in the nonviolent tradition and believe that nonviolent confrontation with injustice and oppression is essential for creating the world we envision.   We stand in solidarity with people and communities around the world who are resisting injustice, and recognize that resisting injustice and oppression takes many forms. 

As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, true peace includes the “presence of justice”.

Approved by the WPC Board of Directors, 5/14/2012