FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

January 26th, 2022

CONTACT

Nick Zuroski | (202) 822-2047 | nick@allianceforpeacebuilding.org

Washington, D.C., USA. – The Alliance for Peacebuilding, the leading nonpartisan global network of 150+ members working in 181 countries to end violent conflict and build sustainable peace, is thrilled to award the third annual Peacebuilding Champion Award to U.S. Representatives Grace Meng (D-NY-6) and John R. Curtis (R-UT-3). AfP launched the Peacebuilding Champion Award in 2019, to honor political leaders who reach across the aisle to address the world’s increasing violent conflict problem and find bipartisan solutions to build peace.

Both are being recognized for their bipartisan leadership on the Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) Act. Additionally, we are recognizing Representative Meng for her significant work to promote community-based peacebuilding approaches to advance justice, conflict prevention, and reconciliation in the United States, and Representative Curtis for his efforts to address human trafficking, prevent atrocities, and amplify human rights globally.

“AfP and the peacebuilding community greatly appreciate the vital work on the YPS Act by Representatives Meng and Curtis. This bill is vital to advancing the global YPS agenda, promoting U.S. interests, and providing youth and youth-led movements the necessary resources and agency to prevent violence and build sustainable peace,” said AfP’s Executive Director Liz Hume. “It is also critical as our society in the U.S. at all levels is increasingly divided, to highlight lawmakers who are working together in a bipartisan manner to solve the global violent conflict problem and also are working to build back the norms of cooperation and consensus-building.”

AfP celebrates the re-introduction of the YPS Act in 2021 by Representatives Meng and Curtis, alongside co-sponsors Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1) and Representative Dean Phillips (D-MN-3). The YPS Act supports the meaningful participation of youth in peacebuilding and conflict prevention, management, resolution, and recovery efforts. The Act builds on existing U.S. government strategies to ensure that efforts for peace are well-coordinated and inclusive.

Congressman Curtis has also been a key bipartisan champion on issues related to human rights and trafficking, and supported numerous initiatives relevant to the peacebuilding community, such as the BURMA Act, Safe from the Start Act, Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, and their recognition of the fact that increased inclusivity and the protection of human rights promotes sustainable peace, security, and development.

In addition to her efforts to promote peacebuilding globally, Representative Meng has been a key champion of legislative measures to prevent and address conflict and hate crimes, support dialogue, and promote community empowerment and education in the U.S. The Congresswoman, who represents the most diverse Congressional district in the country, spearheaded the inclusion of $30 million for grants to community-based organizations to support community-based strategies for conflict resolution, reconciliation, and empowerment in the House FY 2022 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Funding Bill.

The Alliance for Peacebuilding (AfP)—named the “number one influencer and change agent” among peacebuilding institutions worldwide—is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit, nonpartisan network of 150+ organizations working in 181 countries to prevent conflict, reduce violence, improve lives, and build sustainable peace. At our core, AfP cultivates a network to strengthen and advance the peacebuilding field, enabling peacebuilding organizations to achieve greater impact—tackling issues too large for any one organization to address alone.