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The Norwegian Peace Association is Norway 's oldest peace organization. It was founded in 1885 by MP Wollert Konow. Among it's first members were renowned authors Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson and Arne Garborg. The organisation played a major role in the peaceful devolvement of the Union with Sweden in 1905, along with its Swedish sister organisation.
Today it is an Independent NGO with a roster of about 350 volunteers and no permanent staff. The NPA works for lasting world peace based on economic and social justice, freedom and personal responsibility, and for the development of a culture of peace where conflicts within and between countries are managed constructively and nonviolently. The NPA takes an active role in influencing Norwegian opinion and policy-makers by lobbying with partners for peace-friendly policies on the national and international arena. Some of the focal points in this activity are the cause and prevention of violent conflict, alternative solutions to war and, global disarmament.
The organization consists of individuals with both academic expertise and international experience working with conflict transformation, peace education and training. The focus is mainly on non-formal education to create a higher awareness and better understanding of peace and security issues, and on emphasizing the root causes of violent conflicts and war.
The NPA is a member organisation of the Nonviolent Peaceforce and a partner in the ARCA and ALPICOM projects. For more information see: www.nowar.no/nfl
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