The Decade to Overcome Violence 2001 - 2010: Churches Seeking Reconciliation and Peace (DOV) calls all the worlds people to engage in violence prevention, the pursuit of justice and peacemaking.
Violence is not unavoidable. Peace is possible.
Non-violence is our challenge.
March for peace, Porto Alegre, Brazil, 2006. International Day of Prayer for Peace
On 21 September, churches and communities throughout the world are committing to the International Day of Prayer for Peace (IDPP) through prayer, meditation and other forms of spiritual observance.
As part of the final year of the World Council of Churches' Decade to Overcome Violence (DOV), this year's International Day of Prayer for Peace has a focus on Africa. Read more...
News and stories
Young Muslims, Jews and Christians become peace facilitators
While peace is a commonly held value within Judaism, Islam and Christianity, other religious values can often become sources of conflict. In order to build community beyond faith boundaries a group of young adults from each of the three faith groups spent a week focusing on the common value of ...
[more]African theologian analyzes links between religion, politics and violence
“The prospect for a religion-based approach to peace-making has a great potential in sub-Saharan Africa,” Dr Yacob Tesfai said presenting his new book Holy Warriors, Infidels and Peacemakers in Africa.
[more]UNICEF
International Ecumenical Peace Convocation
The conclusion of DOV will be marked by an International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (IEPC), which will be the harvest festival of the DOV as well as a planting season for fresh initiatives.
Ecumenical Declaration on Just Peace
This declaration will be will be one of the culminating points of the Decade to Overcome Violence (DOV).
Living Letters - Ecumenical team visits
Living Letters are small ecumenical teams visiting a country to listen, learn, share approaches and challenges in overcoming violence.
Expert consultations
A series of expert consultations is organized in partnership with research institutes and NGOs as part of the process towards an Ecumenical Declaration on Just Peace.




