Declaration of Neutrality

Preamble

The Bank of Peace, recognizing that true peace-building requires absolute neutrality and independence from all political, commercial, financial, religious, and ideological influences, hereby declares its unwavering commitment to neutrality in all its activities and operations.

This Declaration of Neutrality serves as a foundational document alongside our Charter, guiding our conduct and ensuring that our mission to promote, support, and preserve peace remains untainted by external influences or agendas.

We affirm that our sole purpose is to serve as a repository of knowledge for peace, documenting and sharing successful peace initiatives and infrastructure projects for the benefit of all humanity, without favor or prejudice toward any nation, region, group, or individual.

Articles of Neutrality

Article I: Political Neutrality

The Bank of Peace shall maintain strict political neutrality at all times. We shall not:

Align with any political party, movement, or ideology
Endorse or oppose any political candidate, official, or government
Take positions on political disputes or conflicts between nations or regions
Allow our platforms, resources, or activities to be used for political purposes
Accept funding or support that requires political alignment or positions

We recognize that peace-building often occurs in politically sensitive contexts, and we commit to navigating these environments with diplomatic sensitivity while maintaining our political neutrality.

Article II: Financial Independence

The Bank of Peace shall maintain financial independence to ensure its neutrality is not compromised by economic interests. We shall:

Accept funding only from sources that do not seek to influence our activities or positions
Maintain transparency in all financial matters, including sources of funding and expenditures
Reject funding that comes with conditions that could compromise our neutrality
Ensure that no single donor has disproportionate influence over our operations
Operate on a not-for-profit basis, with all resources dedicated to our peace-building mission

Our financial independence is essential to our credibility as a neutral actor in peace-building efforts.

Article III: Religious Impartiality

The Bank of Peace shall maintain complete religious impartiality. We shall:

Not affiliate with any religious institution, doctrine, or belief system
Respect all religious traditions while not promoting or opposing any
Engage with religious actors in peace-building contexts without adopting their religious perspectives
Ensure that our activities and resources are accessible to people of all faiths and none
Approach faith-based peace initiatives with respect while maintaining our secular character

We recognize the important role that religious actors often play in peace-building and will engage with them while maintaining our religious impartiality.

Article IV: Commercial Neutrality

The Bank of Peace shall maintain neutrality regarding commercial interests. We shall:

Not promote or oppose any commercial entity, product, or service
Ensure that partnerships with commercial entities do not influence our activities or positions
Maintain independence from corporate interests in all our operations
Accept corporate support only when it comes without conditions that could compromise our neutrality
Ensure transparency in any engagement with commercial entities

Our commercial neutrality ensures that our peace-building work is not influenced by business interests or profit motives.

Article V: Ideological Independence

The Bank of Peace shall maintain independence from all ideological frameworks beyond our core commitment to peace. We shall:

Not adopt or promote any ideological position or worldview
Evaluate peace initiatives based on their effectiveness rather than their ideological underpinnings
Engage with diverse ideological perspectives while not aligning with any
Ensure that our knowledge repository represents diverse approaches to peace-building
Maintain critical distance from all ideological frameworks in our analysis and documentation

Our ideological independence allows us to focus solely on what works in peace-building, regardless of the theoretical or philosophical framework from which it emerges.

Implementation and Oversight

To ensure adherence to this Declaration of Neutrality, the Bank of Peace establishes the following mechanisms:

Neutrality Committee

A dedicated Neutrality Committee shall oversee the implementation of this declaration. The committee shall:

Review all major partnerships, funding sources, and initiatives for compliance with our neutrality principles
Provide guidance on navigating complex situations where neutrality might be challenged
Conduct regular audits of our activities to ensure ongoing compliance
Report annually on the state of our neutrality to all stakeholders

Transparency Measures

The Bank of Peace commits to transparency as a safeguard for our neutrality. We shall:

Publish all sources of funding and major expenditures
Disclose all institutional partnerships and their terms
Make public the backgrounds and affiliations of our leadership
Document and explain any situation where our neutrality was challenged and how it was addressed

Conflict of Interest Policies

To prevent compromises to our neutrality, we shall maintain strict conflict of interest policies that:

Require disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest by staff, volunteers, and leadership
Establish clear procedures for recusal when conflicts arise
Prohibit decision-making roles for individuals with significant conflicts
Regularly review and update these policies to address emerging challenges

Conclusion and Commitment

The Bank of Peace hereby affirms that this Declaration of Neutrality is fundamental to our identity and mission. We recognize that our effectiveness as a knowledge repository for peace depends on our credibility as a neutral, independent actor.

We commit to upholding the principles outlined in this declaration in all our activities, partnerships, and communications. We invite all who engage with us—whether as donors, partners, volunteers, or beneficiaries—to hold us accountable to these principles.

This declaration shall be reviewed periodically to ensure its continued relevance and effectiveness, but its core commitment to neutrality shall remain unchanged as long as the Bank of Peace exists.

Adopted by the founding members of the Bank of Peace on this day, as a solemn commitment to peace through neutrality, independence, and impartiality.

"Peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice and mutual respect. Our neutrality serves not as indifference, but as a foundation for inclusive peace-building that transcends divisions."