Empowering the Human Spirit — Advancing a Culture of Peace
Pathways To Peace (PTP) is an international Peacebuilding, educational, and consulting organization that has spent over four decades turning the ideal of Peace into a lived reality.
Founded in 1981, PTP is a United Nations-designated Peace Messenger Organization and holds Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Department of Global Communication (DGC). Our mission is to expand the understanding and expression of Peace, support Peacebuilders and Peacebuilding initiatives, and build an integral global movement for a Culture of Peace.
PTP works locally and globally, across generations and cultures, uniting individuals, organizations, and networks around a shared vision: a world where Peace is not just an aspiration, but a way of life.
Pathways To Peace: Four Decades of Global Impact
For over 40 years, Pathways To Peace (PTP) has stood at the forefront of global peacebuilding—uniting visionaries, empowering communities, and transforming lives. Through innovation, collaboration, and movement-building, PTP continues to shape a world where peace is not just imagined, but actively lived. Each year, our programs reach thousands across the globe, offering peace education, leadership development, essential programs, and opportunities for collective action. Our initiatives break down barriers to peace and build bridges of understanding, compassion, and cooperation among peoples and nations. From advocating for the prohibition of nuclear weapons to championing women’s and girls’ empowerment worldwide, PTP’s influence is profound and far-reaching. We celebrate and uplift the voices of those leading the way toward a more just and peaceful world. At the heart of our mission lies a commitment to the next generation. PTP cultivates young peacebuilders by opening doors to the United Nations and other global platforms, amplifying youth voices and igniting the wisdom, courage, and creativity needed to shape our shared future. Pathways To Peace continues to be a global catalyst for unity, equity, and hope—turning the dream of peace into a living reality.
Together Building a Culture of Peace through Diverse Pathways
Pathways To Peace (PTP) stands at the heart of a global movement to create a Culture of Peace—a world where cooperation, compassion, and respect for all life replace fear and conflict. As a longtime catalyst for peacebuilding innovation, PTP played a vital role in the adoption of the historic United Nations Resolution on the Culture of Peace in 1999, helping to bring this transformative vision to the global stage. Since then, PTP has continued to turn that vision into action—connecting people, communities, and organizations around the world to co-create practical pathways toward peace. From grassroots initiatives to international partnerships, PTP empowers individuals and institutions alike to live the values of peace every day—proving that peace is not only possible, it’s already happening, one inspired action at a time.
Our Vision: Peace as a Living Force
“Peace is both an innate state of being and a dynamic, transformative, and evolutionary process.” At Pathways To Peace, we believe Peace begins within each individual—and radiates outward through our thoughts, words, and actions. As more people discover inner Peace, they naturally engage in Peaceful living, building communities rooted in compassion, understanding, and cooperation. Across the globe, we see this transformation taking hold—in the expanding reach of the International Day of Peace, the ripple effect of our partners, and the growing momentum toward unity and shared humanity. We are moving beyond separation, acting together to end violence, and embodying the Peace our world urgently needs. “Acting in concert, we do make a difference in the quality of our lives, our institutions, communities, and our planetary future. Through co-operation, we manifest the essential Spirit that unites us amidst our diverse ways.” — Avon Mattison, Founder of Pathways To Peace
VISION
A world at peace.
MISSION
Pathways To Peace leads, inspires, and acts to make Peace a lived reality.
VALUES
- Multi-cultural
- Inter-generational
- Global and local
- Cooperation and collaboration
- Diverse pathways to Peace
PEACE WHEEL
THE PEACE WHEEL© is a model for Peacebuilding, developed by Pathways To Peace and activated over the last 25 years. It consists of eight sectors, or pathways, that are interconnected and that symbolize different pathways. The 8 pathways recognize and engage all people as peacebuilders. These pathways transcend national, ethnic, racial, religious, age, identity, or gender differences; they are common to every society:
- GOVERNANCE/LAW/SECURITY
- EDUCATION/MEDIA
- ECONOMICS/BUSINESS
- HEALTH/RELATIONSHIPS
- SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY
- RELIGION/SPIRITUAL TEACHINGS
- ENVIRONMENT/HABITAT
- CULTURE
The rainbow-hued interlocking infinity symbols, aligned to the four directions, circle out and back to the green mother center which is Earth. These infinity symbols include all circles of life and all expressions within their embrace. The protective, mothering spirit of Nature, strong in Law and seemingly eternal in patience, encircles each individual living entity, urging each one along its own evolutionary pathway. “PEACE” is recognized as both an innate state of Being, and a dynamic evolutionary process wherein constructive growth can occur and the children of this and future generations may gain hope to inherit a better world. A world at Peace. The Peace Wheel© is a working model used (and continuously modified) in diverse ways, such as international conferences and organizations, Peacebuilding symposia, the International Day of Peace (Peace Day), and activities to build a Culture of Peace throughout our world.
Download a copy of the PDF here.
Click each pathway to learn more.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE
The International Day of Peace (“Peace Day”) is observed around the world each year on 21 September. Established in 1981 by unanimous United Nations resolution, Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace.
CULTURE OF PEACE INITIATIVE
The Culture of Peace Initiative (CPI) is a UN-designated “Peace Messenger Initiative” with participants in all the world’s regions. Its purpose is to unite the strengths of organizations and individuals who are working to make Peace a practical reality.
