Our Aims

Stop the war

No to a racist backlash

Defend civil liberties

1. The aim of the Coalition should be very simple: to stop the war currently declared by the United States and its allies against ‘terrorism’. We condemn the attacks on New York and we feel the greatest compassion for those who lost their life on 11th September 2001. But any war will simply add to the numbers of innocent dead, cause untold suffering, political and economic instability on a global scale, increase racism and result in attacks on civil liberties. The aims of the campaign would be best expressed in the name Stop the War Coalition.
2. Supporters of the Coalition, whether organisations or individuals, will of course be free to develop their own analyses and organise their own actions. But there will be many important occasions when united initiatives around broad stop the war slogans can mobilise the greatest numbers.
3. The Coalition shall elect a steering committee which reflects the breadth of those involved to carry forward the aims and objectives. Local groups should have regular, open and inclusive meetings.
4. We call on all peace activists and organisations, trade unionists, campaigners and labour movement organisations to join with us in building a mass movement that can stop the drive to war.
5. We are committed to opposing any racist backlash generated by this war. We will fight to stop the erosion of civil rights.

The Stop the War Coalition was formed on September 21st, 2001 at a public meeting of over 2,000 people in London. The platform statement above was ratified at public meetings held in October 2001 in London.

The "war on terror" has progressed through a number of stages, and naturally the slogans of the day have changed to fit. It has also had consequences far beyond the immediate US-led military attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq, but in each case, it has been the US-led drive to war which has been the prime cause of these crises, backlashes and other repercussions.

In the UK the Stop the War Coalition has organised massive demonstrations against these wars, in conjunction with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the Muslim Association of Britain. Today, we are campaigning to End the Occupation of Iraq and to Stop the War on the Iraqi people. A wide range of international organisations which are attempting to do the same thing are listed on our links page.

If you are a member of an organisation that is opposed to Bush and Blair's on-going "war on terror" and agree with our aims and objectives, we urge you to ask your organisation to consider affiliating to the Stop the War Coalition. Individuals are also welcome to join the Stop the War Coalition. Together, we can make our voice heard

Our Constitution

1. Objectives

The objectives of the Coalition are as set out in its founding statement of aims, as may be amended by its national conference as it considers appropriate.

2. Affiliation

The Coalition is open to the affiliation of any organisation that accepts those objectives, and of any local Coalition that works in support of them, on payment of an affiliation fee as laid down by conference.

3. Individual Membership

Any individual may become a member of the Coalition who supports its objectives and pays an annual subscription as laid down by conference.

4. Conference

a) The Steering Committee of the Coalition shall convene a national conference not less than once every eighteen months.
b) The Conference shall be convened on a representative and equitable basis, with the basis for representation to be determined by the Steering Committee.
c) The Conference shall have the power to decide changes to the Coalition's statement of aims, and adopt any resolutions appropriate to the Coalition's work which may be submitted by affiliated organisations or local Coalitions.
d) The conference shall receive a financial report from the Steering Committee, and shall elect the Steering Committee.

5. Steering Committee

The Steering Committee shall be responsible for directing the national work of the Coalition in line with its objectives. It shall set national guidelines for the Coalition's political work, ensure that proper accounts are maintained and shall supervise the office of the Coalition and any employees.
The Steering Committee shall elect such officers, in addition to the Chair, Convenor and Treasurer directly elected by Conference, as it feels necessary to ensure the discharge of these responsibilities and to conduct the day-to-day work of the Coalition.