John Reuwer is a retired emergency physician, and Treasurer and Board member of World BEYOND War. For more than 40 years, his medical career and international experience have led him to explore a fundamental question: What alternatives to violence can help us address seemingly intractable conflicts?
Reuwer has studied, taught, and practiced nonviolent power, with a particular focus on Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP)—an approach that seeks to protect communities and reduce violence without the use of weapons. His firsthand experience spans Haiti, Colombia, Central America, Palestine/Israel, South Sudan, Ukraine, and several U.S. cities. Most recently, he participated in the Gaza Sumud Flotilla and continues to work with the DC Peace Team as a de-escalator supporting diverse communities and demonstrations.
He also serves on the Committee to Abolish Nuclear Weapons with Physicians for Social Responsibility, educating the public and policymakers about nuclear weapons which he considers the ultimate expression of the destructive logic of modern warfare. He is an active member of Doctors Against Genocide, advocating for the rule of law and the protection of health care professionals and their patients around the world.
At a time when militarized approaches to conflict continues to afflict hundreds of millions of people worldwide, Reuwer brings a distinctive perspective grounded not only in advocacy, but in medicine, direct experience in conflict zones, and decades of practical engagement with nonviolent alternatives.