On June 10, 2024, the delegations from the French, Catalan, and Belgian sections of Mayors for Peace gathered to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the massacre of Oradour-sur-Glane, which claimed the lives of 643 people. This solemn event was honored by the presence of the French and German presidents, as well as delegations from foreign cities, French ministers, elected officials, institutional representatives, associations, and families of the victims. This poignant moment served as a strong reminder of these tragic events and the importance of preserving their memory.

As part of the commemorations, on June 11 at the Regional Council headquarters in Limoges, the Mayors for Peace delegations participated in the 5th Conference of Cities of remembrance, initiated by Dunkirk in 2016.

Discussions focused on: “Transmitting Memory: Why and How to Remember,” featuring a video testimony from hibakusha Ms. Toshiko Tanaka, presented by Peace Boat; “Memorial Sites in Europe: Assessment and Perspectives”; “Memory Tourism in the Digital Age: From Pilgrimage to Consumption”; the proclamation of the Cities of remembrance manifesto; and the Youth Manifesto, highlighted by the project “Youth Storming for Peace” involving ten young participants from Bucha. Before the video of Toshiko Tanaka, Fatiha Alaudat, Deputy
Municipal Councilor for Peace Culture in Malakoff and representative of Mayors for Peace, underscored the historical commitment of mayors from the two martyr cities to peace. She highlighted the crucial role of hibakusha as “the last living witnesses of the atomic bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki,” emphasizing the strength and uniqueness of their testimonies that “powerfully express the inhumanity of these weapons of mass destruction, while delivering a message of hope and peace,” aiming “to prevent humanity from reliving the terrible suffering caused by their use.”

Next year, the 6th Conference will be held in Dunkirk to continue this vital dialogue.