Today, half the world’s population lives in cities. By the year 2030, there will be as many as 5000 million people living in cities. Cities are ideal spaces to implement governance models that are closer to the people, with more direct and shared decision-making processes. In other words, cities are the right place to implement true democracy and it makes easier to take political action.
A mature, democratic society should consider as one of its strategic endeavours the design of policies leading to the eradication of violent behaviour and raising awareness of the fact that violence is the worst possible expression of lack of humanity. Coexistence in cities thrives in the midst of conflict and making a distinction between violence and conflict is crucial in educating to create a mindset that makes it possible to build a culture of peaceful coexistence.
The municipal movement, and in particular the European executive cities of Mayors for Peace, are strongly committed to the attainment of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the New Urban Agenda and the building of cities for coexistence and peace.
City members work on political programmes for the development of strategies and tools helping citizens solve conflicts, clashes and frustrations peacefully by giving them the skills and competencies required to make a better, violence-free, world. Please find below some key projects on this field of work: