How city diplomacy can take action to prevent the use of explosive weaponsin towns and cities
At the occasion of the International Day of Peace on September 21st the European Chapter of Mayors for Peace and INEW organised a jointwebinar on the role of local governments in better protecting inhabitants of towns and cities from the harm and destruction caused by the use ofexplosive weapons, an important theme in our endeavours to create safe, resilient, sustainable, and more peaceful communities.
The security of citizens is a global concern. When security is altered in any region, it produces a domino effect that modifies the security of the rest of the countries.
In this context, more and more mayors from all over the world involve themselves in networks to look for solutions to global conflicts. Local leadership, as a network of allied municipalities, has enough strength to be able to break barriers actively and in a descentralized manner and to make its voice heard. We need to work with other municipalities to export the culture of peace. The local actions have an impact outside the municipality’s borders and on the security of citizens living in more distant territories. Therefore, local peace policies are key to ensuring that citizen coexistence flows positively.
The Mayors for Peace network believes in the importance of influencing the structural causes that fuel violent conflicts. Peace can only be understood if it is linked to the strengthening of democracy, social justice, and respect for human rights. These are the goals that municipalities must work on. On a daily basis, we must promote actions for social coexistence, against any form of exclusion, and for a fairer society through awareness and education for peace.
The safety of a territory is achieved through prevention, resolution, and dialogue, never through investment in weapons.
Read a summary of Mayors for Peace and INEW interventions:
Watch the video of the webinar here:
