Report by Ms. Helena Aranda Mayor, the City of Granollers, Spain
The 3rd World Forum on Cities and Territories of Peace started in October with the virtual programme ‘Road to the Forum.’ It was a series of online meetings addressing the importance of building coexistence and peace in cities and territories, as well as the need to identify the causes of tension and violence, in order to implement public policies, programmes, and citizen initiatives that help to build culture and education for peace.
The Catalan Chapter of Mayors for Peace has been involved in the organization of the past two Forums, held in Madrid in 2017 and 2018. Both brought together mayors, international local leaders, personalities from civil society, and great thinkers for an exchange of experiences, strategies, campaigns, and policies focusing on exchanging views on the various forms of violence affecting cities and territories.
This year, between 5 – 7 October, 16 online sessions took place with the collaboration of 102 panellists and moderators from 18 different countries, attracting more than 10,000 viewers through Zoom, YouTube and social media. They provided input for the on-site meeting to be held in Mexico City (a Vice President City and Lead City of Mayors for Peace) in April 2021.