Report by Ms. Helena Aranda Mayor, the City of Granollers, Spain
Catalan member cities approve the 2021 Action Plan
On January 22 took place the General Assembly of the Catalan Chapter of Mayors for Peace, which was held in virtual format and brought together more than 70 Mayors, councilors, and technicians. In Catalonia, there are more than 200 member municipalities of the network, a clear example of the strength and dynamism of Catalan local governments in the field of the culture of peace, solidarity and the defense of human rights.
The meeting took place on the day of the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), after more than 50 states signed and ratified it. Mayor Josep Mayoral of Granollers, a Vice President of Mayors for Peace and the Lead City of the Catalan Chapter, referred to this date as “a very important historic day on the road to disarmament and peace.” Mayor Mayoral drew a parallel between the nuclear weapons and the ban of cluster bombs, which was also achieved thanks to the struggle and persistence of civil society.
A campaign of cities for nuclear disarmament
The General Assembly expressed its commitment to a fairer, more peaceful and nuclear-disarmed world, approving a statement celebrating the entry into force of the Treaty and urging states to commit to this successful disarmament process.
Mayor Mayoral highlighted the ‘Cities of Peace’ initiative, a campaign promoted by various organizations in support of the TPNW, which invites municipalities to approve a motion asking their state governments to sign the Treaty.
There are currently more than 13,000 nuclear weapons in the world, most of them with a much higher destructive capacity than the bombs that destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. The campaign refers to the threat posed by these weapons to communities around the world and demonstrates the right of all citizens of the world to live in a world free of this threat. He warns that any use of a nuclear weapon, whether deliberate or accidental, would have catastrophic, far-reaching, and lasting consequences for people and the environment. He, therefore, called on the governments of the states to sign and ratify the Treaty.
Many cities around the world have already joined this call. Some municipalities in Catalonia and Spain also have joined. The Mayor of Granollers recalled that in February 2020, coinciding with the visit of ICAN activist Setsuko Thurlow, the City of Barcelona and Barcelona Provincial Council approved motions to ask to the Spanish Government to sign and ratify the Treaty. Mayor Mayoral added that many more voices are needed to take new steps to move towards peace and disarmament. Therefore, Mayors for Peace, together with ICAN (International Campaign for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons) and the Catalan NGO FundiPau, promote the campaign “Cities of Peace” and invite all municipalities to join.
New Catalan Executive Committee
The assembly, which was facilitated by the Chair of the Chapter Mayor Josep Mayoral, also approved the composition of the new Executive Committee for the period 2021-2023, which will be formed by the municipalities of Calella, Figueres, Flix, Gavà, Granollers, Igualada, Manlleu, Sant Feliu de Llobregat and Santa Coloma de Gramenet.
The Network’s Action Plan 2021 was approved, which is in line with the work of the International Secretariat. Among other points, it is planned to consolidate and expand the network of committed municipalities, develop and implement local agendas for peace and coexistence and encourage municipalities to join the “Cities of Peace” campaign. The commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombings in 2020 was also highlighted. Despite the difficulties caused by the Covid-19, events have been held in memory of the victims and raised awareness for the ban of nuclear weapons.