Report by Ms. Loréna Schlicht, AFCDRP–Mayors for Peace France
On Monday, April 17, 2023, at the Maison des Relations Internationales in Montpellier, France, Mr. Michaël Delafosse, Mayor of the city and President of Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole (intercommunal organization of the metropolitan area around Montpellier), reiterated his commitment to the abolition of nuclear weapons. Following the hibakusha’s wish and the cause of Mayors for Peace, he signed the Cities Appeal launched by ICAN in support of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). The City of Montpellier has become the 70th French city to sign it.
“In the current context of the War in Ukraine and the threat to use nuclear weapons, the commitment of democratic states which are territories of peace is crucial. Indeed, we have the responsibility to act collectively towards peaceful solutions to conflicts by addressing current issues such as the plight of refugees or human rights abuse,” said Michaël Delafosse.
Besides the signing, in favor of the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace (24th April), the City of Montpellier held exhibitions including the Mayors for Peace Atomic Bomb Poster Exhibition at the Maison des Relations Internationales, and a group of local associations for peace and nuclear disarmament, Collectif Stop Armes nucléaires 34, organized a musical event, hibakusha’s poem readings by high school students, and a conference on the issue of nuclear weapons. Following these events, a letter of invitation will be sent to Montpellier’s twin cities and the other cities in Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole that are not yet members of Mayors for Peace and signatories of the ICAN Cities Appeal.
