Report by Ms. Lorena Schlicht, Mayors for Peace France (AFCDRP)
The International Peace Conference was held from July 19 to 21 at the city hall of Vitry-sur-Seine, a member city of Mayors for Peace. The event was honored by the presence of Mayor Pierre Bell Lloch, as well as elected officials from Mayors for Peace France, Mayor of Granollers, President of Mayors for Peace Europe and elected officials from Graz Austria.
The conference began with a moving moment of silence to remember victims of global conflicts. Associations such as Ensemble pour l’Avenir, the Tamils of Vitry, Coopération Vitry Mali, and Cubacoop Vitry shared their experiences under the theme of a culture of peace. Raphaël Porteilla, a Political Science professor at the Peace Institute in Burgundy, posed the question: “What is peace?” and emphasizing how peace embodies a culture and mindset that converts conflicts into opportunities for progress rather than destruction.
The conference featured enriching discussions on peace through sport and internationalism, showcasing Vitry’s commitment to impactful projects. It concluded with the lighting of the Olympic flame and a joint declaration. The weekend underscored solidarity and fraternity, highlighted by the symbolic journey of the Olympic flame and the vibrant Olympic village. The event ended with a global call for a ban on nuclear weapons in presence of ICAN France representative, Jean Maire Collin, and the reading of the final declaration, marking a powerful and inspiring conclusion.
Photos: courtesy of Mayors for Peace France