Report by Ms. Lorena Schlicht, Mayors for Peace France (AFCDRP)
On July 4, 2025, the Annual Meeting of International Action by Local Governments took place at the Salon des Arts et Métiers in Paris. Organized by Cités Unies France, in partnership with the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the French Development Agency, this major event focused on current challenges in decentralized cooperation and highlighted the initiatives led by local governments internationally. This edition also celebrated the 50th anniversary of Cités Unies France.
Mayors for Peace France co-organized a dedicated session from 9:30 to 11:00 AM at the Salon Magne, entitled “Cultures of Peace and International Action of Local Governments.” The workshop emphasized the connections between memory, international solidarity, and local approaches to sustainable peace. Speakers included Philippe Rio (Mayor of Grigny and President of Mayors for peace France), Sonia Zdorovtzoff (Deputy Mayor of Lyon), Océane Guillon (Project Manager at Dunkirk Urban Community), and Clare Hart (Vice-President of Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole).
In the context of increasing geopolitical crises, local governments were recognized as essential actors in promoting peace, supporting civil society, and preventing conflicts. Memory played a central role as a tool for dialogue and prevention.
As the year 2025 marks important commemorations, including the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, the 30th anniversary of the Oslo Accords, and three decades of decentralized cooperation in Palestine, local governments are increasingly eager to share their experiences on peacebuilding and to develop their projects on international solidarity and decentralized cooperation.
Photos: courtesy of AFCDRP–Mayors for Peace France