Report by Ms. Lorena Schlicht, Mayors for Peace France (AFCDRP)
From 21 to 26 September 2025, Montpellier hosted the third edition of the Week for Peace, organized by a coalition of local associations in partnership with Mayors for Peace France. The event marked both the International Day of Peace (21 September) and the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons (26 September).
In a world facing escalating conflicts— in Ukraine, Gaza, and more than 60 active conflicts worldwide — the Week for Peace aimed to remind everyone that peace cannot simply be declared; it must be built through solidarity, social justice, and civic engagement.
Throughout the week, citizens gathered for film screenings, debates, and conferences at venues including the Université Paul-Valéry, La Carmagnole, and the Clémenceau Park, culminating in a concert for peace on the final evening.
Speakers included David Adams, former UNESCO Director for the International Year for the Culture of Peace; Raphaël Porteilla, political scientist and peace researcher; Sophie Bessis, historian and essayist specializing in North–South relations, the Arab world, and women’s rights; Logan Girard, Peace Representative for the Ligue des Droits de l’Homme Montpellier and PhD candidate in Public Law; and Patrice Bouveret, Director of the Observatory of Armaments and co-spokesperson for ICAN France.
The 2025 edition provided a vital space to strengthen dialogue, raise awareness, and engage youth in imagining alternatives to war and building a culture of peace rooted in justice and human dignity.
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Photos: courtesy of AFCDRP–Mayors for Peace France