The UCLG Municipal Peace Talks paves the way to rehumanize human settlements by adopting people-centred approaches to local peacebuilding. Values such as human rights, gender equality, care, youth engagement, and local democracy need to be at the centre of locally-driven peacebuilding.
The dialogue in The Hague addressed the need to renew the financing of global diplomatic peace and violence prevention initiatives and recovery plans need to include financial support to local and regional governments cooperation and territorial action. The event connected the Municipal Peace Talks with The Hague’s special anniversary ‘125 years City of Peace & Justice’.
Building the New Peace Agenda for Future Generations
Local and regional governments are the guardians of peaceful and secure societies driven by human rights, and first-responders in times of crises and conflict. Yet, as security is usually an issue of national sovereignty, their role in preventing and resolving conflicts remains underexposed, underestimated and unknown. While international attention for conflict situations is increasing, little attention is given to the local context of such conflicts, and the impacts that these conflicts inflict at the local level. Focus is put on national or international measures needed to prevent and resolve conflicts, while local governments are usually close to the roots of the conflict, and deal with the consequences directly and on a daily basis.
Conflicts are often addressed at the national level, yet solutions are more frequently found locally. Based on experience and previous talks, several topics have been identified that are more effectively addressed at the local rather than the national level. Building on our origins as a movement driven by peace and city diplomacy, the mandate received from its Presidency, and our contributions to the UN Pact for the Future and the New Agenda on Peace, the session will set the ground for local to local dialogue beyond the current conflicts, addressing also the current trends around the role of local and regional governments in the context of humanitarian emergencies.
