Speech by Jan van Zanen at the opening of Peace Begins Here: Local Solutions for Conflict, 8 October 2024

 

Good morning everyone,

Colleagues, dear guests,

A very warm welcome at the start of Peace Begins Here: Local Solutions for Conflict.

I am very glad that you have decided to join this conference today.

This session is organized under the umbrella of the third edition of the UCLG Municipal Peace Talks.

And where better to hold these talks than here in The Hague?

The international city of peace and justice for 125 years now.

The First Peace Conference was held in The Hague in 1899.

The official participants then, and 8 years later at the second peace conference, were nation states only.

War and peace in those days and long thereafter were seen as a matter for countries and national governments.

Which is understandable.

War and peace is something that many people associate with national states.

One country invading another.

And unfortunately that still happens today.

When it comes to war and peace many people also think of international organisations.

Like the Peace Missions of the United Nations.

Many conflicts, however, begin at local level.

And 80 percent of those conflict zones are found in urban areas.

That is therefore precisely where it is possible to help find a solution to those conflicts.

To address the root causes that are at the origin of the conflict; such as equal access to services like water, such as opportunities for jobs.

And to create dialogue among citizens and to move towards lasting peace.

On top of this, in our globalised world, conflicts from thousands of kilometres away make themselves felt in the squares, on the streets and in the schools of our cities.

With the arrival of refugees from war zones, for example.

Through diaspora.

Through social media.

Local and regional governments are positioned closest to their residents and are the first to feel the impact of global events.

This week the global organization of local governments is meeting in The Hague: United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG).

An organization with a centenary history born from city diplomacy, and from the understanding that peace is too important to not deal with it by our cities and territories directly.

UCLG has set itself the goal of encouraging and supporting local peace initiatives wherever possible, and of building an agenda that speaks to the international peace processes.

So it is only natural that this year’s World Council should be dedicated to a New Peace Agenda for Future Generations.

That Agenda includes sustainable development which goes beyond sustainability in our built environment, and extends to social and economic inclusion.

Because a peaceful future can only be achieved by tackling the underlying causes of conflict.

Such as inequality, injustice and a lack of opportunities.

The UCLG Pact for the Future of Humanity underlines the importance of pro-active measures to prevent conflicts from escalating.

These could include diplomacy, dialogue and mediation.

In The Hague, for example, we have seen positive results through the use of ‘neighbourhood fathers ánd mothers’.

These people are key figures in the local area who have good contact with the youngsters there.

For example, these ‘neighbourhood fathers and mothers’ play an important part in preventing young people from becoming radicalised.

In the past, the UCLG established a peace prize.

The plan for this originated here in this city, The Hague.

None other than former Mayor of The Hague, Wim Deetman, was at the forefront of the creation of the UCLG Peace Prize.

In 2022 the prize went to the municipality of Palmira in Colombia.

Palmira developed a programme to prevent youngsters from becoming involved in violent gangs.

In 2026 the prize will be awarded for the fourth time.

But first, today’s Municipal Peace Talks.

Municipalities, young people and experts will shortly be discussing the local significance of global developments.

And about what can be done at local level to prevent and resolve conflicts.

I would love to hear the results of this session.

Everywhere in the world women, men and children yearn for peace.

Any idea which can contribute to that is more than welcome.

I wish you all a positive and inspiring meeting and please enjoy The Hague.