Opening of the Fifth World Forum of Cities and Local Governments for Peace, and launch 4th edition of UCLG Peace Prize, Montevideo, 2 May 2025

 

Excellency Vice President of Uruguay,

dear Carolina Cosse,

Dear members of national government,

Dear Mayor Mauricio Zunino,
Mayors,
Leaders,

Peacebuilders,

 

A warm welcome to this plenary opening of the Fifth World Forum of Cities and Territories for Peace.

I would like to thank Mayor Zunino

and the team from Montevideo for hosting us here,

and for hosting the World Forum on Cities and Territories of Peace,

one of the foundations of the peace agenda of United Cities and Local Governments,

and a political process that will allow us to continue developing a sustainable peace that builds on the needs of communities.

 

The Forum of Cities and Territories of Peace is closely connected

to the Peace Agenda of the World Organization of United Cities and Local Governments.

It is part of a movement that believes in the power of local and regional governments to build peace from the ground up,

through dialogue,

cooperation,

and city diplomacy.

 

I would like to acknowledge the important role of the UCLG women leaders in this agenda.

Women mayors have put this Forum in motion and kept it alive.

It was also a woman leader that brought us here,

to Montevideo.

This legacy is now embraced by the whole Organization and will mark the rest of our agenda for years to come.

 

Our Forum is taking place at a time of significant geopolitical tension and conflict.

Attention tends to focus primarily on the major global and national actors.

Yet that is not where the foundation for de-escalation and peace is truly laid.

That foundation is built by us

– as mayors, local leaders, organizations,

businesses,

and citizens.

Locally,

in our cities, municipalities, and regions.

My city The Hague hosts numerous international organizations,

including the International Criminal Court.

In The Hague,

nations engage in dialogue, individuals accused of war crimes face justice.

These important systems of international law and its institutions are under pressure,

And we as the city The Hague stand firmly in their defense.

 

Last year,

we celebrated 125 years of The Hague as a city of Peace and Justice.

Among the highlights was the launch of the

The Hague Charter on Municipal Peace,

developed during the UCLG World Council.

This Charter is a tool to enable local collaboration in the fight against radicalization and extremism,

in promoting safety,

and in encouraging the peaceful coexistence of communities.

It supports the creation of conditions that motivate people to invest in a future in their own country.

I am pleased to share that just two days ago,

during my visit to the city of Recife in Brazil,

we jointly signed a commitment to this Charter.

This is a meaningful step in a broader movement.

We,

local and regional leaders,

remain firmly committed to this through the UCLG Peace Agenda,

through the outcomes of this Forum.

The Declaration of the Forum that will be launched at the closing will build on the themes of this fifth Forum,

in line with the Pact for the Future of Humanity,

contributing to the peacebuilding discussions of our organization.

And finnaly, I would like to take a moment to introduce the UCLG Peace Prize,

as it is an honour to mark a meaningful moment:

the official launch of the 4th edition of this award.

 

This prize, however, is not simply an award.

It is a call—to recognize, to support,

and to celebrate the essential role that cities and local governments play in building peace,

defending human rights,

and strengthening the democratic fabric of our societies.

And so, it gives me great pleasure to announce that,

as of this very moment,

the 2026 UCLG Peace Prize is officially open for applications.

The entire global community of local governments is invited to apply for this award to set an example and inspire others,

uniting in our common goal of promoting peace.

We know the challenges are great.

But we also know that brave and innovative actions form the beating heart of sustainable peace are the prove that true transformation begins at the local level.

 

Let this edition of the Peace Prize surface new models,

new voices,

and new hope.

us inspire one another with what is already being done

– and what more can be imagined.

 

To all mayors,

municipal teams,

and communities working for peace:

I encourage you to take this opportunity.

We look forward to learning from your efforts, and to sharing them with the world.

 

Allow me to close this opening by,

once again,

thanking the hosts from Montevideo

And to all mayors,

municipal teams,

and communities working for peace,

We look forward to learning from your efforts,

and to sharing them with the world.

 

Thank you,

dear friends,

muchas gracias,

for contributing to making this Forum the place to reflect on,

and help local peace grow.