The Executive Committee of the Global Parliament of Mayors (GPM) will deliver an international resolution to accelerate efforts to halve violence by 2030 to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The GPM, together with Peace in Our Cities, launched this resolution in June 2020. It has been signed by more than 60 cities together with city networks representing over 1,500 cities and metropolitan areas.

GPM Mayor Marvin Rees handed-over the resolution at the UN International Day of Peace “Peace One Day”, a one-day gathering of global human rights champions to promote peace and violence reduction. The GPM and Peace in Our Cities are working with Pathfinders, a coalition of 36 national governments and 100 non-governmental partners, to accelerate action and investment in peace, justice and inclusion worldwide.

The global challenge of violence demands a global response. While national governments are key to preventing conflict, fighting crime and reducing domestic violence, cities are even more central players when it comes to preventing and reducing violence.

The resolution is the result of the first time that cities from around the world have come together to form a common position on violence prevention and reduction. Alongside the GPM and Peace In Our Cities is the European Forum for Urban Security (EFUS), the African Forum for Urban Security (AFUS), the Mayors Migration Council (MMC), Strong Cities Network (SCN) and the US Conference of Mayors (USCM).

The COVID-19 pandemic is contributing to devastating social, economic and political consequences around the world. It is also increasing the risk of organised and interpersonal violence in upper, middle and low-income settings alike. Women and children, in particular, are experiencing a greater risk of violence, especially at home and online, as are the most vulnerable, including displaced people and those living in conflict-affected areas. The threat of criminal violence is also rising, as is the spectre of social and political unrest. These challenges are faced most acutely in cities.

The resolution commits city leaders to significantly reduce all forms of lethal violence in cities, invest in evidence-based solutions, work in partnerships with national and international organisations, focus on the most vulnerable communities, empower survivors and young people, break intergenerational cycles of violence, and tackle digital extremism.

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