June 2025 – This year, the Global Parliament of Mayors awarded the prestigious Dr. Benjamin Barber Global Cities Award to Mayor Ricardo Rio of Braga, Portugal. The award ceremony was part of the opening of the GPM Annual Summit 2025 hosted by Mayor Rio. The Benjamin Barber Award recognizes mayors for their outstanding contribution to further global urban governance and inspiring city leadership.
Mayor Rio’s dynamic and innovative leadership as the Mayor of Braga, has not only transformed the lives of his constituents but has also served as an inspiring example to mayors and city leaders worldwide. His dedication to urban development, social progress, and sustainable initiatives is truly commendable. His tireless efforts to improve the quality of life in Braga and his relentless pursuit of positive change have not gone unnoticed.
In a world facing numerous challenges, Mayor Rio’s leadership stands out as a beacon of hope and progress. His commitment to addressing issues such as climate change, public health, education, and social inclusivity resonates deeply with the core values of the Global Parliament of Mayors. His endeavors are setting a remarkable precedent for cities around the globe to follow.
Mayor Rio commented: “Receiving this distinction from the Global Parliament of Mayors is, above all, a recognition of the path Braga has been forging through its internationalisation strategy. It reflects our firm commitment to positioning Braga as an open and collaborative city—one that actively engages with global networks and actively promotes principles of democracy, inclusion, and sustainable development. I am honored to have received this acknowledgment, as it reinforces our dedication to building a future that is not only more connected, but also more just, resilient, and responsive to the needs of citizens and communities from all around the world.”
The Global Parliament of Mayors created the award to honor outstanding actions or research on urban governance and contributions to advancing the roles and principles set out by the GPM. The award is named in memory of the founder of GPM, Dr. Benjamin Barber, author of the book ‘If Mayors Ruled the World’ (2014), who continues to inspire Mayors from around the world.
The GPM Annual Summit gathers mayors from all over the world, strengthening the voice of cities and elevating city leadership. Mayors, city network leaders, and representatives of international organizations gathered in Braga to convene on the topics of Democracy, Empowering Cities, Caring Cities, & The Power of Culture, reflecting on the pressing issues of the world.
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For more information on the GPM, visit globalparliamentofmayors.org, or contact us at info@globalparliamentofmayors.org