21 September 2020 – Today Mayor Marvin Rees (Bristol, UK), member of 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, Antonio Guterres. 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 Rees will be handing-over the resolution at the UN International Day of Peace “Peace One Day”, a one day gathering of global champions from government, technology, public health, human rights and entertainment 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 to halve violence by 2030 is a powerful demonstration of city diplomacy and solidarity. It is the first time that cities from around the world have come together to form a common position on violence prevention and reduction. City leaders from Bristol, Budapest, Madrid and Mannheim to Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Dayton, Santiago, and Amman, Haifa, Rabat, Hebron and Cape Town committed to this objective. 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).

According to GPM Mayor Rees, “cities are stepping-up to the plate to take action on the most challenging global issues of our era. I am proud Bristol will stand alongside the cities demonstrating leadership and hope it encourages national governments and international institutions to support us.”

The COVID-19 pandemic is contributing to devastating social, economic and political consequences around the world. It is also increasing the risk of organized 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 specter of social and political unrest. These challenges are faced most acutely in cities.

According to GPM Mayor Rees, “the city-led resolution to halve violence is part of an international campaign to accelerate action on the Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs. It 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 organizations, focus on the most vulnerable communities, empower survivors and young people, break intergenerational cycles of violence, and tackle digital extremism.”

Cities and city networks can join the GPM Resolution on Violence Reduction by contacting gpm@denhaag.nl before 1 October 2020.

Download the Press Release 21 Sept2020 GPM Resolution on Violence Reduction

For more information:
For the list of signatory cities and networks and more information about the GPM, please refer to the GPM website.

For an interview with GPM Executive Committee Member Mayor Rees or an op-ed piece on the City Resolution, contact: Caroline Twigg, Head of International Affairs, Bristol City Council: international@bristol.gov.uk.

For interviews with other signatory cities, contact: drs. Caroline Schep, Executive Director GPM Secretariat, caroline.schep@denhaag.nl.