Once again, Bogotá becomes the stage for internationally significant events, this time related to peace matters and the defense of the rights of girls and women. Experts and leaders from different parts of the world will gather in the Colombian capital next week to address these topics.
At the beginning of the week, Bogotá will host the fourth edition of the World Forum of Cities and Territories of Peace, which will take place from Tuesday, June 27th, to Wednesday, June 28th at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. This global meeting, led by the Mayor's Office of Bogotá and the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), will bring together representatives from local governments, international organizations, civil society, and academia to promote the implementation of concrete policies and actions that contribute to building social peace, environmental peace, as well as peace with security and access to justice.
In this new edition, Bogotá and CGLU will welcome more than 30 mayors from 16 countries around the world, who will share insights with about 100 leaders from different regions. In this way, the Colombian capital consolidates itself as the epicenter of global dialogue on peacebuilding and reconciliation in Colombia and the world.
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Among the leaders participating in the forum, Carolina Cosse, the mayor of Montevideo (Uruguay) and president of CGLU, Jan Van Zanen, the mayor of The Hague (Netherlands) and co-president of CGLU, Omolola Essien, the mayor of Lagos Continental Local Government (Nigeria), Clara Brugada, the mayor of Iztapalapa (Mexico), Rodrigo Mundaca, the governor of Valparaíso (Chile), Andrés Felipe Ramírez, the mayor of Jamundí in Valle del Cauca, and Claudia López, the mayor of Bogotá, stand out.
In addition to governmental leaders, representatives from national governments and international organizations such as Nina Hachigian, the Special Representative for Subnational Diplomacy from the United States; Andrew Harper, the special adviser on climate action for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR); and Reem Alsalem, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, will also participate.
Dialogue spaces at the forum
The 2023 World Forum of Cities and Territories of Peace, open to the public with prior registration, will develop an agenda with panels, discussions, and co-creation workshops to explore the necessary conditions for sustainable peace from different perspectives. The five key areas that will frame these spaces are territorial peace, environmental peace, women, peace and security, the transition towards peaceful citizenship, and a new social contract for care.
The opening ceremony will be presided over by Jan Van Zanen, the mayor of The Hague (Netherlands), Claudia López, the Mayor of Bogotá, Amina Mohammed, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Manuela Carmena, co-founder of the World Forum of Cities and Territories of Peace and former mayor of Madrid (Spain).
On the first day, there will be two general panels, two discussions, and six co-creation workshops on topics such as gender and peace, climate migration, and cultural diversity, among others.
During the second day, a third panel will be held with the participation of international mayors to discuss care and its relevance in the construction of social peace and agendas of equality, equity, and sustainability. This space will be moderated by Mayor Claudia López.
As a closing act, the World Forum of Cities and Territories of Peace will present the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra and the Sons and Daughters of Peace Choir, composed mainly of children who are sons and daughters of signatories to the peace agreement signed in Colombia in 2016.
The event will also feature cultural experiences to showcase how Bogotá is building peace from its territory through initiatives such as comprehensive neighborhood improvements, the public care policy and its Care Blocks, Territorial Development Programs with a focus on territories, support for the reintegration processes of former combatants and their families, the dignification of victims of the armed conflict, and local processes of citizen reconciliation.
One of these cultural experiences will be the screening of the documentary "Cuando las aguas se juntan. Una historia de mujeres y paz" (When Waters Come Together: A Story of Women and Peace). This activity will take place on Tuesday, June 27th, starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Bogotá Cinematheque and will be open to the general public.
The realization of this forum is supported by the Diputación de Barcelona, the Forum of Ibero-American Mayors and Elects, the Latin American Coalition of Cities Against Racism, Discrimination and Xenophobia (LAC), the Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá, the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), and the embassies of France and Sweden in Colombia.
The main events of this forum will be broadcasted by Canal Capital and through the Mayor's Office social media channels. To access the complete agenda of the forum, you can visit the website www.ciudadesdepaz.com. Registration can be done through the following link: https://eventosvituales-4toforomundialdeciudadesyterritoriosdepaz.cheetah.builderall.com/inicioespanol
