International seminar "Cities for Peace"
and the Foundation "Opera Campana dei Caduti e della Pace"
1. The participants in the international seminar "Cities for Peace", gathered together in Rovereto (Italy) on 15 May 2006 at the instigation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe and the Foundation "Opera Campana dei Caduti e della Pace", declare themselves deeply concerned about the resurgence of wars together with the emergence of new forms of conflict such as inter-community violence and terrorism, which have their origin in new xenophobic ideologies;
2. In view of this situation they call for more resolute action to promote a culture of peace and conflict prevention entailing the practical involvement of all players in society, in particular those closest to the citizen - local and regional authorities;
3. In this connection, like certain European towns and cities which have clearly demonstrated their commitment in this field, the participants are convinced that local authorities can play an essential role in promoting a culture of peace and conflict prevention, and consequently invite municipal authorities in the 46 member states of the Council of Europe and the organisation's observer states to:
· establish places and instruments aimed at educating and raising awareness among their populations, in particular young people, of the implications of a culture of peace and intercultural understanding, involving in particular:
- systematic measures to heighten general awareness of the culture of peace and dialogue;
- information campaigns on fundamental human rights;
· use their influence and the new means at their disposal, to work with representative NGOs on developing international policies to foster and support projects aimed at combating famine, poverty, infectious diseases, breaches of human rights and environmental damage, which constitute a breeding ground for new conflicts;
· Within the limit of their possibilities and their powers and responsibilities, develop mediation mechanisms and more generally means of contact between towns and cities on different sides within a conflict area or involved in a reconstruction and reconciliation process following a conflict, and at a more general level promote decentralised co-operation with a view to forging international solidarity between territories;
4. The participants welcome the declaration presented by the Central Union of Municipalities and Communities of Greece (KEDKE) and the AMPHICTIONY Network - Cities and Regions of the Mediterranean, pledging to support and disseminate, individually or collectively, the symbolic call for an Olympic Truce during all future Olympic Games and to exercise our best efforts within our communities, countries and relevant international organisations to achieve its recognition and observance;
5. The participants fully support the Hiroshima Appeal launched on 6 August 2005 on the occasion of the 6th General Conference of the world organisation “Mayors for Peace” and encourage local authorities to abide by the principles stipulated in this Appeal and to become members of “Mayors for Peace”;
6. The participants, aware of the part the Foundation and the Congress can play in promoting peace, ask them to envisage the creation of an European Network of local authorities and associations willing to commit themselves to the promotion of peace, based in the Foundation;
7. The participants have decided to transmit this declaration to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe and undertake to disseminate and implement in the broadest possible manner the principles enshrined herein.