In April, the Dayton-based nonprofit organization Cities of Peace Inc. was granted Special Consultative Status by the United Nations body for civil society, the Economic and Social Council. Cities of Peace Inc. was established in Dayton in 2009 for the purpose of creating an associated network of cities dedicated to fostering a culture of peace for their citizens. Since then, the International Cities of Peace network has grown to more than 160 cities in 43 countries on six continents.
With Special Consultative Status, Cities of Peace Inc. will have permanent representatives at the United Nations and be able to participate in many global forums. The Status was established by the United Nations in 1948 and fewer than .0005 percent of non-governmental organizations achieve the honor.
Peace, as defined by the Cities of Peace organization, is the consensus values of safety, prosperity and quality of life. Each city of peace signs a Letter of Intent within the guidelines of UNESCO’s culture of peace, which includes such values as democracy, human rights, free flow of information, women’s rights, and sustainability. International cities of peace are established by proclamation and develop goals and objectives to implement on-the-ground peace building, such as building schools, teaching conflict resolution, promoting art and music, developing children’s educational programs and encouraging sports to promote unity and community.
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The United Nations was interested in Cities of Peace Inc. not only because of its global reach but also because of its unique approach to peace building, with an emphasis on “in-situ” leadership. Programs are developed by the citizens of each city of peace rather than the standard NGO model of prescribing solutions from outside the community.
And so, what is next? Cities of Peace Inc. will now be able to deliver oral statements and submit written statements on areas of expertise to the United Nations to be circulated by the Secretary-General. Other privileges include providing expert analysis on issues directly from experience in the field, serving as an early warning agent for rising conflicts, and helping to monitor international agreements.
Additionally, representatives from Cities of Peace Inc. will have grounds passes at the New York headquarters in order to participate in U.N. work as well as in Geneva for the Human Rights Council. Arrangements are being made for Cities of Peace delegates to participate on the Committee for Sustainable Development, the Commission on the Status of Women, and the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
J. Fred Arment is a Dayton-based writer and founding director of International Cities of Peace. For more, www.internationalcitiesofpeace.org
Cities of Peace Inc. will now be able to deliver oral statements and submit written statements on areas of expertise to the United Nations to be circulated by the Secretary-General. Other privileges include providing expert analysis on issues directly from experience in the field, serving as an early warning agent for rising conflicts, and helping to monitor international agreements.
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