#IDLTP2020: cities united in solidarity against COVID-19

May 16, 2020

On 16th May, at the occasion of the International Day on Living Together in Peace (IDLTP), cities and mayors around the world shared a message of solidarity.

Pont Jacques-Cartier

On16th May, in the framework of a global campaign in social media, cities and mayors around the world expressed their solidarity in the context of the COVID-19 crisis.

While the world is affected by the pandemic, cities are on the frontline of this unprecedented crisis. Despite this difficult context, cities are fully dedicated to responding to this crisis in order to ensure the health and safety of all, as well as helping the most vulnerable populations.

At the occasion of the International Day on Living Together in Peace, cities, mayors, as well as other public figures, shared a message of unity and solidarity.

SEE ALBUM WITH A SELECTION OF MESSAGES DURING IDLTP

As an example, here are some selected video messages:

Mr. Philippe Close, Mayor of Brussels (video - FR)
Ms Hayet Bayoudh, Mayor of Carthage (video - FR)
Cllr. David McDonald, City Convener for Culture, Vibrancy and International Co-operation (video - ENG)
Mr. Philippe Laurent, Mayor of Sceaux (video - FR)
Mr. Roland Ries, Mayor of Strasburg (video - FR)
Cheikh Khaled Bentounes, Initiator of the International Day on Living Together in Peace (video - FR)
Mr. Tijjani Muhammad-Bandi, President of the United Nations General Assembly (video - ENG)

UN SG

This initiative involving cities of the Observatory, which was joined by other city networks - such as Association internationale des maires francophones (AIMF), Intercultural Cities, the UNESCO's International Coalition of Inclusive Cities (ICCAR), Metropolis, Union des municipalités du Québec (UMQ), etc. - was part of a global campaign coordinated by Collectif JIVEP (See Manifesto IDLTP2020 and Call by Cheikh Bentounes).

Since the creation of the IDLTP, cities actively participate in the celebrations of this international day (see editions 2018, 2019, as well as the Düsseldorf Declaration).

The global theme of this year's edition was inspired by the text "Nous vivons ensemble" (We live together) from the Montréal columnist Stéphane Laporte.

In Montréal, the Observatory was also a partner of two local events:

Webinar "vivre-ensemble au temps du confinement", organized by Laboratoire de recherche en relations interculturelles (LABRRI)
The event "le vivre-ensemble en paix - Vu par les jeunes", organized by AISA-Canada and other partners (watch video recording).