Living Together: at the heart of world’s biggest issues

June 27, 2017

"Living Together", which has been recognized as one of the biggest urban issues in the world, was one of the key topics the Metropolis XII World Congress and the 2017 convention of Francophone mayors that was held June 19-22, 2017 in Montréal.

Following the XII World Congress and the 37th general assembly of the Association Internationale des Maires Francophones (AIMF) (in French), mayors of the world’s largest cities adopted the Montreal Declaration. This declaration demonstrates the cities’ leadership in facing the major issues of our time. The cities’ commitment to promote openness, equality, peace and Living Together is reiterated therein. This historic document presents these cities’ joint commitments to face major local and global challenges, as per the New Urban Agenda adopted by the United Nationes in 2016 and the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Ouverture

XIIth Metropolis World Congress: A successful meeting of cities

The XIIth Metropolis World Congress brought together more than 125 mayors and 1,200 delegates from all over the world to discuss the biggest issues of the 21st century. With the theme “Global Issues: Metropolises in Action,” the Congress featured an incredible program of events, with more than 250 speakers and presenters who discussed inclusiveness and Living Together, leadership and governance of cities, sustainable development, smart cities and urban planning.

Discussion PM

Sen. Ratna Omidvar

Plenière Vivre ensemble

The Observatory is proud to have contributed to the Congress’ program, in particular by organizing a plenary session titled, “Living Together, Right to the City: How Can We Build Inclusive Cities?” This high-level panel brought together mayors from Montréal, Madrid, Chicago, Libreville, Berlin and Tel Aviv, as well as Senator Ratna Omidvar, who offered a keynote conference on the theme of inclusive cities. See the video.

AIMF: Commission on Living Together

As part of the 37^th general assembly of the AIMF, the Association’s Standing Committee on Living Together (in French), chaired by Mayor Denis Coderre, created a working committee in charge of preparing an international compendium of policies on Living Together in cities, and to formulate a support project.

Commission AIMF

Commission AIMF 1

In parallel to these conventions, 14 cities and towns in Africa, Europe and the Americas officially joined the International Observatory of Mayors on Living Together, which is celebrating its first anniversary this year, bringing the number of member cities to 46 (see link to the membership ceremony).