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Draft:International Cities of Peace (ICP)

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International Cities of Peace
Parent institutionCities of Peace, Inc.
Founder(s)J. Frederick Arment
Established8 April 2009 at Dayton, Ohio, United States
FocusCommunity Culture

Peacebuilding Consensus values of peace Headquarters

Dayton, Ohio, United States
ChairJ. Frederick Arment
Websitewww.internationalcitiesofpeace.org
Type: International NGO

Charter no. 1849092

Area served: Worldwide

International Cities of Peace (ICP) is a global association of cities of peace dedicated to developing and implementing programs that foster a community culture of peace.

International Cities of Peace is the main program of Cities of Peace, Inc., a nonprofit Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) based in the United States. In 2017, the association achieved Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations.

Established in 2009, the Association of International Cities of Peace has grown to over 400 communities[1] in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South and Central America, and Oceania. Each member of the City of Peace is self-organized either by government proclamation or resolution or by a community leadership team.

Each member City of Peace, whether by Proclamation, Resolution, or an intercommunity initiative, is a signatory of the United Nations Resolution A/RES/52/13[2],[3] which addresses a Culture of Peace. The association defines peace as safety, prosperity, and quality of life as the consensus values of safety, prosperity, and quality of life for all in the community.

History

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The International City of Peace originated in 2009 when J. Frederick Arment[4] envisioned a network of cities as beacons of peace. A city of peace is an ancient archetype that captures a universal ideal of a community of and at peace. The first city to be recognized as a City of Peace was Dayton, Ohio in 2010. Since then, the network has expanded to include over 400 civic municipalities worldwide, each committed to developing a Culture of Peace and promoting nonviolence and conflict resolution.

Founding and early years

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  • Origins: The founding principles of the International City of Peace were established to create a global network dedicated to peace. The early goals included promoting peacebuilding initiatives and encouraging cities to adopt proactive steps in fostering harmony.
  • Key Milestones: Significant events include the first City of Peace summit, held at the Dayton International Peace Museum in 2006. The accompanying map shows annual growth.

The City of Peace ideal

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According to the only scholarly paper to date on Cities of Peace, "Idee und Geschichte der neuzeitlichen Friedensstadt",[5] written by scholar Peter Vanden Dungen, the following are major categories for consideration as Cities of Peace. Though many Cities of Peace are now being established by resolution, proclamation, or a community action campaign, this listing shows that the City of Peace ideal has deep roots. Published only in German, the following is a rough translation of Peter Vanden Dungen's typology, with permission.

  • Cities where a particular war has been successfully concluded (through a peace treaty).
  • Cities which are the seats of international institutions which are significant for the maintenance of world peace.
  • Cities where important peace prizes are awarded/places where peace is being celebrated and honored.
  • Cities that, having been destroyed in war, have used this tragedy to dedicate themselves to work for peace.
  • Cities that have been rediscovered and now are reconnecting with historical impulses from the past, especially the remembrance of a prominent historical figure born in (or associated with) the city, and who was a great peace advocate.
  • Cities where important peace institutions once existed, or which once hosted important peace conferences.
  • Cities where important peace research or peace training institutions have been created.
  • Cities that have joined one or more important international peace organizations, and which are playing a significant role in them.
  • Cities of practical peacemaking, in ethnically diverse and polarized environments.
  • Cities that have given their name to important peace documents.

Mission and vision

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The mission[6] of the International City of Peace is to advance peace and non-violence in communities globally. The organization envisions a world where cities serve as centers of peace, with active citizen engagement in initiatives that reduce conflict and build resilient communities. The vision, mission, goals, and objectives are listed[6] in detail.

Core objectives
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  • Encouraging cities to implement peacebuilding initiatives.
  • Providing a platform for sharing best practices.
  • Supporting educational programs on peace and conflict resolution.

Organizational structure

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The International City of Peace is governed by a board of directors and supported by a global network of volunteers, ambassadors, and peace leaders. The organization operates through various regional and continental advisors that coordinate activities and support local peace initiatives.

Board of Directors

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In 2024, the current Board Members[7] of the Board of Directors of Cities of Peace, Inc. are the following:

  • J. Frederick Arment (Chair), Dayton, Ohio, United States
  • Ayo Ayoola-Amale, Ph.D. (Co-Chair), Lagos, Nigeria
  • Inés Palomeque, Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Liu Cheng, Ph.D., Nanjing, China
  • Gabriela Pickett, Ph.D., Dayton, Ohio, United States
  • Danielle Henson (Board Reporter), Illinois, United States
  • Barbara Gaughen-Muller, Santa Barbara, California, United States
  • Susan Jain, Ashland, Oregon, United States
  • Jennifer Brady (U.N. ICP Representative), Patchogue, New York, United States
  • John Tilji Menjo, Kabarnet, Kenya

Leadership Council

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Over 400 Liaisons[8] in over 75 countries on all six continents provide community leadership and communications between their communities and the association of International Cities of Peace. Each liaison leads a team dedicated to establishing goals and objectives for fostering community peace.

ICP Central

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The central organization, ICP Central, is an all-volunteer facilitator group, including Board Members, that provides sustainable operations and programming support.

Programs and initiatives

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The International City of Peace conducts several programs aimed at fostering peace at both local and global levels.

Peace education

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  • The ICP Classroom provides free peace training with courses focused on such issues as the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, the Golden Rule, Activating a Culture of Peace, and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Classes are free to anyone in the world and translatable into over 100 languages.[9]
  • Impact: These courses have been completed by peace leaders in over 100 cities, leading to measurable improvements in community relations and conflict management.

Peacebuilding projects

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  • City-to-City Program: Collaborative projects involve multiple cities working together on peacebuilding efforts, which are detailed in over 400-member City of Peace profiles on the organization's member listings.[1]
  • Notable projects include the Aalborg, Denmark's[10] work in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda, which successfully engaged over ten Cities of peace in a vision of the first Refugee City of Peace project.
  • In Nanjing, China, which established an International City of Peace in 2017, major initiatives in Peace Studies, developed by the UNESCO Chair of Peace Studies in China, have expanded peace literacy and peace studies programs in four other megacities in China.

Recognition and membership

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Cities recognized as International Cities of Peace are awarded this status based on their dedication to peace and their efforts and vision for fostering a culture of peace: How to Establish a City of Peace.[11]

  • Criteria for Recognition: Cities must demonstrate a commitment to peacebuilding, including ongoing initiatives and community engagement. The application process is extensive. Each community must develop a vision, mission, and goals and objectives for contributing to the safety, prosperity, and quality of life in the specific community. Upon approval, the community receives a City of Peace listing and profile. There are no fees required, either upon application and approval or for continuing network benefits.
  • List of Recognized Cities: Examples of recognized cities include Dayton, Ohio, known for its role in promoting peace through local initiatives, and Buenos Aires, Argentina where the Mil Milenios de Paz[12] network has engaged over 40 Cities of Peace in communities throughout South America.

Impact and global reach

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The International City of Peace has made a significant impact on the global peace movement, with a growing number of cities joining the network International Cities of Peace.[13]

  • Statistics: The network includes over 400 communities across six continents, reflecting the organization's broad influence and global reach.
  • Outcomes: Examples of successful outcomes include Dayton, Ohio, where peace initiatives have led to increased community cohesion; Nanjing, China, where the association has helped in expanding peace studies programs in China; and Lagos, Nigeria, where a mediation program has been implemented to reduce conflict in Nigeria and other African countries.

Challenges and criticism

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When the organization was founded, the main question from the public was, "What do you mean by peace?" The association defined peace as the Consensus Values of Peace: Safety, Prosperity, and Quality of Life for all in the community. That definition is a Creative Commons copyright and is available for all to use under the Creative Commons criteria.

The association of International Cities of Peace, and its parent organization, Cities of Peace, inc., faces challenges presented by global sanctions policies. The association receives membership applications from municipalities in countries under sanctions by the United States, the European Union, and others.

To address these challenges, Cities of Peace, Inc. has developed the following policy that prevents noncompliance with global sanctions policies while remaining open to changes in the policies, which would enable all municipalities to join in good standing.

Note From the Chair of Cities of Peace, Inc.

"The City of Peace idea is thousands of years old. Peacemakers in virtually every country in the world yearn for the peace that is given deep hope through that ideal. International Cities of Peace is often contacted by peacemakers in countries under comprehensive and/or selective U.S., E.U, U.N., and/or other sanction policies: Iran, Cuba, Syria, North Korea, Sudan, Russia, Yemen, Belarus, Venezuela, China, and regions of Ukraine, the intricate web of sanctions goes on and on. International Cities of Peace does not accept or send funds from or to any pervasively sanctioned countries. Hopefully, sanctions prevent "hot" wars, at least that is the intention. However, we must keep channels open for talk between peacemakers. We must encourage all peacemakers. It is the mission of International Cities of Peace to be an important part of the establishment of future peace. As we ensure that our organization does not abridge sanctions, we will continue to foster citizen-to-citizen diplomacy and keep our attention on the promotion of the ancient and hallowed City of Peace ideal. Onward to that end, worldwide."

References

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  1. ^ a b "Cities Listing – International Cities of Peace".
  2. ^ https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000113034
  3. ^ UNESCO Culture of Peace Resolution
  4. ^ "Official Page of J. Frederick Arment". April 5, 2018.
  5. ^ Vanden Dungan, Peter. Idee und Geschichte der neuzeitlichen Friedensstadt - Skizze einer Typologie. https://www.academia.edu/24764417/Idee_und_Geschichte_der_neuzeitlichen_Friedensstadt_Skizze_einer_Typologie
  6. ^ a b "About – International Cities of Peace".
  7. ^ "Board of Directors – International Cities of Peace".
  8. ^ "City Liaisons – International Cities of Peace".
  9. ^ "All Courses - International Cities of Peace".
  10. ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com.
  11. ^ "Establish a City of Peace – International Cities of Peace".
  12. ^ "Inicio". Mil Milenios de Paz.
  13. ^ "International Cities of Peace – Love of Community. Love of Place. Inspire Peace™".

Further reading

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  • "International Peaceful Cities Series" 10 volumes in the first series; Cheng, L., 2022. Peace Studies of Asian Countries. In: Kurtz, L.R. (Ed.),
  • Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace, and Conflict, vol. 1. Elsevier, Academic Press, pp. 130–138. [1] 4.00183-7. ISBN: 9780128201954. Copyright: 2022 Elsevier Inc.
  • Idee und Geschichte der neuzeitlichen Friedensstadt - Skizze einer Typologie. Idee und Geschichte der neuzeitlichen Friedensstadt - Skizze einer Typologie
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