COVENANT OF THE MAYORS FOR PEACE
In August, 1945, the first nuclear weapons ever used in human history caused anindescribable catastrophe for the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Even now a number ofA-bomb survivors are still suffering physically, psychologically, and socially from various
after-effects. Nevertheless, nuclear weapons have not been abolished; they continue tothreaten human existence. Our goal is to maintain environments that enable citizens to leadsafe, cultural lives, and to contribute to the attainment of lasting world peace. To this end, wepledge to make every effort to create an inter-city solidarity transcending national boundaries
and ideological differences in order to achieve the total abolition of nuclear weapons and avert
the recurrence of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki tragedies.
We agree to the intent of the "Program to Promote Solidarity of Cities towards theTotal Abolition of Nuclear Weapons" proposed by Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Furthermore,
we hope that the "World Conference of Mayors for Peace through Inter-city Solidarity," which
held its first session in August of 1985, shall become a permanent organization. Accordingly,
we do hereby establish an organization to be known as the "Mayors for Peace".

CHAPTER IPURPOSES AND PRINCIPLES

Purposes
ARTICLE 1
The Purposes of the "Mayors for Peace" are to contribute to the attainment of lastingworld peace by arousing concern among citizens of the world for the total abolition of nuclear
weapons through close solidarity among all cities which agree to the "Program to Promote
Solidarity of Cities towards the Total Abolition of Nuclear Weapons" as well as by striving tosolve vital problems for the human race such as starvation and poverty, the plight of refugees,
human rights abuses, and environmental degradation. (Cities which agree to the "Program toPromote Solidarity of Cities towards the Total Abolition of Nuclear Weapons" are hereinafter
cited as solidarity cities.)

Principles
ARTICLE 2
The Organization and solidarity cities, in pursuit of the Purposes stated in Article 1,
shall act in accordance with the following Principles;(a) The Organization shall be based on friendship, goodwill, and respect for theactual conditions of Solidarity Cities.
(b) The Organization shall devote itself to the total abolition of nuclear weapons andthe attainment of lasting world peace, and to the solution of such problems as
starvation, poverty, the plight of refugees, human rights abuses, and1/6

(c)

(d)

environmental degradation in cooperation with the United Nations, a major
peace-keeping organization in the world.
Solidarity Cities shall work for the development of friendly relationships andbonds of solidarity among cities on the basis of mutual understanding and shallact in good faith for the attainment of the Purposes in accordance with thepresent Covenant.
Solidarity Cities shall seek to increase global awareness of the "Spirit ofHiroshima and Nagasaki" by introducing and expanding the idea of Inter-City
Solidarity.

CHAPTER IIACTIVITIES

Details of the Activities
ARTICLE 3
The Organization, in pursuit of the Purposes stated in Article 1, shall be engaged in thefollowing activities;(a) To introduce and expand the idea of inter-city solidarity to worldwide cities.
(b) To make an appeal for the total abolition of nuclear weapons and general andcomplete disarmament to related organizations such as the United Nations.
(c) To coordinate the following activities promoted by Solidarity Cities.
(i) Solidarity Cities shall hold gatherings and events devoted to the cause of
disarmament and peace, and/or to the solution of such problems as
starvation, poverty, the plight of refugees, human rights abuses, andenvironmental degradation and shall send copies of any statement,resolution, or proclamation, associated with these events, to other Solidarity
Cities.
(ii) Solidarity cities shall transmit messages advocating the total abolition of
nuclear weapons and general and complete disarmament to the SecretaryGeneral and the President of the General Assembly of the United Nations
during the United Nations Disarmament Week. In addition, copies of themessages shall be exchanged with other Solidarity Cities.
(iii) Solidarity Cities that sponsor workshops or meetings on peace, disarmament,
and security issues, and/or the solution of such problems as starvation,
poverty, the plight of refugees, human rights abuses, and environmental
degradation shall send relevant pamphlets, books, and materials reportingthese results to other Solidarity Cities.
(iv) Solidarity Cities that publish or obtain materials, brochures, or books related
to peace, disarmament, and security issues, and/or to the solution of suchproblems as starvation, poverty, the plight of refugees, human rights abuses,and environmental degradation shall bring them to the attention of other
Solidarity Cities.

2/6

(v)

(d)

Bearing in mind the current international situation and the urgency andimportance of nuclear disarmament, Solidarity Cities shall holdphotographic exhibitions which describe and depict to citizens around theworld the actual nature of the devastations wreaked by the atomic bombs on
Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
(vi) The cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki shall cooperate by providing
necessary exhibition photographs and introducing documentary films, slides,and books, that depict the disaster caused by the atomic bombings.
To sponsor and organize events as may be necessary to achieve the Purposes
stated in the present Covenant.

CHAPTER III
EXECUTIVE OFFICIALS

Executive Officials
ARTICLE 4
1.
2.
3.
4.

5.
6.

Executive Officials of the Organization shall consist of: one President; an appropriate
number of Vice-Presidents and Executive Members.
The President and the Vice-President shall be elected by Solidarity Cities.
The President shall supervise and represent the Organization, and shall chair theConference.
The Vice-President shall assist the President. In case of the inability of the President
to carry out the duties of the office, the Vice-President shall fulfill the duties of thePresident.
The Executive Members shall be appointed from Solidarity Cities by the President withregional conditions taken into consideration.
The Executive Members shall assist the President and the Vice-President and shall act
for the smooth management of the Organization.

Term of Office
ARTICLE 5
1.

2.

The term of office of the Executive Officials shall be until such time that new
Executive Officials are elected at a succeeding General Conference. Each office shallbe open to reelection.
Whatever the stipulations of previous clauses, if a member-city mayor holding anelected office resigns or retires his or her mayoralty, the succeeding mayor shall assume
said office. In such case, the succeeding officer's term shall last as long as the originalterm of the retiring or resigning officer.

3/6

CHAPTER IVCONFERENCE

General Conference andExecutive Conference
ARTICLE 6
The Organization shall hold a General Conference and an Executive Conference.
General Conference
ARTICLE 7
1.
2.

The General Conference shall meet every four years in principle.
The General Conference shall be held to achieve the Purposes stated in Article 1 and todecide and approve relevant questions.

Executive Conference
ARTICLE 8
1.
2.

The Executive Conference shall consist of the Executive Officials and shall meet when
the occasion arises.
The Executive Conference shall be authorized to make emergency decisions for theOrganization in place of the General Conference with the exception of electing thePresident and the Vice-President.

Convocation
ARTICLE 9The General Conference or the Executive Conference shall be convoked by thePresident.

VotingARTICLE 10
1.

2.
3.

Each Solidarity City participating in the General Conference or the ExecutiveConference shall have one vote. In case of absence, each Solidarity City may delegate
its vote by proxy to another participating city.
Decisions of the Conference on all questions shall be made by a simple majority vote ofparticipating cities. In case of tie votes, the President shall cast a deciding vote.
When circumstances render it impossible to hold a Conference, decisions shall be madeby votes conveyed in letters to the Secretariat from Solidarity Cities.

4/6

CHAPTER V
THE SECRETARIAT
Establishment of the Secre tariat
ARTICLE 11
The Secretariat shall be established in the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation tooperate the Organization.

Secretariat Staff
ARTICLE 12
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

The Secretariat shall be comprised of a Secretary General and Under-Secretary General,and support-staff.
The Chairperson of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation shall serve as SecretaryGeneral.
The Executive Director of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation shall serve as theUnder-Secretary General.
The staff except the Secretary General and Under-Secretary General shall be appointedby the President.
The Secretary General shall preside over the duties of the Secretariat.
The Under-Secretary General shall assist the Secretary General. In case of the inabilityof the Secretary General to carry out the duties of the office, or if the post is vacant, theUnder-Secretary General shall fulfill the duties of the Secretary General.

CHAPTER VI
SHARE OF EXPENSES

Expenses
ARTICLE 13
Expenses required to operate the Secretariat (ordinary expenditure) and expenses
required to hold the Conference (extraordinary expenditure) shall be decided by the General
Conference on the recommendation of the Executive Conference.

5/6

CHAPTER VII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Amendments
ARTICLE 14
Amendments to the present Covenant shall come into force upon adoption by a twothirds majority of the participating cities at the General Conference.

Delegation
ARTICLE 15
Decisions required to operate the Secretariat, other than those stipulated in the present
Covenant, shall be made by the President.

This covenant was executed on November 1, 1986
Revised on October 16, 1991, effective the same day
Revised on August 5,2001, effective the same day
Revised on August 6,2013, effective the same day

6/6