Under the Vision for Peaceful Transformation to a Sustainable World

In order to achieve a world in which all people can perpetually benefit from peace by realizing the totalelimination of nuclear weapons and by attaining and maintaining peaceful coexistence between the whole ofhumanity, subsequent to the 2020 Vision, we, Mayors for Peace, have created our new Vision, titled Vision for
Peaceful Transformation to a Sustainable World (PX Vision): Peacebuilding by Cities for Disarmament andCommon Security. Based on this, we will build cities where citizens act with a strong sense of solidarity forthe ultimate goal of realizing lasting world peace.
As the Vision of a global network made up of heads of local governments, whose role is to ensure citizens’
safety and security, it centers on the objective “realize a world without nuclear weapons” in the quest for theeradication of the greatest threat to our peaceful lives.
Another objective, “realize safe and resilient cities,” has been set forth as a target indispensable to ensuring
citizens’ safety and security by tackling the issues distinctive to each member’s region that are threatening thecoexistence of the human race.
While accomplishing these two objectives, we must also bring about a fundamentally important paradigm shift
involving two things. Firstly, we will seek to change the “nation-minded” approach currently prevalent among
global leaders, which prioritizes each country’s own interests, to a “civic-minded” approach, which values
mutual aid and the recognition of shared interest. Secondly and more importantly, we will seek to build aconsensus in civil society in favor of the realization of a peaceful, nuclear weapon-free world. Through theshift represented by these two things, we will urge policymakers to demonstrate decisive leadership to effectpeace-oriented policy change. For this reason, we have set forth a third objective, “promote a culture of peace,”to establish a concrete base for the other two objectives. This entails cultivating peace consciousness andcausing a culture of peace—a culture in which the everyday actions of each member of the public are groundedin thinking about peace—to take root in civil society. As a network composed of mayors of local governments,
the most immediate presence to citizens, Mayors for Peace has concluded that promoting a culture of peace isthe most significant role to fulfill both locally and internationally.
These three objectives to achieve a nuclear weapon-free world, safe and resilient cities, and a culture of peace
are mutually reinforcing goals. Together, they aim to cultivate a shared sense of belonging to a single humanfamily, regardless of our cultural, religious, or ethnic differences.
Furthermore, sustainable development of Mayors for Peace as an organization will be key to consistent
implementation of various initiatives under this Vision. To that end, in conjunction with further expansion of
our membership, we will enhance our members’ initiatives, work in collaboration with a diverse range ofgroups, strengthen the functions of the Secretariat, and improve our financial capability.
Based on the following Vision and the 2021 – 2025 Action Plan, and in solidarity with 8,037 member cities in
165 countries and regions, we hereby express our determination to continue our utmost efforts toward our goalof realizing lasting world peace.

July 2021
Mayors for Peace
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I

Vision for Peaceful Transformation to a Sustainable World (PX Vision):
Peacebuilding by Cities for Disarmament and Common Security

Objective A: Realize a world without nuclear weapons
With cities and the citizens who live in them being their targets, and catastrophic consequences on a global scale
to be inflicted by their use, nuclear weapons are the greatest threat to the safety and security of citizens’ lives.
We will urge global leaders to effect peace-oriented policy change by calling on the UN and national governments,
especially the nuclear-armed states and their allies, to take concrete action for the total elimination of nuclear
weapons.

Objective B: Realize safe and resilient cities
In pursuit of ensuring citizens’ safety and security, we will strive to address and solve a diverse range of issues
distinctive to each member’s region that are threatening the coexistence of the human race such as starvation,
poverty, the plight of refugees, human rights abuses, and environmental degradation.

Objective C: Promote a culture of peace
We will seek both to create an environment that urges policymakers to demonstrate decisive leadership to effectpeace-oriented policy changes that facilitate the abolition of nuclear weapons, and to establish a civil society inwhich citizens act with a strong sense of solidarity for the realization of peaceful coexistence between the wholeof humanity. To that end, we will cultivate peace consciousness and cause a culture of peace—a culture in which
the everyday actions of each member of the public are grounded in thinking about peace—to take root in civilsociety as the foundation of lasting world peace.

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II

Mayors for Peace Action Plan (2021 – 2025)
For cities to ensure the safety and security of their citizens from the great threat of nuclear weapons and toattain and maintain peaceful coexistence between the whole of humanity, under three objectives set forth in the
Vision, Mayors for Peace member cities will implement the following initiatives to promote peacebuilding by
cities.

Objective A: Realize a world without nuclear weapons
1. Sharing in the hibakusha’s earnest wishes
1)

Promote the universalization of the TPNW by involving the nuclear-armed states and their
alliesWe fully embrace the letter and the spirit of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).
We will aim at winning additional states parties, so that the treaty can maximize its impact to lead to thetotal elimination of nuclear weapons for which the hibakusha, the atomic bomb survivors, have beencalling for so long. To this end, we will seek the good-faith engagement of the nuclear-armed states andtheir allies with the TPNW and in other efforts to achieve an effective, verifiable, transparent, irreversible,
and universal nuclear disarmament regime.

i.

Issue open letters urging the ratification of the TPNW
To promote the universalization of the TPNW, the Executive Cities will issue open letters addressed tonational governments, especially to the nuclear-armed states and their allies, urging them to join thetreaty.

ii. Conduct activities led by member cities in the nuclear-armed states and their allied
states urging their respective national government to join the TPNW
Member cities in the nuclear-armed states and their allied states will each urge their own national
government to join the TPNW through activities such as issuing letters requesting the ratification of thetreaty. In addition, they will each request their own national government as a first step to take part in
the Meetings of States Parties as observers.

2)

Appeal to the UN and national governments for the abolition of nuclear weapons
Having the hibakusha’s sincere desire for peace at our core, we will urge the UN and national governments
to make substantial progress on nuclear disarmament toward their total abolition, and to establish acommon security framework that is based on mutual cooperation. For this, we will continue making
appeals on the importance of moving away from nuclear deterrence, full implementation of the Treaty on
the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) disarmament obligation, and visiting the atomic bombed
cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

i.

Call for progress on nuclear disarmament at international conferences
The Cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki will attend international conferences addressing nuclear
disarmament such as the NPT Review Conferences and Meetings of States Parties to the TPNW, inwhich they will call the government delegations and UN representatives to make substantial progresson nuclear disarmament by delivering speeches from the floor and through meetings with the attendees,
including through support for the negotiation of a comprehensive Nuclear Weapons Convention.

ii. Issue open letters aimed at the abolition of nuclear weapons
At important moments in nuclear disarmament, the Executive Cities will issue open letters addressedto the UN and national governments, urging them to make substantial progress on nuclear disarmament.

- 3 -iii. Conduct member city-led activities calling on their respective national governments tocontribute to the abolition of nuclear weapons
Member cities will each call on their own national government to commit and contribute to the abolitionof nuclear weapons by activities such as submitting letters of request.
3)

Support public calls by a wide range of citizens urging policymakers to effect policychangei.

Conduct petition drives calling for all states to join the TPNW at the earliest dateMember cities will spread the message that nuclear weapons are an absolute evil that must not exist to
members of the public throughout the world, thus building a consensus in civil society in favor of their
abolition, and urge policymakers to demonstrate decisive leadership to effect peace-oriented policychange. For this purpose, member cities, in collaboration with their citizens, will conduct petition drives
calling for all states to join the TPNW at the earliest date.
The Mayors for Peace Secretariat (hereinafter referred to as “the Secretariat”) will gather collectedsignatures and submit them to UN officials on occasions such as Mayors for Peace delegations
attending international conferences addressing nuclear disarmament.

Objective B: Realize safe and resilient cities
2. Contribute to a sustainable Earth and society: Promoting the SDGs
1)

Promote regional initiatives addressing local issues and challenges such as terrorism,
the plight of refugees, environmental degradation, acceptance of diversity, andpromotion of inclusioni.

Build cities that “leave no one behind”
Under the principle of “leaving no one behind,” member cities will commit themselves to achieving
the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially those pertaining to peace, cities, and education.
While sharing useful information with other members through the Secretariat, member cities will strive
to address and solve a diverse range of issues and challenges distinctive to each member’s region suchas terrorism, the plight of refugees, environmental degradation, acceptance of diversity, promotion ofinclusion, poverty, starvation, and violence.

ii. Hold regional conferences aimed at solving local issues
Aimed at solving a diverse range of issues distinctive to each member’s region and further enhancing
regional activities with the participation of citizens, the Lead Cities, leading the regional chapters, willhold regional conferences. At regional conferences, they will share useful information such as activities
by the member cities in the region.

Objective C: Promote a culture of peace
3. Foster and expand international public support

A&B
A
B

: Initiatives aimed at achieving the objectives “realize a world without nuclear weapons”
and “realize safe and resilient cities”: Initiatives aimed at achieving the objective “realize a world without nuclear weapons”: Initiatives aimed at achieving the objective “realize safe and resilient cities”

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1)

Cultivate peace consciousness in civil society
A&B
i. Promote the importance of peace through art and sporting events
Member cities will encourage more citizens to think about the importance of peace through music, fineart, and other forms of art expressing desire for peace, as well as through sports and other activities thatemotionally connect people across language barriers; for example, celebrating one particular month of
the year as the “Month for a Culture of Peace” holding a variety of cultural events aimed at raisingpeace awareness.

ii. Collaborate with citizens engaged in activities to promote a culture of peace
Member cities will work in close collaboration with citizens engaged in activities promoting a cultureof peace, aiming to cultivate a culture of peace in civil society and stimulate members of the public tothink about the importance of peace.
Aiii. Promote outreach concerning the current international situation surrounding nuclear
weapons
To have as many citizens as possible deepen their understanding of the inhumane nature of nuclear
weapons and the grave risks and devastating consequences they pose, member cities will engage inoutreach on relevant occasions such as the UN’s International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear
Weapons and International Day of Peace.
In addition, in close collaboration with international peace research institutes such as the Hiroshima
Peace Institute of Hiroshima City University and Research Center for Nuclear Weapons Abolition ofNagasaki University, the Secretariat will share useful resources and post timely information on nuclear
weapons on the Mayors for Peace website and in the monthly News Flash newsletter.

iv. Publicize research on the methodology of peacebuilding
In close collaboration with international peace research institutes such as the Hiroshima Peace Instituteof Hiroshima City University and Research Center for Nuclear Weapons Abolition of Nagasaki
University, the Secretariat will publicize their research on the Mayors for Peace website and in themonthly News Flash newsletter, making them widely available and accessible for members of the
public.
Bv.

2)

Organize events to build momentum for achieving the SDGs
To have more citizens deepen their understanding of the SDGs and to have them participate in creating
an inclusive society that “leaves no one behind” in their cities, member cities will organize outreach
events on relevant occasions such as the UN’s Global Goals Week.

Widely convey the realities of the atomic bombings and war
Ai.

Hold Mayors for Peace Atomic Bomb Poster Exhibitions
To have more people deepen the understanding of the realities of the atomic bombings and share in thewish for the abolition of nuclear weapons, with support from the Secretariat, member cities will holdthe Mayors for Peace Atomic Bomb Poster Exhibition.

- 5 -ii. Pass down atomic bomb experiences through testimonies
To pass down the hibakusha’s experiences of the atomic bombings to as many people as possible, havethem share in the hibakusha’s sincere desire for the abolition of nuclear weapons and to encourage themto take action for peace, with support from the Secretariat, member cities will provide opportunities fortheir citizens to hear their testimony while using online video conference platform or on video.
iii. Distribute and nurture seeds and seedlings from atomic bomb survivor trees
The Secretariat will distribute seeds and seedlings from atomic bomb survivor trees, which still standin Hiroshima and Nagasaki as silent witnesses, to member cities. Aiming to raise public peace
consciousness through citizens, member cities will plant them at places where many citizens visit, andnurture them by hands of citizens as symbols of peace.
B
iv. Hold outreach events conveying the devastation caused by war
To have more people deepen their understanding of the realities of the devastation caused by wars, andto share in the importance of peace, member cities will hold outreach events such as poster exhibitions.

v. Pass down war experiences through testimonies
To have more people deepen the understanding of the realities of the devastation caused by wars, sharein the importance of peace, and take action for peace, member cities will provide opportunities for theircitizens to hear testimonies by those who have experienced war, while using online video conference
platforms or on video.
3)

Develop youth leadership for future peace activities
A&B
i. Further promote peace education through initiatives such as the annual Children’s Art
Competition “Peaceful Towns”
To provide opportunities for young people to think about the importance of peace and to foster theirpeace-seeking spirit, member cities will accept the submissions of artworks from the children in theircities to the annual Children’s Art Competition “Peaceful Towns”, organized by the Secretariat. In
addition, member cities will further promote peace education on the subjects of the abolition of nuclear
weapons, SDGs, and a culture of peace.

ii. Promote peace and disarmament education
Member cities will promote the importance of disarmament as a means to achieve peace among young
people, and stimulate them to engage in activities to raise public awareness for disarmament in theircities. For these purposes, with support from the Secretariat, member cities will provide their young
officials and local university and graduate students opportunities to attend seminars and online courses
on peace and disarmament education, utilizing the teaching resources and model curriculum created by
the Research Center for Nuclear Weapons Abolition of Nagasaki University.
Aiii. Further enrich programs to host youth in the atomic bombed cities such as the YouthExchange for Peace Support Program
The Secretariat will further enrich programs that host youth from member cities in the atomic bombed
cities, such as the Youth Exchange for Peace Support Program, to have them deepen their understandingof the realities of the atomic bombings. They will thus be stimulated to engage in peace activities intheir own cities aimed at the abolition of nuclear weapons. After going back to their respective cities,
each of the participants and the member city they represent will together conduct peace activities.

- 6 -iv. Send Mayors for Peace youth delegation to international conferences addressing
nuclear disarmament
To have young people understand the current international situation surrounding nuclear weapons
through real-life experiences, and to provide them opportunities to convey the messages for theabolition of nuclear weapons from the atomic bombed cities, the Cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki will
send young people engaged in various peace activities as Mayors for Peace youth delegations tointernational conferences addressing nuclear disarmament such as the NPT Review Conferences.
In addition, on such occasions, the Secretariat will host Mayors for Peace Youth Fora inviting young
people engaged in peace activities in many different countries to provide them with opportunities totake part in discussions and presentations on their activities.

v. Support more universities to establish Hiroshima-Nagasaki Peace Study Courses
Member cities, with support from the Secretariat, will encourage a greater number of local universities
to establish Hiroshima-Nagasaki Peace Study Courses, which are accredited by the Hiroshima Peace
Culture Foundation and which academically approach the realities of the atomic bombings and theimportance of peace.
4. Promote sustainable development of Mayors for Peace as an organization
1)

Further expand membershipi.

2)Strengthen regional recruiting activities by referring to model cases
To achieve 10,000 member cities and create real momentum for peace, the Lead Cities will further
strengthen their recruiting activities to gain new members, especially in the nuclear-armed states. In
doing so, they will refer to the model cases presented by the other regional chapters, and also to how
the Secretariat works in close partnership with embassies.

Enhance member city activitiesi.

Collect and share good examples of activities by member cities
To encourage member cities to take the lead in enhancing initiatives that they develop independently,
the Secretariat and the Lead Cities will collect good examples of such initiatives and post them on the
Mayors for Peace website and monthly News Flash newsletter.

ii. Stimulate regional activities led by the Lead Cities
To stimulate activities at each region, the Lead Cities will take the lead in conducting activities in close
collaboration with the member cities in their regions, referring to good examples presented by the otherregional chapters.
3)

Work in collaboration with a diverse range of groupsi.

Work in collaboration with associations of local authorities such as the USCM, NFLA,
and UCLG
To create momentum for peace and expand our network both on the level of cities and of citizens, theSecretariat and the Lead Cities will work in close collaboration with associations of local authorities
around the world that the Lead Cities work in partnership with—including the US Conference ofMayors (USCM), Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA), United Cities for Local Governments(UCLG), and Metropolis—to gain their support for Mayors for Peace activities.

- 7 -ii. Work in collaboration with international organizations such as the UN, the ICRC, andICAN
To effectively foster and expand international public support for the realization of lasting world peace,
the Secretariat and the Lead Cities will work in close partnership with international organizations suchas the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Campaign to Abolish
Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), Peace Boat, Abolition 2000, International Physicians for the Prevention of
Nuclear War (IPPNW), and the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs.
iii. Strengthen collaboration with international peace research institutes such as theHiroshima Peace Institute of Hiroshima City University and Research Center for
Nuclear Weapons Abolition of Nagasaki University
The Secretariat will strengthen collaboration with international peace research institutes such as theHiroshima Peace Institute of Hiroshima City University and Research Center for Nuclear WeaponsAbolition of Nagasaki University to utilize their research and bring their expertise in the field to
Mayors for Peace initiatives.
iv. Promote collaboration with memorial museums of the world that convey the realities of
the atomic bombings and war
In addition to further strengthening the collaboration with Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum andNagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, the Secretariat will expand its network of memorial museums of theworld that convey the devastation caused by war. Working in collaboration with them, the Secretariat
will provide opportunities for the citizens of member cities to hear testimonies of hibakusha and otherpeople who have experienced war, and conduct outreach regarding Mayors for Peace initiatives.
4)

Strengthen the functions of the Secretariati.

Enhance initiatives led by the regional chapters and strengthen their collaboration with
the Secretariat
The Secretariat will collect good examples of initiatives independently implemented by regional
chapters from around the globe that are distinctive to their respective regions, and share them on the
Mayors for Peace website and in the monthly News Flash newsletter, aiming to enhance initiatives led
by the regional chapters and strengthening their collaboration with the Secretariat.

ii. Strengthen collaboration with member cities through the internships
The Secretariat will host young officials from member cities in Hiroshima as interns at the Secretariat.
This aims not only to strengthen collaboration between the Secretariat and member cities, but also tohave participants promote Mayors for Peace initiatives in the local government they work for. In turn,the member cities that sent them will collaborate with them on peace initiatives.
iii. Share information in a timely and effective manner through social media
To effectively foster and expand international public support for the realization of lasting world peace,in addition to using the Mayors for Peace website, the Secretariat and the Lead Cities will share
information on Mayors for Peace activities in real time through social media such as Facebook andTwitter.
iv. Practice public relations aimed at gaining a greater number of supporters
The Secretariat and the Lead Cities will conduct public relations activities through a wide range ofmeans to gain publicity for Mayors for Peace and to gain a greater number of supporters for ouractivities.

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5)

Improve financial capabilityi.

Improve the collection rate of the membership fee
As the number of member cities increases, in addition to building a strong sense of solidarity between
members, having the financial capability to be able to consistently implement various initiatives isessential. For this purpose, the Secretariat and the Lead Cities will work to improve the collection rateof the membership fee, making member cities more aware of how the membership fee supports ouractivities and making the payment process clearer.

ii. Explore ways to raise funds from a larger number of supporters
To further improve our financial capability, the Secretariat and the Lead Cities will explore ways ofraising donations and funding for our activities from a greater number of supporters.

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