ABOUT

At UNECE, we are committed to giving cities a voice. On 8 April 2019, UNECE organized the Day of Cities. Fifty mayors and deputy mayors from the region came to Geneva to share best practices and define a new vision for urban sustainability. However, the pressing sustainability questions do not allow us to rest on our laurels. This is why UNECE convened the first Forum of Mayors of the United Nations on 6 October 2020 and thus further opened the multilateral stage to city leaders.

The Second Forum of Mayors took place on 4-5 April 2022 at the Palais des Nations, in Geneva, Switzerland, back-to-back with the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (RFSD). It brought together around 500 online and in-person participants representing cities and member States from across the ECE region and beyond, the United Nations Regional Commissions and specialized organizations, non-governmental organizations and academia. Mayors and vice mayors from 44 cities shared their experiences in finding people-centred solutions that simultaneously meet the needs and aspirations of their citizens, hedge against disasters and rise to the challenge of climate change in a manner that ensures the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

On 13 January 2023, the UNECE Executive Committee, at its 126th session, agreed to the establishment of the Forum of Mayors as a subsidiary body of the Committee on Urban Development, Housing and Land Management. The Chair of the Forum of Mayors is Mr. Sami Kanaan. The Vice-Chairs are Ms. Katja Dörner and Mr. Ihor Terekhov.

The objectives and the scope of the Forum of Mayors (see ECE/EX/2023/L.4, annex) are:

a)   To allow for the participation of mayors in the UNECE and to share their city strategic plans, actions and joint initiatives for addressing regional and global challenges, including implementing SDG 11 and other relevant targets;

b)   To support the implementation of the work of the UNECE Committee on Urban Development, Housing and Land Management (CUDHLM) and subprogramme 8;

c)   To promote human-centred solutions for supporting the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;

d)   To facilitate the sharing of experiences from cities, including success stories and challenges, in line with the topic of the Forum and within the mandate of the Committee;

e)   To contribute to achieving coherence and complementarity between the local, regional and global levels in furtherance of a stronger, more networked and inclusive multilateral system.

The Third Forum of Mayors will take place on 2-3 October 2023 in Geneva immediately prior to the 84th Session of the Committee on Urban Development, Housing and Land Management.

It will discuss "Urban regeneration towards 2030" and consists of 4 segments.

 

Segment 1: Interregional segment 

An Interregional segment on urban regeneration will be organized in collaboration with Geneva Cities Hub and other UN Regional Commissions. This session will consist of one roundtable and include mayors from the ECE region and outside the ECE region.

Segment 2: Projects for urban regeneration

A segment on urban regeneration will be organized and will consist of two roundtables.

Segment 3: Urban regeneration and resilience

A segment on urban regeneration and resilience will be organized and will consist of two roundtables.

Segment 4: Voluntary Local Reviews and City Profiles

A segment on Voluntary Local Reviews and City Profiles will be organized and will consist of one roundtable.

 

More details will be shared in the coming months.

Geneva Cities Hub
Switzerland

Sponsor: Switzerland

VENUE

Room XVII, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland

MAP

To attend UNECE meetings at the Palais des Nations, you need to register in advance online through the following link: registration link

For Long Duration badges, please contact the secretariat of the meeting.

Entry to the Palais des Nations requires a United Nations ground pass. Registered participants can obtain a pass at the Villa Les Feuillantes across the road from the Peace Gate by presenting a valid passport or national identity card. Following the issuance of a pass, access to the Palais des Nations, will be through the Peace Gate "bis", a new temporary access screening point.

 

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United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

Palais des Nations

8-14 Avenue de la Paix

CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland