UCLG·CGLU · www.uclg.org
Official Creation of the World Organisation of Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) “Not vain the weakest, if their force unite.” HOMER, Iliad
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Developments in the world at the beginning of the 21st century - such as rapid urbanization, environmental degradation, social exclusion, injustices, inequalities, radical technological innovations, the changing character of the nation-state... and a total dissatisfaction with the way in which global relations are regulated - brought localities, cities / city-regions and their governments and international municipal movement to a more strategic and crucial position. The space of localities, cities, where total societal actors (individual, public, nonformal, civil society...) can be an active part of the socio-political scene, provides far more hope and concrete arenas for a more human, just, democratic, free and livable new world. These places have always been the arenas where “the ways and means of peaceful cohabitation” are developed. At the end of the bloodiest century (20th Century) in human history, it was -and still is- vital that humanity learn how to solve it’s own problems and create real social and political transformation in peace and genuine democracy. Within this context, and following a long process of permanent discursive, cooperative and coordinative efforts, IULA, FMCU and Metropolis came together under a new roof by creating a single organisation, namely, the World Organisation of Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) in 2004 in Paris. UCLG as “the united voice and world advocate of democratic local self-government” is founded on three principles: • Democracy • Autonomy • Decentralization in the service of the citizenry. UCLG’s major areas of work are: • Local action for democracy, freedom and development; • Peace through reinforcement of co-operation between cities; • Modernization of local management. In the preamble of its constitution, UCLG committed to: • Local democracy and autonomy... • Citizen-centred, participative local governance... • High ethical standards of public service, efficiency and transparency... • Partnership with the international community, other spheres of government and civil society...
1913 2013