The summit is held under the patronage of US President Joe Biden and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
The mayor of Kyiv participated online in the Second Democracy Summit, based on the Global Declaration of Mayors.
He spoke at the panel discussion “Building Democracy from Below: A Global Declaration of Mayors for Democracy.”
As the Chairman of the Association of Cities of Ukraine, Vitaliy Klitschko thanked all the mayors who signed the Global Declaration of Mayors for Democracy.
The head of the capital emphasized the need for further support to Ukraine, because the country currently defends the common values of freedom, human dignity, democracy, equality, human rights and the rule of law.
The Global Declaration of Mayors for Democracy was signed by about two hundred mayors of cities from all over the world to jointly protect democratic values, as a sign of solidarity with other cities, including in Ukraine, which, by protecting the rights of people, communities, cities and nations, determine their democratic future.
“In Ukraine, 40 mayors of our cities have already signed the declaration. That is, every fifth signatory of this global document is a mayor of a Ukrainian city. This is a symbolic proof that the values of the Declaration are very important for the local self-government of Ukraine,” said the mayor of Kyiv.
He especially drew attention to the fact that over 50 officials of Ukrainian municipalities were kidnapped by the aggressor during the last year of the full-scale war. 5 mayors of Ukrainian cities are still in Russian captivity.
“Their only fault is that they did not run away and did not become traitors, but tried to help their communities in the conditions of war, to ensure the rights of community residents. We are doing everything for their release,” noted Vitaliy Klitschko.
The mayor of the capital of Ukraine emphasized that the local self-government bodies during the war did and are doing everything to ensure that the residents of Ukrainian cities and towns were protected and received quality services.
“Even during war, basic humanitarian aid and municipal services are provided effectively. Internally displaced persons receive the necessary assistance. And we will do everything to ensure that there is no discrimination, that all democratic values are observed, because the Declaration is aimed at protecting people’s rights,” Klitschko said at the summit.
Already today, according to him, the Association of Cities of Ukraine, which unites all regions and all Ukrainian cities, is planning the future restoration and reconstruction of communities for the sake of a comfortable life for their residents.
“We also ensure connections and cooperation between communities and with similar associations of municipalities in democratic countries of the world, which are united by the Declaration,” Vitaliy Klitschko emphasized.
It should be noted that, in cooperation with the World Parliament of Mayors, GMF Cities and participants of the Pact on Free Cities, the signatories of the Global Declaration of Mayors for Democracy undertook to fight against encroachment on the integrity of other states.
It is also about the firm intention to defend free and fair elections and democratic movements around the world, to oppose election fraud, unscrupulous election practices, violation of freedom of speech and interference in civil space.
All photos of KMDA
Olga SKOTNIKOVA
