The Plenary of the Cabildo of Lanzarote and La Graciosa has unanimously approved an institutional declaration recognising both islands as an International Zone of Culture of Peace.
The Plenary of the Cabildo of Lanzarote and La Graciosa approved on Monday, unanimously, an institutional declaration recognising both islands as an International Zone of Culture of Peace. The initiative, promoted by social groups, aims to reinforce the island's commitment to human rights, sustainability, and peaceful coexistence.
The proposal arises from the work of the Association for a Culture of Peace in Everyday Life, Lanzarote Civil Action, and the Alliance for Nuclear Disarmament, which have been promoting these values in the Archipelago for over a decade. The plenary agreement now invites the seven municipalities of the island to join this declaration and foresees collaboration with educational centres, universities, and social entities.
The president of the Cabildo, Oswaldo Betancort, highlighted that dialogue and respect for the territory are part of the island's identity. Proclaiming the islands as an International Zone of Culture of Peace allows, he said, projecting these values externally. Vice President María Jesús Tovar and Councillor Armando Santana emphasised the political consensus reached around the proposal.
The ratified declaration establishes the promotion of actions on peace education, mediation, and institutional cooperation. The Cabildo will convey the agreement to the Government of the Canary Islands, the General Courts, and various international organisations. Furthermore, the text incorporates institutional adherence to ICAN's call in support of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
With this declaration, Lanzarote and La Graciosa position themselves as a reference for coexistence on a global scale. The initiative not only has symbolic value but also seeks to generate concrete actions within the island society, fostering citizen participation and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.
The promoting groups have positively valued the unanimous support from the Cabildo. They believe this step is fundamental to consolidating a culture of peace in the daily lives of citizens. Now, the challenge is for the municipalities to adhere and for educational and social institutions to actively engage.
The agreement comes at a time when society demands more tools for coexistence and dialogue. The declaration of the International Zone of Culture of Peace aims to be an umbrella under which mediation initiatives, education in values, and cooperation can develop. The Cabildo has committed to promoting these measures with its own resources and seeking external support.
The international projection of the declaration is another highlighted aspect. By conveying the agreement to international organisations, Lanzarote and La Graciosa aspire to be an example of how a small territory can contribute to global peace. Adherence to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons reinforces this commitment.
For the residents of the islands, this declaration represents a source of pride but also a responsibility. The culture of peace is not just an abstract concept; it must translate into daily actions: from coexistence in neighbourhoods to conflict management in classrooms. The Cabildo has announced that in the coming months, an action plan with concrete measures will be presented.
The initiative has been well received by civil society, which sees it as an opportunity to strengthen the social fabric. The promoting associations have expressed their willingness to collaborate with the administrations to ensure that the declaration does not remain just a piece of paper. The road, they assure, is long, but the first step has already been taken.
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