Mayor of London backs 100 Days of Peace in 2012

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has thrown his support behind the 100 Days of Peace campaign to make the streets of London safer for young people .

To mark 100 Days of Peace, the Mayor and his team are working alongside London CITIZENS CitySafe Campaign and the Jimmy Mizen Foundation’s Release the Peace project to engage young people in building stronger communities and safer neighbourhoods.

Today, Victoria Borwick AM, Deputy Mayor of London, helped to launch 100 Days of Peaceful Events, part of the Jimmy Mizen Foundation’s Release the Peace programme, at City Hall. The initiative will see young people participate in 100 days of activities to address gang problems and improve community safety in London.

Tomorrow, Saturday 9 June, Edward Lister, the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Mayor’s Chief of Staff, will attend a CitySafe Peace Rally organised by London CITIZENS in the Scoop by City Hall to launch the 100 Days of Peace project. The rally – one of 19 taking place across London – will include local musicians, MPs, religious leaders, young people, the Metropolitan Police and families affected by youth crime.

The event marks the building of CitySafe Zones across London – a project which will encourage local businesses and organisations to become CitySafe Havens and organise events which facilitate dialogue between police and young people. City Hall became a CitySafe Haven in 2010. The 100 Days of Peace will culminate in October with the release of a CitySafe map of London, identifying places that young people can turn to for safety. The CitySafe campaign is being coordinated alongside over 250 schools, churches, mosques, charities and local associations.

100 Days of Peace – a London 2012 Inspire Mark project – is inspired by the truce that was called 50 days before and after the ancient Olympic Games to enable athletes to compete in a safe environment.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said:

“Keeping our young people safe and helping them to secure jobs and bright futures continues to be a top priority. We are already more than halfway to creating 100,000 apprencticeships in London and, are working to improve young lives through volunteering and mentoring programmes and an inquiry into raising education standards.

By engaging with young people and working with communities, the 100 Days of Peace initiative builds on this ongoing work, helping to combat the awful affliction of youth violence and greatly contributing to the health and happiness of this city.”