The UN Guidelines and National Frameworks for Crime Prevention: strengthening strategies in support of city and community-based prevention efforts
Day / Time Wednesday, June 21st / 13:30 - 15:30
Event Description
Urban areas around the world face a major challenge in responding to criminal acts and violence, which impede sustainable economic development, and affect human rights and the quality of life. This event is an opportunity to demonstrate how countries and cities are drawing on the 2002 United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Crime to develop or strengthen strategies in support of city and community-based prevention efforts. This event will discuss the importance of national frameworks in support of local crime prevention initiatives, and the role of international standard and norms, in particular the 2002 UN Guidelines for Crime Prevention, for the establishment of effective and sustainable strategies and policies. It will provide examples of national adoption and adaptation of such guidelines, including Canada’s national strategy, which support and facilitate crime prevention at sub-regional and especially local levels, and showcase tools, which support the development of comprehensive local strategies, and apply the UN Guidelines.
Session Language
English
French
Host Organization
UN-HABITAT/The International Centre for the Prevention of Crime (ICPC) / UNODC / the Canadian National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC)
Host Organization Description
UN HABITAT, the United Nations Human Settlement Programme, promotes socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities throughout the world. UN HABITAT works to disseminate knowledge about viable urban development and about initiatives to reduce poverty in cities, and in slums in particular. UN HABITAT has launched 2 major campaigns to achieve these aims: the Global Campaign on Urban Governance and the Global Campaign for Secure Tenure. ICPC, the International Centre for the Prevention of Crime, is an international forum for national governments, local authorities, public agencies, specialised institutions, and non-government organisations to exchange experience, consider emerging knowledge, and improve policies and programmes in crime prevention and community safety. UNODC, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, works to educate the world about the dangers of drug abuse and to strengthen international action against drug production, trafficking and drug-related crime. UNODC also works to improve crime prevention and to assist with criminal justice reform in a number of countries. The Office works with Member States to strengthen the rule of law, promote stable and viable criminal justice systems and combat the growing threats of transnational organized crime and corruption. NCPC, the Canadian National Crime Prevention Council, was created to ensure coordination across all federal departments and agencies responsible for national security and the safety of Canadians. From natural disaster to crime and terrorism, their mandate is to keep Canadians safe. NCPC works with volunteer groups, governments and businesses to support local solutions to crime and victimization.
Website
Report
Title of Event:
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The UN Guidelines and National Frameworks for Crime Prevention: Strengthening Strategies in Support of City and Community-based Prevention Efforts UN-HABITAT, International Centre for the Prevention of Crime, UNODC, Canadian National Crime Prevention Centre Wednesday June 21 – 13:30 – 15:30 |
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2. What were the core issues identified in your event as they relate to the theme and sub-themes of WUFIII?
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3. What were the main points raised by panellists and participants in relation to these different issues? A more comprehensive and preventive approach to urban crime and insecurity is needed to complement criminal justice system responses, particularly given the context of rapidly growing urban populations and marginalisation of particular social groups. The 2002 UN Guidelines for Crime Prevention draw on international good practice and sound knowledge based on systematic analysis to provide an international framework to guide the practical implementation of national and local crime prevention strategies and action. The Guidelines complement UN-Habitat’s Urban Governance Campaign which promotes sustainable and empowering policy and crime prevention as a matter of good governance. Crime is not just a product of poverty, but of social exclusion which erodes social capital and solidarity. Institutional corruption is a further challenge. To address urban crime and insecurity in a sustainable manner, the criminal and social justice systems must complement each other through bilateral partnerships. Not only is national support for local strategies needed but local authorities must also take responsibility and provide institutional support for legislation and coordination of the actions of diverse partners who can play a role in improving urban safety. Meanwhile, initiatives must also be built from the ground-up through participative approaches that empower citizens to create and implement their own solutions. What new ideas have been generated as a result of the discussion? A key part of citizen engagement involves the creation and support of sustainable livelihoods for urban dwellers, particularly those who are marginalised and resort to crime, including organised crime and trafficking, as means for survival. Particularly in developing countries, the informal economy must be involved in urban renewal and change processes in order to encourage their own self-organization |
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4. What process steps have been identified in your event that could help turn ideas into operational reality? In the development of the field of crime prevention, more attention has been paid to what to do, rather than the process of how to do it.
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