|
Mayors
from across the globe met Thursday at the United Nations, New York,
where the main outcome was their stated determination to make cities
free from violence and crime.
The meeting was held in the framework of the Steering Committee
of the Global Network on Safer Cities (GNSC) to dialogue with the
United Nations and other international, national and local partners for
developing and implementing a global agenda for a safer and sustainable
future for our people and our world.
Result of the dialogue was an outcome statement on actions towards
enhancing the role of local authorities on safer cities. The document
reaffirms mayors' determination to make cities and their public spaces
free from violence by focusing on the vulnerable and at-risk
populations and improving urban planning, management and governance.
Dr. Joan Clos, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of
UN-Habitat, said: Crime and the fear of crime is one of the most
influential factors in our daily lives, dictating where we choose to
live, how we behave, where to go and where to work. There is a great
need to address violence in city streets and other public spaces and to
understand the role urban design, planning and management play in
minimizing risks as well as changing perceptions of insecurity".
Global Network on Safer Cities
The Global Network on Safer Cities (GNSC) is an initiative of
UN-Habitat with the goal of equipping local authorities and urban
stakeholders to deliver urban safety, thus contributing towards
securing the urban advantage for all. It is created within the
framework of the World Urban Campaign, the World Living Platform of
UN-Habitat on cities for sharing and learning initiatives, actions and
policies driving positive change.
The GNSC finds its relevance from the necessity to put together and
systematize different experiences existing around the world on urban
crime and violence, with the aim of advocating for safer cities and
local crime prevention. The platform was constituted in September 2012,
at the Sixth Session of the World Urban Forum held in Naples, Italy.
The Steering Committee of the GNSC was constituted as a leadership
body to serve the purpose of strengthening the international dialogue.
It is led by local government representatives and members of the
Habitat agenda partners. Participants in the First Steering Committee
include
Mr. Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon, Chairman of the Steering Committee and
former Mayor of Mexico City (Mexico); Mr. Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor
of Los Angeles (USA); Ms. Annise Parker, Mayor of Houston (USA); Norman
Quijano Gonzalez, Mayor of San Salvador (El Salvador); Gustavo Petro,
Mayor of Bogota (Colombia); Bilal Hamad, Mayor of Beirut (Lebanon);
Parks Tau, Mayor of Johannesburg (South Africa); Francois Amichia, Mayor
of Treichville-Abidjan (Ivory Coast); Guillermo Pinto, Mayor of
Matosinhos (Portugal), and Mr. Roberto Porto, Secretary of Urban Safety
of Sao Paulo (Brazil).
Highlights on crime and violence in urban areas
Global studies show that 60% of all urban residents in developing
countries have been victims of crime at least once over the past five
years, 70% of them in Latin America and Africa. Studies showed that 63%
of women never went out at night alone. In South Africa, for instance,
79% of women felt most unsafe in public spaces, whilst in Cairo, 40% of
girls reported that they felt unsafe in public spaces. |
No comments:
Post a Comment