Addressing urban insecurity is a key global challenge. Urbanization has been accompanied by increased levels of crime, violence and instability and a growing feeling of insecurity in various regions.
While victimization, homicide and crime rates are often regarded as the key indicators of urban security, people living in cities are exposed to many factors that can endanger their lives, livelihoods and dignity, such as epidemics, economic crises, poverty, environmental and man-made disasters, and precarious access to food and basic services.
These security challenges demand a holistic perspective and integrated strategies that take into account the wide range of risks and threats that affect people’s lives in different urban contexts and strengthen the capacities of cities and their communities to address them.
Based on lessons gained in the last three decades through the implementation of and initiatives in cities and towns across Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America and North America this course is designed to offer you analytical and practical tools to understand contemporary security challenges in cities, as well as to design and implement comprehensive and evidence-based strategies that help reduce violence and crime and address people’s complex security needs by taking into account the particularities of your city and its governance structures.