The role of local actors in enhancing Security and Preventing Urban Crime. 25 years of international debate

Transcription

1 Safer Cities Programme UN-HABITAT The role of local actors in enhancing Security and Preventing Urban Crime 25 years of international debate Compendium of UN Guidelines, resolutions and international declarations Printed with the financial support of the Government of Canada National Crime Prevention Strategy, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Canada

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Presentation...4 UN RECOMMENDATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS Technical Cooperation and Interregional Advisory Services in Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, ECOSOC, UN Resolution 1995/ Guidelines for the Prevention of Crime, ECOSOC, Commission on Crime and Criminal Justice, New York, United States of America, April Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, China, September Habitat Agenda, UN Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, Turkey, June Beijing + 5 Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the 21 st Century, 23 rd Special Session of the UN General Assembly, June 2000, New York, United States of America...26 UN-HABITAT Governing Council Nineteenth Session Resolutions, Nairobi, Kenya, May INTERNATIONAL DECLARATIONS Conference on the reduction of urban insecurity, Barcelona, Spain, November II International Conference on Urban Safety, Drugs and Crime Prevention, Paris, November International Forum on Security in the City, Saint Denis de la Réunion, France, December Mayors Summit on Safer Cities, Vancouver, Canada, March International Forum of Mayors for Safer Cities, Johannesburg, South Africa, October The Cities' Manifesto for "Safety and Democracy", Safety and Democracy Forum, Naples, Italy, December Forum Ivoirien pour la Sécurité Urbaine "Des Stratégies de Prévention pour des Villes Plus Sûres", Yamoussoukro,Côte d Ivoire, décembre First International Seminar on Women s Safety: Making the Links, Montreal, Canada, May Nelson Mandela Metropole Declaration on the Development of Citizenship among Youth in Conflict with the Law on the African Continent, Port Elizabeth, South Africa, June Prevent Gender-Based Violence in Africa, Kampala, Uganda, September

3 International Conference on Sustainable Safety: Municipalities at the Crossroads, ethekwini Municipality (Durban), South Africa, November Mayors' Declaration, International Conference on Sustainable Safety, ethekwini Municipality (Durban), South Africa, November Africities Summit 2003, Yaoundé, Cameroon, December Mayors' Declaration on Community Safety, Africities Summit 2003, Yaoundé, Cameroon, December International Seminar for Safer Cities, Guarulhos, Brazil, December Declaracion de Monterrey, Conferencia Internacional de Jóvenes en Riesgo en América Latina y el Caribe, Monterrey, Mexico, Octubre Safe Cities for Women and Girls, Bogota D.C., Colombia, November

4 INTRODUCTION Crime and violence have a severe impact on urban development prospects, livelihoods and quality of life in cities across the world. As major factors that jeopardise our quest for socially, economically and environmentally vibrant cities, urban crime and violence have been the focus of discussion for cities and their partners for at least the past three decades. The debate has centred on the understanding of causes and vectors of violence and crime, its linkages with other urban issues, in particular urban poverty and urban management and governance, and on the strategies addressing it in a sustainable way, without jeopardising democratic systems and up holding human rights and the protection of the most vulnerable. The role of cities and other local actors has been a specific object of discussion, as cities have taken up more and more a proactive role in addressing residents concerns on safety and personal security. Over thirty years, cities have on several occasions reaffirmed their commitment to work on the prevention of crime, and have pointed to the need for adequate international and national support to their action at local level. Key milestone in this debate have been produced by the United Nations. In 1995 UN Guidelines for the prevention of urban crime were adopted by the General Assembly. In 1996, the Habitat Agenda, endorsed by 171 countries recognised clear role for local authorities and spelled out critical areas for intervention and support. In 2002, the UN formulated Guidelines for the Prevention of Crime which reaffirm the principles of sound crime prevention. As the issue of crime and violence takes new dimensions and remains one of the key challenges to sustainable urbanization, this collection of international documents presents the commitments and policy statements issued by governments and cities gathered to discuss different dimensions of urban crime, to review practices and lessons learnt, to identify gaps and needs in terms of analysis of trends and issues, availability and access to technical tools, and formulation and enactment of appropriate policy frameworks. The commitment and the demands of the various actors take shape in these resolutions and declarations, as a trajectory in the international debate, with its milestones and areas of growing consensus and focus. As they prompt us to action and further reflection, they can also be the basis of a renewed effort to build and support partnerships for safer cities and communities. CONTENT AND STRUCTURE The present document collects only two types of documents: UN Guidelines and other official UN documents dealing with urban crime prevention Declaration and conclusions issued from gatherings of cities and practitioners discussing urban crime and its various dimensions Actors involves span from the UN member states, to associations of local authorities in the various regions, to expert organizations, NGOS and practitioners. The documentation is organised in two sections, with the UN documents in the first part and other declarations and resolutions in the second part. They are presented as much has possible in chronological order and in English. When an English version was not available, the original, either French or Spanish has been used. The original documents, and more information on the meetings and organizations that issued most of these declarations is accessible trough 4

5 TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND INTERREGIONAL ADVISORY SERVICES IN CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTION 1995/15. 49th plenary meeting 24 July 1995 The Economic and Social Council, Recalling its resolution 1994/22 of 25 July 1994, on technical cooperation in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, Recalling also its resolution 1994/16 of 25 July 1994, in which it requested the Secretary-General to provide adequate funds to build and maintain the institutional capacity of the United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme to respond to requests of Member States for assistance in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, if necessary through the reallocation of resources, Recalling further General Assembly resolution 49/158 of 23 December 1994, on strengthening the United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme, particularly its technical cooperation capacity, Convinced that establishing the rule of law and maintaining efficient criminal justice systems is one of the essential elements of developmental efforts, and recognizing the direct relevance of crime prevention and criminal justice to sustained development, stability, security and improved quality of life, Underlining the fact that one of the most effective ways to meet the needs of States in this area is through operational activities, such as advisory services, training programmes and the dissemination and exchange of information, Recognizing the need, in making specific proposals on the resolutions of the Ninth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders related to technical cooperation and advisory services, to take into account the capacity of the United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme and its future role in providing services in that field, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the technical cooperation and advisory services of the United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme; 2. Welcomes the call of the Ninth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders for intensified efforts to strengthen the rule of law by means of international cooperation and practical technical assistance; 3. Reaffirms the high priority attached to technical cooperation and advisory services as a means for the United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme to respond to the needs of the international community in the face of both national and transnational criminality and to assist Member States in achieving 5

6 the goals of preventing crime within and among States and improving the response to crime, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 46/152 of 18 December 1991, on the creation of an effective United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme, and in line with the recommendations of the Ninth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders; 4. Stresses the importance of continuing to improve the operational activities of the United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme, particularly in developing countries and countries in transition, so as to meet the needs of Member States, at their request, for support in crime prevention and criminal justice, by undertaking advisory services and training programmes and by carrying out field studies and action-oriented research at the regional, subregional, national and local levels, also drawing upon extrabudgetary contributions; 5. Expresses its appreciation to Member States and other entities supporting the United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme, through contributions to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund or by other means, and invites them to continue their support; 6. Invites Member States to contribute to the activities of the United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme by other means, for example by providing the services of associate experts, by providing the services of consultants and experts for training purposes and advisory missions, by developing training manuals and other material, by offering fellowship opportunities and by hosting problem-oriented workshops and expert group meetings; 7. Calls upon the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank and other international, regional and national funding agencies to support technical cooperation activities devoted to crime prevention and criminal justice and, in pursuance of their mandates, to include such activities in their programmes, utilizing the expertise of the United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme in such activities and cooperating closely on relevant technical assistance projects and advisory missions; 8. Calls upon all relevant international, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to continue cooperating with the United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme in support of its operational and technical activities; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to facilitate, as appropriate, joint initiatives and the joint formulation and implementation of technical assistance projects, involving interested donor countries, funding agencies and other relevant entities, and to organize meetings of interested donor and recipient countries; 10. Notes with appreciation the contribution of the United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme to United Nations peace-keeping and special missions, as well as its contribution to the follow-up to those missions, inter alia, through advisory services, and encourages the Secretary-General, as a way of strengthening the rule of law, to recommend the inclusion of the re-establishment and reform of criminal justice systems in peace-keeping operations; 11. Notes the work of the crime prevention and criminal justice programme on collecting and disseminating data and other information on technical cooperation projects, and requests the Secretary-General further to strengthen the capacity of the Secretariat to establish and develop relevant databases, by cooperating in this 6

7 endeavour with the United Nations Development Programme and the network of institutes cooperating with the United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme; 12. Reiterates its appreciation for the provision of the services of two interregional advisers for crime prevention and criminal justice and strongly recommends to the Secretary-General that those posts should be retained and that the interregional advisory services of the United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme should be further strengthened to support technical assistance activities, including shortterm advisory services, needs assessment, feasibility studies, field projects, training and fellowships; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to provide, within the regular budget, appropriate resources for the United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme to provide better planning support and backstopping for the interregional advisory services, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 49/158 and Economic and Social Council resolutions 1994/16 and 1994/22. Notes 1/ E/CN.15/1995/6. 2/ A/CONF.169/16, chap. I, resolution 2. Available at: 7

8 GUIDELINES FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRIME UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL COMMISSION ON CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE Report on the eleventh session, Official Records 2002, Supplement No April 2002, New York, United States of America Draft resolution II Action to promote effective crime prevention The Economic and Social Council, Bearing in mind its resolution 1996/16 of 23 July 1996, in which the Economic and Social Council requested the Secretary-General to continue to promote the use and application of United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice matters, Recalling the elements of responsible crime prevention: standards and norms annexed to its resolution 1997/33 of 21 July 1997, in particular those relating to community involvement in crime prevention contained in paragraphs 14 to 23 of that annex, as well as the revised draft elements of responsible crime prevention, prepared by the Expert Group Meeting on Elements of Responsible Crime Prevention: Addressing Traditional and Emerging Crime Problems, held in Buenos Aires from 8 to 10 September 1999, Taking note of the international colloquium of crime prevention experts convened in Montreal, Canada, from 3 to 6 October 1999, by the Governments of France, the Netherlands and Canada, in collaboration with the International Centre for the Prevention of Crime in Montreal, as a preparatory meeting for the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Noting that the draft elements of responsible crime prevention were considered at the workshop on community involvement in crime prevention, held at the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, held in Vienna from 10 to 17 April 2000, Acknowledging the need to update and finalize the draft elements of responsible crime prevention, Aware of the scope for significant reductions in crime and victimization through knowledge-based approaches, and of the contribution that effective crime prevention can make in terms of the safety and security of individuals and their property, as well as the quality of life in communities around the world, Taking note of General Assembly resolution 56/261 of 31 January 2002, entitled Revised draft plans of action for the implementation of the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century, 1 in particular the action on crime prevention in order to follow up the commitments undertaken in paragraphs 11, 13, 20, 21, 24 and 25 of the Vienna Declaration, Convinced of the need to advance a collaborative agenda for action with respect to the commitments made in the Vienna Declaration, Noting with appreciation the work of the Group of Experts on Crime Prevention at their meeting held in Vancouver, Canada, from 21 to 24 January 2002, and the work of the Secretary-General in preparing a report on the results of that interregional meeting, containing revised draft guidelines for crime prevention and proposed priority areas for international action, 2 Recognizing that each Member State is unique in its governmental structure, social characteristics and economic capacity and that those factors will influence the scope and implementation of its crime prevention programmes, 1 See Report of the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Vienna, April 2000, chap. I (A/CONF.187/15). 2 E/CN.15/2002/4. 8

9 Recognizing also that changing circumstances and evolving approaches to crime prevention may require further elaboration and adaptation of crime prevention guidelines, 1. Accepts the Guidelines for the Prevention of Crime, annexed to the present resolution, with a view to providing elements for effective crime prevention; 2. Invites Member States to draw upon the Guidelines for the Prevention of Crime, as appropriate, in the development or strengthening of their policies in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice; 3. Requests relevant United Nations bodies and other specialized organizations to strengthen inter-agency coordination and cooperation in crime prevention, as set out in the Guidelines, and, to that end, to disseminate the Guidelines widely within the United Nations system; 4. Requests the Centre for International Crime Prevention of the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention of the Secretariat, in consultation with Member States, the institutes of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme network and other relevant entities in the United Nations system, to prepare a proposal for technical assistance in the area of crime prevention, in accordance with the guidelines of the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention; 5. Requests Member States to establish or strengthen international, regional and national crime prevention networks, with a view to developing knowledge-based strategies, exchanging proven and promising practices, identifying elements of their transferability and making such knowledge available to communities throughout the world; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its fourteenth session on the implementation of the present resolution. Annex Guidelines for the Prevention of Crime I. Introduction 1. There is clear evidence that well-planned crime prevention strategies not only prevent crime and victimization, but also promote community safety and contribute to the sustainable development of countries. Effective, responsible crime prevention enhances the quality of life of all citizens. It has long-term benefits in terms of reducing the costs associated with the formal criminal justice system, as well as other social costs that result from crime. Crime prevention offers opportunities for a humane and more cost-effective approach to the problems of crime. The present Guidelines outline the necessary elements for effective crime prevention. II. Conceptual frame of reference 2. It is the responsibility of all levels of government to create, maintain and promote a context within which relevant governmental institutions and all segments of civil society, including the corporate sector, can better play their part in preventing crime. 3. For the purposes of the present Guidelines, crime prevention comprises strategies and measures that seek to reduce the risk of crimes occurring, and their potential harmful effects on individuals and society, including fear of crime, by intervening to influence their multiple causes. The enforcement of laws, sentences 9

10 and corrections, while also performing preventive functions, falls outside the scope of the Guidelines, given the comprehensive coverage of the subject in other United Nations instruments The present Guidelines address crime and its effects on victims and society and take into account the growing internationalization of criminal activities. Community involvement and cooperation/ partnerships represent important elements of the concept of crime prevention set out herein. While the term community may be defined in different ways, its essence in this context is the involvement of civil society at the local level. 6. Crime prevention encompasses a wide range of approaches, including those which: (a) Promote the well-being of people and encourage pro-social behaviour through social, economic, health and educational measures, with a particular emphasis on children and youth, and focus on the risk and protective factors associated with crime and victimization (prevention through social development or social crime prevention); (b) Change the conditions in neighbourhoods that influence offending, victimization and the insecurity that results from crime by building on the initiatives, expertise and commitment of community members (locally based crime prevention); (c) Prevent the occurrence of crimes by reducing opportunities, increasing risks of being apprehended and minimizing benefits, including through environmental design, and by providing assistance and information to potential and actual victims (situational crime prevention); (d) Prevent recidivism by assisting in the social reintegration of offenders and other preventive mechanisms (reintegration programmes). III. Basic principles Government leadership 7. All levels of government should play a leadership role in developing effective and humane crime prevention strategies and in creating and maintaining institutional frameworks for their implementation and review. Socio-economic development and inclusion 8. Crime prevention considerations should be integrated into all relevant social and economic policies and programmes, including those addressing employment, education, health, housing and urban planning, poverty, social marginalization and exclusion. Particular emphasis should be placed on communities, families, children and youth at risk. Cooperation/partnerships 9. Cooperation/partnerships should be an integral part of effective crime prevention, given the wideranging nature of the causes of crime and the skills and responsibilities required to address them. This includes partnerships working across ministries and between authorities, community organizations, nongovernmental organizations, the business sector and private citizens. 3 See Compendium of United Nations Standards and Norms in Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.92.IV.1 and corrigendum). 10

11 Sustainability/accountability 10. Crime prevention requires adequate resources, including funding for structures and activities, in order to be sustained. There should be clear accountability for funding, implementation and evaluation and for the achievement of planned results. Knowledge base 11. Crime prevention strategies, policies, programmes and actions should be based on a broad, multidisciplinary foundation of knowledge about crime problems, their multiple causes and promising and proven practices. Human rights/rule of law/culture of lawfulness 12. The rule of law and those human rights which are recognized in international instruments to which Member States are parties must be respected in all aspects of crime prevention. A culture of lawfulness should be actively promoted in crime prevention. Interdependency 13. National crime prevention diagnoses and strategies should, where appropriate, take account of links between local criminal problems and international organized crime. Differentiation 14. Crime prevention strategies should, when appropriate, pay due regard to the different needs of men and women and consider the special needs of vulnerable members of society. IV. Organization, methods and approaches 15. Recognizing that all States have unique governmental structures, this section sets out tools and methodologies that Governments and all segments of civil society should consider in developing strategies to prevent crime and reduce victimization. It draws on international good practice. Community involvement 16. In some of the areas listed below, Governments bear the primary responsibility. However, the active participation of communities and other segments of civil society is an essential part of effective crime prevention. Communities, in particular, should play an important part in identifying crime prevention priorities, in implementation and evaluation, and in helping identify a sustainable resource base. 11

12 A. Organization Government structures 17. Governments should include prevention as a permanent part of their structures and programmes for controlling crime, ensuring that clear responsibilities and goals exist within government for the organization of crime prevention, by, inter alia: (a) Establishing centres or focal points with expertise and resources; (b) Establishing a crime prevention plan with clear priorities and targets; (c) Establishing linkages and coordination between relevant government agencies or departments; (d) Fostering partnerships with non-governmental organizations, the business, private and professional sectors and the community; (e) Seeking the active participation of the public in crime prevention by informing it of the need for and means of action and its role. Training and capacity-building 18. Governments should support the development of crime prevention skills by: (a) Providing professional development for senior officials in relevant agencies; (b) Encouraging universities, colleges and other relevant educational agencies to offer basic and advanced courses, including in collaboration with practitioners; (c) Working with the educational and professional sectors to develop certification and professional qualifications; (d) Promoting the capacity of communities to develop and respond to their needs. Supporting partnerships 19. Governments and all segments of civil society should support the principle of partnership, where appropriate, including: (a) Advancing knowledge of the importance of this principle and the components of successful partnerships, including the need for all of the partners to have clear and transparent roles; (b) Fostering their formation at different levels and across sectors; (c) Facilitating their efficient operation. Sustainability 20. Governments and other funding bodies should strive to achieve sustainability of demonstrably effective crime prevention programmes and initiatives through, inter alia: (a) Reviewing resource allocation to establish and maintain an appropriate balance between crime prevention and the criminal justice and other systems, to be more effective in preventing crime and victimization; (b) Establishing clear accountability for funding, programming and coordinating crime prevention initiatives; (c) Encouraging community involvement in sustainability. 12

13 B. Methods Knowledge base 21. As appropriate, Governments and/or civil society should facilitate knowledge-based crime prevention by, inter alia: (a) Providing the information necessary for communities to address crime problems; (b) Supporting the generation of useful and practically applicable knowledge that is scientifically reliable and valid; (c) Supporting the organization and synthesis of knowledge and identifying and addressing gaps in the knowledge base; (d) Sharing that knowledge, as appropriate, among, inter alia, researchers, policy makers, educators, practitioners from other relevant sectors and the wider community; (e) Applying this knowledge in replicating successful interventions, developing new initiatives and anticipating new crime problems and prevention opportunities; (f) Establishing data systems to help manage crime prevention more cost-effectively, including by conducting regular surveys of victimization and offending; (g) Promoting the application of those data in order to reduce repeat victimization, persistent offending and areas with a high level of crime. Planning interventions 22. Those planning interventions should promote a process that includes: (a) A systematic analysis of crime problems, their causes, risk factors and consequences, in particular at the local level; (b) A plan that draws on the most appropriate approach and adapts interventions to the specific local problem and context; (c) An implementation plan to deliver appropriate interventions that are efficient, effective and sustainable; (d) Mobilizing entities that are able to tackle causes; (e) Monitoring and evaluation. Support evaluation 23. Governments, other funding bodies and those involved in programme development and delivery should: (a) Undertake short- and longer-term evaluation to test rigorously what works, where and why; (b) Undertake cost-benefit analyses; (c) Assess the extent to which action results in a reduction in levels of crime and victimization, in the seriousness of crime and in fear of crime; (d) Systematically assess the outcomes and unintended consequences, both positive and negative, of action, such as a decrease in crime rates or the stigmatization of individuals and/or communities. 13

14 C. Approaches 24. This section expands upon the social developmental and situational crime prevention approaches. It also outlines approaches that Governments and civil society should endeavour to follow in order to prevent organized crime. Social development 25. Governments should address the risk factors of crime and victimization by: (a) Promoting protective factors through comprehensive and non-stigmatizing social and economic development programmes, including health, education, housing and employment; (b) Promoting activities that redress marginalization and exclusion; (c) Promoting positive conflict resolution; (d) Using education and public awareness strategies to foster a culture of lawfulness and tolerance while respecting cultural identities. Situational 26. Governments and civil society, including where appropriate the corporate sector, should support the development of situational crime prevention programmes by, inter alia: (a) Improved environmental design; (b) Appropriate methods of surveillance that are sensitive to the right to privacy; (c) Encouraging the design of consumer goods to make them more resistant to crime; (d) Target hardening without impinging upon the quality of the built environment or limiting free access to public space; (e) Implementing strategies to prevent repeat victimization. Prevention of organized crime 27. Governments and civil society should endeavour to analyse and address the links between transnational organized crime and national and local crime problems by, inter alia: (a) Reducing existing and future opportunities for organized criminal groups to participate in lawful markets with the proceeds of crime, through appropriate legislative, administrative or other measures; (b) Developing measures to prevent the misuse by organized criminal groups of tender procedures conducted by public authorities and of subsidies and licences granted by public authorities for commercial activity; (c) Designing crime prevention strategies, where appropriate, to protect socially marginalized groups, especially women and children, who are vulnerable to the action of organized criminal groups, including trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants. 14

15 V. International cooperation Standards and norms 28. In promoting international action in crime prevention, Member States are invited to take into account the main international instruments related to human rights and crime prevention to which they are parties, such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child (General Assembly resolution 44/25, annex), the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (resolution 48/104), the United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency (the Riyadh Guidelines) (resolution 45/112, annex), the Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power (resolution 40/34, annex), the Guidelines for Cooperation and Technical Assistance in the Field of Urban Crime Prevention (Economic and Social Council resolution 1995/9, annex), as well as the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century (General Assembly resolution 55/59, annex) and the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto (resolutions 55/25, annexes I-III, and 55/255, annex). Technical assistance 29. Member States and relevant international funding organizations should provide financial and technical assistance, including capacity-building and training, to developing countries and countries with economies in transition, communities and other relevant organizations for the implementation of effective crime prevention and community safety strategies at the regional, national and local levels. In that context, special attention should be given to research and action on crime prevention through social development. Networking 30. Member States should strengthen or establish international, regional and national crime prevention networks with a view to exchanging proven and promising practices, identifying elements of their transferability and making such knowledge available to communities throughout the world. Links between transnational and local crime 31. Member States should collaborate to analyse and address the links between transnational organized crime and national and local crime problems. Prioritizing crime prevention 32. The Centre for International Crime Prevention, the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme network of affiliated and associated institutes and other relevant United Nations entities should include in their priorities crime prevention as set out in these Guidelines, set up a coordination mechanism and establish a roster of experts to undertake needs assessment and to provide technical advice. Dissemination 33 Relevant United Nations bodies and other organizations should cooperate to produce crime prevention information in as many languages as possible, using both print and electronic media. Available at: 15

16 BEIJING DECLARATION AND PLATFORM FOR ACTION Fourth World Conference on Women, 4-15 September 1995, Beijing, China 1. We, the Governments participating in the Fourth World Conference on Women, 2. Gathered here in Beijing in September 1995, the year of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, 3. Determined to advance the goals of equality, development and peace for all women everywhere in the interest of all humanity, 4. Acknowledging the voices of all women everywhere and taking note of the diversity of women and their roles and circumstances, honouring the women who paved the way and inspired by the hope present in the world's youth, 5. Recognize that the status of women has advanced in some important respects in the past decade but that progress has been uneven, inequalities between women and men have persisted and major obstacles remain, with serious consequences for the well-being of all people, 6. Also recognize that this situation is exacerbated by the increasing poverty that is affecting the lives of the majority of the world's people, in particular women and children, with origins in both the national and international domains, 7. Dedicate ourselves unreservedly to addressing these constraints and obstacles and thus enhancing further the advancement and empowerment of women all over the world, and agree that this requires urgent action in the spirit of determination, hope, cooperation and solidarity, now and to carry us forward into the next century. We reaffirm our commitment to: 8. The equal rights and inherent human dignity of women and men and other purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, to the Universal Declaration ofhuman Rights and other international human rights instruments, in particular the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women and the Declaration on the Right to Development; 9. Ensure the full implementation of the human rights of women and of the girl child as an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of all human rights and fundamental freedoms; 10. Build on consensus and progress made at previous United Nations conferences and summits - on women in Nairobi in 1985, on children in New York in 1990, on environment and development in Rio de Janeiro in1992, on human rights in Vienna in 1993, on population and development in Cairo in 1994 and on social development in Copenhagen in 1995 with the objective of achieving equality, development and peace; 16

17 11. Achieve the full and effective implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women; 12. The empowerment and advancement of women, including the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief, thus contributing to the moral, ethical, spiritual and intellectual needs of women and men, individually or in community with others and thereby guaranteeing them the possibility of realizing their full potential in society and shaping their lives in accordance with their own aspirations. We are convinced that: 13. Women's empowerment and their full participation on the basis of equality in all spheres of society, including participation in the decision-making process and access to power, are fundamental for the achievement of equality, development and peace; 14. Women's rights are human rights; 15. Equal rights, opportunities and access to resources, equal sharing of responsibilities for the family by men and women, and a harmonious partnership between them are critical to their well-being and that of their families as well as to the consolidation of democracy; 16. Eradication of poverty based on sustained economic growth, social development, environmental protection and social justice requires the involvement of women in economic and social development, equal opportunities and the full and equal participation of women and men as agents and beneficiaries of people-centred sustainable development; 17. The explicit recognition and reaffirmation of the right of all women to control all aspects of their health, in particular their own fertility, is basic to their empowerment; 18. Local, national, regional and global peace is attainable and is inextricably linked with the advancement of women, who are a fundamental force for leadership, conflict resolution and the promotion of lasting peace at all levels; 19. It is essential to design, implement and monitor, with the full participation of women, effective, efficient and mutually reinforcing gender-sensitive policies and programmes, including development policies and programmes, at all levels that will foster the empowerment and advancement of women; 20. The participation and contribution of all actors of civil society, particularly women's groups and networks and other non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations, with full respect for their autonomy, in cooperation with Governments, are important to the effective implementation and follow-up of the Platform for Action; 17

18 Platform for Action 21. The implementation of the Platform for Action requires commitment from Governments and the international community. By making national and international commitments for action, including those made at the Conference, Governments and the international community recognize the need to take priority action for the empowerment and advancement of women. We are determined to: 22. Intensify efforts and actions to achieve the goals of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women by the end of this century; 23. Ensure the full enjoyment by women and the girl child of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and take effective action against violations of these rights and freedoms; 24. Take all necessary measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and the girl child and remove all obstacles to gender equality and the advancement and empowerment of women; 25. Encourage men to participate fully in all actions towards equality; 26. Promote women's economic independence, including employment, and eradicate the persistent and increasing burden of poverty on women by addressing the structural causes of poverty through changes in economic structures, ensuring equal access for all women, including those in rural areas, as vital development agents, to productive resources, opportunities and public services; 27. Promote people-centred sustainable development, including sustained economic growth, through the provision of basic education, life-long education, literacy and training, and primary health care for girls and women; 28. Take positive steps to ensure peace for the advancement of women and, recognizing the leading role that women have played in the peace movement, work actively towards general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, and support negotiations on the conclusion, without delay, of a universal and multilaterally and effectively verifiable comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty which contributes to nuclear disarmament and the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects; 29. Prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls; 30. Ensure equal access to and equal treatment of women and men in education and health care and enhance women's sexual and reproductive health as well as education; 31. Promote and protect all human rights of women and girls; 18

19 32. Intensify efforts to ensure equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all women and girls who face multiple barriers to their empowerment and advancement because of such factors as their race, age, language, ethnicity, culture, religion, or disability, or because they are indigenous people; 33. Ensure respect for international law, including humanitarian law, in order to protect women and girls in particular; 34. Develop the fullest potential of girls and women of all ages, ensure their full and equal participation in building a better world for all and enhance their role in the development process. We are determined to: 35. Ensure women's equal access to economic resources, including land, credit, science and technology, vocational training, information, communication and markets, as a means to further the advancement and empowerment of women and girls, including through the enhancement of their capacities to enjoy the benefits of equal access to these resources, interalia, by means of international cooperation; 36. Ensure the success of the Platform for Action, which will require a strong commitment on the part of Governments, international organizations and institutions at all levels. We are deeply convinced that economic development, social development and environmental protection are interdependent and mutually reinforcing components of sustainable development, which is the framework for our efforts to achieve a higher quality of life for all people. Equitable social development that recognizes empowering the poor, particularly women living in poverty, to utilize environmental resources sustainably is a necessary foundation for sustainable development. We also recognize that broad-based and sustained economic growth in the context of sustainable development is necessary to sustain social development and social justice. The success of the Platform for Action will also require adequate mobilization of resources at the national and international levels as well as new and additional resources to the developing countries from all available funding mechanisms, including multilateral, bilateral and private sources for the advancement of women; financial resources to strengthen the capacity of national, subregional, regional and international institutions; a commitment to equal rights, equal responsibilities and equal opportunities and to the equal participation of women and men in all national, regional and international bodies and policy-making processes; and the establishment or strengthening of mechanisms at all levels for accountability to the world's women; 37. Ensure also the success of the Platform for Action in countries with economies in transition, which will require continued international cooperation and assistance; 19

20 38. We hereby adopt and commit ourselves as Governments to implement the following Platform for Action, ensuring that a gender perspective is reflected in all our policies and programmes. We urge the United Nations system, regional and international financial institutions, other relevant regional and international institutions and all women and men, as well as non-governmental organizations, with full respect for their autonomy, and all sectors of civil society, in cooperation with Governments, to fully commit themselves and contribute to the implementation of this Platform for Action. Available at: 20

21 HABITAT AGENDA United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) 3-14 June 1996, Istanbul, Turkey Section II: GOALS AND PRINCIPLES 22. The objectives of the Habitat Agenda are in full conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law. 23. While the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the duty of all States to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development. 24. Implementation of the Habitat Agenda, including implementation through national laws and development priorities, programmes and policies, is the sovereign right and responsibility of each State in conformity with all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development, and taking into account the significance of and with full respect for various religious and ethical values, cultural backgrounds, and philosophical convictions of individuals and their communities, contributing to the full enjoyment by all of their human rights in order to achieve the objectives of adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements development. 25. We, the States participating in the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), are committed to a political, economic, environmental, ethical and spiritual vision of human settlements based on the principles of equality, solidarity, partnership, human dignity, respect and cooperation. We adopt the goals and principles of adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements development in an urbanizing world. We believe that attaining these goals will promote a more stable and equitable world that is free from injustice and conflict and will contribute to a just, comprehensive and lasting peace. Civil, ethnic and religious strife, violations of human rights, alien and colonial domination, foreign occupation, economic imbalances, poverty, organized crime, terrorism in all its forms, and corruption are destructive to human settlements and should therefore be denounced and discouraged by all States, which should cooperate to achieve the elimination of such practices and all unilateral measures impeding social and economic development. At the national level we will reinforce peace by promoting tolerance, non-violence and respect for diversity and by settling disputes by peaceful means. At the local level, the prevention of crime and the promotion of sustainable communities are essential to the attainment of safe and secure societies. Crime prevention through social development is one crucial key to these goals. At the international level, we will promote international peace and security and make and support all efforts to settle international disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. 26. We reaffirm and are guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring the full realization of the human rights set out in international instruments and in particular, in this context, the right to adequate housing as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and provided for in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, taking into account that the right to adequate housing, as included in the above- 21

22 mentioned international instruments, shall be realized progressively. We reaffirm that all human rights - civil, cultural, economic, political and social - are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated. We subscribe to the principles and goals set out below to guide us in our actions. [ ] Section IV: GLOBAL PLAN FOR ACTION : STRATEGIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION A.Introduction 53. Twenty years ago in Vancouver, at the first United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, the world community adopted an agenda for human settlements development. Since then, there have been remarkable changes in population and social, political, environmental and economic circumstances that affect the strategic outlook. These changes have led many Governments to adopt and promote enabling policies to facilitate actions by individuals, families, communities and the private sector to improve human settlements conditions. However, it is estimated that at least one billion human beings still lack adequate shelter and are living in unacceptable conditions of poverty, mostly in developing countries. 54. While the rate of population growth is on the decline, during the past 20 years world population has increased from about 4.2 billion to about 5.7 billion, with nearly one third under 15 years of age and an increasing number of people living in cities. By the turn of the century, humankind will be crossing a threshold where over 50 per cent of the population lives in urban areas. Meeting the needs of the nearly two billion more people expected in the coming two decades and managing human settlements towards sustainability will be a daunting task. In developing countries, in particular, rapid urbanization and the growth of towns, cities and megacities, where public and private resources tend to concentrate, represent new challenges and at the same time new opportunities: there is a need to address the root causes of these phenomena, including rural to urban migration. 55. In the economic sphere, the increasing globalization of the economy means that people in communities are trading in broader markets, and investment funds are more often available from international sources. As a result, the level of economic development has increased in many countries. At the same time, the gap between poor and rich - countries as well as people - has widened, hence the continuing need for partnerships to create a more favourable international economic environment. New communications technology makes information much more widely accessible and accelerates all processes of change. In many societies, new issues of social cohesion and personal security have emerged and the issue of solidarity has become central. Unemployment, environmental degradation, social disintegration and large-scale populations displacements, as well as intolerance, violence, and violation of human rights, have also emerged as critical factors. We must keep these new conditions in view as we draw up human settlements strategies for the first two decades of the twenty-first century. 56. While Habitat II is a conference of States and there is much that national Governments can do to enable local communities to solve problems, the actors who will determine success or failure in improving the human settlements condition are mostly found at the community level in the public, private and non-profit sectors. It is they, local authorities and other interested parties, who are on the front line in achieving the goals of Habitat II. Although the structural causes of problems have often to be dealt with at the national and 22