UNODC, Uzbekistan Pilot New Safety Governance Approach in Urban Environments for Safe, Inclusive and Resilient Communities

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Academy of the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan have recently launched a new joint initiative to promote a safety governance approach in urban environments for safe, inclusive and resilientcommunities.

The process of urbanization is closely linked with increases in economic and social development. However, growth and advancement can come, simultaneously with insecurity, violence and corruption. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes that reducing conflict, crime, violence, discrimination, and ensuring the rule of law, inclusion, and good governance are key elements of people’s well-being and essential for securing sustainable development. The 2030 Agenda also explicitly highlights the promotion of safe, inclusive and resilient cities (SDG 11).

This is why UNODC identified the need for more effective and evidence-based interventions at the urban level to strengthen resilience of communities to crime and violence, as well as to reduce their vulnerabilities to transnational illicit flows (like trafficking of persons, drugs, illicit financial flows, and counterfeit goods). With two-thirds of the world population expected to live in cities by 2050, these challenges will only continue to become more relevant in cities around the world.

In Uzbekistan, the initiative will complement the work that is being done by the General Prosecutor’s Office within the government’s “Safe City” concept aimed at ensuring public safety and the prevention of crime. The pilot assessment will be implemented in Tashkent’s Chilanzar district, with the possibility of conducting further assessments in other districts of Tashkent or in other Uzbek cities.   

The project will address threats to urban communities based on an Urban Safety Governance Assessment – a safety audit that investigates issues not only related to crime and victimization, but also corruption, illicit transnational flows, preventing violent extremism and health-centered drug prevention, treatment and care. The assessment aims to identify local challenges and recommendations for context-specific responses. In addition to strengthening the role of cities in dealing with crime and violence, the development of integrated strategy and policy recommendations will be directed at fostering legitimate governance, reducing inequality and promoting inclusion and individual and community resilience.

Results of the assessment are expected by the end of the year.

The Guide for Conducting Safety Governance Assessments in Urban Environments is available at: https://www.unodc.org/documents/Urban-security/Safety_Governance_Assessment_Guidance_final.pdf

For more information, please contact Mr. Koen Marquering,

International Programme Coordinator, UNODC/ROCA

at +998 78 1208050

or by e-mail: koen.marquering@un.org