Governments Agreed to Reduce Violent Crime by 2030
In 2015, governments committed to reduce violent crime significantly (Sustainable Development Goal 16.1), but they are not yet making necessary and affordable transformations.
Violent Crimes Cause Too Many Tragedies Every Year – Globally
- Half a million lives lost to homicide
- Unknown millions tragically injured and disabled
- 25 million women plus traumatized and impacted by rape
- Trillions of dollars of GDP sacrificed to violent crime
Violent Crime Has Been Halved by Tackling Risk Factors
Fifty years of scientific experiments identify programs that halve violent crime in less than five years. These proven programs are accessible on websites from key agencies, such as the CrimeSolutions.gov and World Health Organization.
Proven Solutions Reach Young Men at Risk of Violence
- Street Outreach Workers, , including in emergency rooms
- School curricula to increase self management to stop violence
- Employment and mentoring
- Changing community norms to what does not support gender-based violence
Tackling the Root Causes of Crime Takes Time
Violence will also be reduced but over long term by tackling poverty, school failure, family violence, access to guns, and over use of policing and incarceration.
UN Guidelines Identify on how to tailor the science to local conditions:
- Leadership in violence reduction unit
- Diagnose, plan, implement, evaluate
- Decision makers with capacity and knowledge
- Mobilize social services, health, schools, jobs, police …
- Dedicate adequate and sustained funding
Cities Demonstrate Halving Violence
Success stories such as Bogotá and Glasgow reduced violence by 50%. Safer cities are building on success, including Córdoba, London, Newark, Queretaro and Toronto.
Accelerators
1: Raise Awareness
To make decision makers and the public aware of what works
2: Train Human Capacity
To plan and guide violence prevention in governments and cities
3: Use Safety Monitor Tools
To guide decision makers on science, implementation, and measuring results
4: Multiply Success Stories
To network science, guidelines, and pathfinder successes
5: Invest in Prevention
To provide adequate and sustained funding for prevention that stops violent crime before it happens
Action Now. Thoughts and Prayers are not Enough.
It is time for national governments, international agencies, and foundations to invest in 5 accelerators to transform the way to stop harm from violence and generate prosperity.
For further information
Science and Secrets of Ending Violent Crime
Necessary Actions for Cities to Reduce Violent Crime by 50%
Better Spending, Better Lives Citizen Security Beyond Crime and Punishment, IDB
How to Halve Violent Crime Before 2030 – Accelerator Actions Needed Now
