Human security for an urban century - local challenges, global perspectives

Description

This publication draws on the work of forty external academic contributors.They apply an urban lens to fields including children and armed conflict,security system reform, small arms and light weapons, stabilisation and reconstruction, peace building and democracy promotion.

The contributions of the forty experts are grouped in five themes: 

• human security at the dawn of an urban century 
• armed conflict and failed public security in cities 
• the human face of urban insecurity 
• conflict-resilient cities 
• safer cities for an urban century.

The general narrative addresses in more general terms the five above mentioned themes. It provides a good analytic framework urban crime and urbansecurity issues.

Background information

This publication is the product of a partnership between:

• the Human Security Research and Outreach Programme of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
• the Canadian Consortium on Human Security (CCHS)

Conclusions

Each of the forty contributions tells its own story with its own conclusions. Some of the general observations made are:

• Secure cities are cities with effective public security, with inclusive, participatory governance and with positive social capital.
• Today’s cities do not protect their citizens with walls but with effective public security forces capable of maintaining the rule of law.
• Effective inclusive and responsive governance at the local level can play a key role in preventing mitigating violent conflict by easing tensions between groups.
• Cities have both a role to play in improving human security and the potential to provide it. They are logical entry points for policy interventions that seek to enhance public security and trust.

Contact info

Human Security Cities

Publication date

1/1/2007