Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, urban leaders were stepping-up and investing in evidence-based solutions to prevent and reduce violence and make their communities safer. The pandemic and measures to contain it have thrust municipal leaders further into the spotlight. Moreover, COVID-19 has generated enormous stresses on cities at a time when they were already facing enormous financial shortfalls and liabilities.
The pandemic and associated lockdowns have also precipitated changes in the scope and scale of violence in cities around the world. Initial declines in fatal and non-fatal violence in many cities proved to be fleeting as lockdowns eased. Domestic abuse and sexual violence also rose and relations between police and communities deteriorated against a backdrop of global mobilization against racism and police brutality.
This formal High-Level Political Forum event is an opportunity to hear from city leaders and community-based partners about how they are responding to fast-changing circumstances and the ways they are connecting to global networks to promote violence reduction.
The panelists will share concrete examples of how cities and service providers are addressing gender-based violence, what protections they are putting in place to keep children safe, and how they are combatting violent extremism and fighting crime.
This virtual event is convened by the Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies, hosted at the New York University Center for International Cooperation in collaboration with Peace in Our Cities.
Learn more about the Pathfinders work at https://www.sdg16.plus and follow us on twitter @SDG16Plus
Register here.
