International Report on Crime Prevention and Community Safety and International Compendium of Practices to Inspire Action Across the World Presented at the Meeting on the Prevention of Crime and Violence: Committee on Hemispheric Security Of the Organization of American States (OAS) February 5 th, 2009 Washington, D.C. Laura Capobianco, Senior Analyst and Project Manager, International Centre for the Prevention of Crime (ICPC)

About ICPC (1) An international network of governments, NGOs and UN organisations promoting safety. The Centre is trilingual (English, French, Spanish). Created in 1994 by the governments of Canada, France and Quebec, now 11 member governments : Argentina, Australia, Chile, Hungary, Norway, South Africa, the State of Queretaro (Mexico), and El Salvador. Also ICPC members include 30 institutes specialized in crime prevention.

About ICPC (2) An international observatory, a centre of expertise, and a tool for technical assistance Some recent examples of activities: o Key for Safer Municipalities Toolkit (a partnership with IDB) oPolice Modules: International Learnings on the Go oOrganization of upcoming international workshops: Community Safety and Indigenous Peoples, Ottawa, Canada (March 10 th, 2009) oMission in Haiti (Mobilizing Local Actors in Prevention, Crime Observatory, in partnership with UNDP)

The International Report in Brief An analytical tool of prevention strategies, a marker for emerging challenges, an instrument to disseminate relevant policies and practices. Divided into two parts: – Crime trends (thematic analysis on youth safety, womens safety, school safety, and management of safer public spaces and large sporting events (crimes of everyday life) – Trends and Developments in Crime Prevention : Preventive responses to the above issues.

The Compendium in Brief Includes 65 projects or strategies from 30 countries - what communities can do to prevent and respond to crime challenges. Provides a source of inspiration of ideas, and reconfirms the value of processes in relation to strategic and effective crime prevention. Divided into Five Main Thematic Sections : Aspects of Community Safety, Youth at Risk, Youth Gangs, Community Safety and Indigenous Peoples, Police - Community Partnerships in Crime Prevention.

Who Do they Address? Decision-makers in different jurisdictions: cities, regions and countries Specialized practitioners, non governmental organizations, and members of civil society engaged in crime prevention International organizations, United Nations agencies and affiliated, development banks and donors Researchers specialized in crime prevention

ICPCs Report and accompanying Compendium illustrate a spectrum of expertise

Some Main Conclusions (1) Crime Prevention is now guided by international standards, is evolving and becoming more widespread. UN Guidelines for the Prevention of Crime ( ECOSOC 2002/12) Principles for effective crime prevention: 1. Enhance the rule of law 2. Serve socio economic development and inclusion 3. Evidence and not ideology should drive prevention 4. Should be community centered 5. Governments, civic and business communities should establish and foster partnerships among themselves 6. Should be developed and promoted on the basis of sustainability and accountability, through information sharing and community involvement (UNODC in ICPC 2008, p.134)

Some Main Conclusions (1) …in 2006, 42 countries completed the UN questionnaire of the implementation of the UN Guidelines on Crime Prevention Throughout the world, an increasing number of countries are developing ambitious crime prevention strategies and action plans.

Some Main Conclusions (2) Prevention is effective when it takes place at the local level and uses a comprehensive strategy involving diverse partners (Some examples: San Romanoway Association (SRA), Toronto, Salto Model, Norway, City of Diadema, Brazil, iTrump Warwick Junction Project, eThekwini municipality, South Africa)......A greater recognition, that crime prevention must be tailored to context and needs, and involve a more nuanced understanding of partnership building and its challenges.

Communities in Action for Safety The 10 year experience of the SRA highlights some important elements: A tool to understand community strengths, identify challenges related to risk factors, monitor progress, and assess impact. Support allocated by both public and private partners towards a comprehensive approach (Situational measures, social development, capacity building and reducing recidivism) The importance of a structure/mechanism to ensure sustainability The private sector can contribute to a local crime prevention initiative beyond security provision and help open doors to additional support.

Communities in Action for Safety The experience of iTrump Warwick Junction Renewal Project highlights some important lessons and challenges: Institutional embedding within local government (health, economic development, solid waste, traffic authority, parks, housing) to help sustain action Value of a participatory planning approach Several measures in place by the operation team with implications for crime prevention (environmental design, conflict resolution, Safer cities, etc.) Challenges Managing competing time lines Vision maintenance throughout the process

Some Main Conclusions (3) 3.Capacity building measures must be supported to help sustain effective crime prevention initiatives Some Examples: Safety Audits Crime Observatories Consultation and Participatory Approaches

This first analysis ……. Has confirmed the need to strengthen knowledge about crime prevention with greater dissemination and exchange. Is a work in progress which will benefit communities throughout the world. The forthcoming International Report (2010) will: Be presented at the 12th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, Brazil, April 12-19, 2010 THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!