While urbanization brings economic growth and prosperity, it also presents a range of challenges. However, with growth and progress comes insecurity, violence and corruption. Compared to rural areas, urban areas are more likely to experience both violent and non-violent crimes, including robberies, drug and human trafficking, sexual and gender-based violence, gang-related violence and organized crime. As such, it is important to devote sufficient attention to effective and innovative crime prevention in urban settings.
Under the Safe City initiative, UNODC and the Academy of the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan piloted an assessment in the Chilanzar district of Tashkent city and presented the results in early December to government authorities, international community, civil society organization and bloggers to enhance their knowledge on crime prevention and urban safety.
Mr. Evgeny Kolenko, Head of the Academy of the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan, said: “The urbanization that is taking place in the world has also affected Uzbekistan and our task now is to provide a safe urban environment in cities. We have chosen the Chilanzar district of Tashkent city as a pilot site for out new initiatives. Together with UNODC and a group of experts, we conducted a study of the urban environment, including research on factors such as crime, criminological environment, corruption, unemployment, internal migration, road safety and many others".
“As a specific feature of this survey, the research team developed and put into practice a national safety model in Uzbekistan's state governance system, taking into account the guidance developed by UNODC for conducting Urban Safety Governance Assessments”, said Ms. Ashita Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative for Central Asia at her opening remarks.
Ms. Mittal thanked the Academy and other local authorities for “your support and for the important work that you do in the creation of conditions to have Tashkent city safe, peaceful, inclusive, comfortable for citizens, especially for the young generation and to grow them up well-educated and healthy, free of drugs and crime. This Urban Safety Assessment tool is unified and could be applied to other cities and regions of Uzbekistan as well”.
A group of experts which consists of lawyers, psychologists, sociologists and practitioners presented a final report, including the main results of the study, conclusions, proposals and recommendations.
In particular, it was emphasized that the studies carried out represent an alternative view of the concept of "Security", which is understood in the context of meeting key human needs through the presence of appropriate types of infrastructure in the urban environment. The experts noted the need to develop a unified methodology for assessing the current state of security by analyzing crime and predicting its dynamics, which takes into account all urban (socio-economic) factors.
The participants agreed that the experience gained during the implementation of the project will serve as a reliable basis for conducting comprehensive research on in-depth study of issues of ensuring public safety throughout the republic.
The event was attended by N. Grellier (Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer, Urban Security Project Coordinator of UNODC Headquarters in Vienna), Ms. Ashita Mittal (UNODC Regional Representative for Central Asia), Mr. Koen Marquering (International Manager of the UNODC Criminal Justice Program in Central Asia), international and national experts, civil society organization and bloggers.
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For more information, contact Vasilina Brazhko (Ms.)
Communication and PR Specialist at
UNODC in Central Asia
+996775987817 WhatsApp
vasilina.brazhko [at] un.org
