World Wide Wednesday: Women, Violence and Crime
Each month we focus on research, blogs and news from around the world addressing smart approaches to crime prevention. We’re always on the lookout for websites and resources to draw from. March kicked off with International Women’s Day earlier this month. It seems only fitting that we share some items related to women.
- [International] In 2007, the world’s population of people living in cities reached 50% and half of that number is women and girls. In many cities, women and girls remain particularly vulnerable to violence and crime. Women in Cities International (WICI) uses participatory research methods with groups of women in Argentina, Russia, Tanzania and India to produce the baseline findings in “Learning from women to create gender inclusive cities“. WICI doesn’t mince words when they say ensuring women’s safety should be of primary concern for urban governance and city development.
Download the Report | My City! My Safety! | WICI website
- [International] Women’s Safety: A universal concern – this compendium of practices and policies on Women’s Safety comes from the International Centre for the Prevention of Crime (ICPC). Drawing from 32 countries, it includes 69 examples of municipal strategies, non-government initiatives, national government strategies and policies, and tools and resources.
Download the Report | ICPC Website
- [United States] The state of Oklahoma sends more women to prison (per capita) than any other U.S. state. The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse aims to change that with its own “smart on crime” plan. Their proposal includes alternative interventions and programs at 17 different points between an arrest and incarceration. Their aim is to reduce prison costs, provide more rehabilitative options and reduce the impact of incarceration on families.
- [International] On International Women’s Day, the World Health Organization adeptly drew attention to the fact that inequalities remain for many of the world’s women. And inequalities leave women and girls vulnerable to violence. Two good reminders include Violence prevention: the evidence and Preventing intimate partner and sexual violence against women: Taking action and generating evidence.
- [International] And of course, there are all the resources from the UN Women program for gender equality and the empowerment of women. They have pan-national studies, statistics and best practices beyond your imagination.
What additional resources would you recommend related to women, violence and crime? Have your read anything thought provoking that you care to share? Post a comment to let us (and other readers) know about it!