– As delivered –

Remarks by H.E. Mr. Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly

22 April 2021

Ms. Ghada Fathi Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,

Distinguished delegates, dear colleagues,

Today, urban crime rates are rising globally. Many of our cities are facing serious security challenges, as criminal gangs and transnational organized crime groups prey on vulnerable communities. Vulnerabilities, and the opportunities for crime, have risen during the COVID-19 pandemic, giving increasing urgency to this issue.

Urban crimes, including corruption, money-laundering, the trafficking of illicit firearms, people smuggling, particularly of women and children, and terrorism undermine the rule of law and compromise the United Nations’ primary objective of Peace and Security.

Urban crime also undermines the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which explicitly aims to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable in Goal 11.  Efforts towards SDG16 on peace, justice and strong institutions, are threatened by urban crime in all its forms. 

Let me be clear: we will not achieve the targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, if we do not take action on the rule of law, crime prevention, and criminal justice.

Of course, each of our cities is unique and each neighbourhood has specific risk factors. However, the increasing rates of violence that many cities experience demand integrated, participatory and cross-sectoral measures that address urban safety and crime prevention. We have much to share and learn from each other.

We must continue to pursue collective action to eliminate urban crime. The adoption of the New Urban Agenda, at the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development in 2016, is a positive step. Today, I look forward to hearing proposals for how we can build capacities to eradicate vulnerabilities to urban crimes which have, for too long, been exploited by criminals.

Excellencies, dear colleagues,

Cities themselves have a central role to enhance safety and security within their borders. But support from their people and national entities is crucial to tackle increasing crime rates.

Local governments must consult and empower their people, including civil society, to understand drivers and define priorities for action from a multi-dimensional perspective, ultimately considering the overall wellbeing of communities, particularly the most vulnerable. 

The role of institutions at a national level, particularly in the delivery of public security, are critical. Transparent, accessible and trustworthy institutions that work together are crucial to build safe, inclusive and resilient cities.

The importance of efforts to strengthen institutions and improve governance at the local level cannot be overstated in the fight to tackle urban crime. In the instance of corruption, which at the urban level, causes not just ineffectiveness, but also enables criminal gangs and organized crime networks to operate. If the integrity of local institutions is compromised, the implementation of local level crime prevention programmes is impossible.

Prevention programmes to address urban crime must be sustainable and integrated across government strategies to ensure the commitment of wide range of service providers and stakeholders, at local and national levels. The United Nations guidelines for crime prevention, among others, provide a basis for developing such approaches.

While the justice system is essential for crime prevention, it is the effective collaboration with other sectors, that will allow us to address the root causes of urban crime – such as conflict, violence and human rights abuses, – and move from a focus on punitive measures to more evidence-based prevention. Effective data collection can help local governments to drive impactful interventions to enhance safety, security and governance.

Dear Colleagues,

The socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have hampered our path to 2030. We cannot allow crime to derail us further. In this Decade of Action, we must improve governance, strengthen the rule of law and promote effective and accountable criminal justice institutions.

In conclusion, I would like to thank the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for the key role to supporting Member States in tackling crime and violence and strengthening institutions and community resilience. 

Thank you.