To align to the UN General Assembly’s focus on reducing urban violence and to deliver the Sustainable Development Goal 16 – “to reduce violence everywhere” – together with Pathfinders and the Peace in Our Cities Campaign, the GPM has partnered to reach out to mayors, cities, international organisations and city networks from all over the world to drive a global city-led violence reduction agenda. GPM Executive Committee member Mayor Marvin Rees of Bristol (UK) has led the resolution as rapporteur together with Robert Muggah, Co-Chair of the GPM Advisory Committee. “To speed up achievement of SDG16, and promote inclusive economic development, our resolution sets out 11 basic commitments to deliver safety and security in cities. These commitments are informed by science and good practice, and have been developed by experts from around the world,” said GPM Mayor Rees. The resolution on violence reduction has been signed off by more than 60 cities together with city networks representing over 1,500 cities and metropolitan areas. According to GPM Mayor Rees, “the GPM put forward this resolution in response to the violence we continue to see in our global cities. In many places, Covid-19 has accelerated many of the drivers of conflict, crime, and interpersonal violence – especially violence against woman and children “.

Mid-October the Resolution has been presented to the UN and received a formal acknowledgement. Please find the letter from the UN Secretary General to the GPM by clicking here or on the UN icon.