Centralized Offices of Violence Prevention (OVPs) can play an important role in violence prevention. They can also trigger transformative processes by acting as pathways to overcome challenges faced by city-led efforts to prevent violence. However, on occasions, they fail to produce desired outcomes. Thus, understanding the components that make them effective is crucial to consolidate peaceful and just societies, in line with SDG16.
The proposed presentation will share results from a mapping and analysis effort aimed at unpacking OVPs, following a set of effectiveness criteria focused on their capacities, leadership, and insights for justice-centered prevention efforts. Further, it will share lessons learned from case studies designed to support cities and gauge investments, capabilities, and impacts of pre-existing OVPs. Finally, the presentation will also outline evidence compiled from original data, interviews, and practices offering crucial recommendations for policymakers in charge of city-led violence prevention.
The presentation will be carried out by Peace in Our Cities, a network of 23 Mayors and 36 community-based and international partners working together to halve urban violence by 2030. Presenters will include Alfredo Malaret Baldo, Urban Violence Program Officer and Rachel Locke, Director of the Violence, Inequality and Power Lab at the University of San Diego.