The United Nations Human Settlements Programme and its interest in collecting crime data

Abstract

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the United Nations agency in charge of coordinating the implementation of the Habitat Agenda ([1], Chap. I, resolution 1, annex II) and of monitoring target 11 of the Millennium Development Goals, which is to have achieved, by 2020, a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers ([2], annex). In carrying out these tasks, UN-Habitat uses data for monitoring trends and conditions in human settlements in general and in slums in particular. In that regard, data on crime and violence in cities are collected and analysed. These activities are coordinated by the Global Urban Observatory and by a network of local urban observatories.