November 13, 2024 | Washington D.C., DC, USA | Mass Violence and Atrocities

City Action for Peace—An Urbanization, Peace, and Security Agenda

Invitation Only; Registration Required

The world is increasingly urbanizing, with more than 50 percent of the world’s population living in cities and an anticipated two-thirds of all people living in cities by 2050. This significant demographic and social transition into predominantly urban environments has important implications for security dynamics and efforts to promote peace. Yet the unique urban enablers for violenceand to reduce violencehave rarely featured in international peace and security discussions among multilateral agencies, donors, development banks, and think-tanks.

These dynamics are the focus of a recent report from the Peace in Our Cities network, authored by Antônio Sampaio at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. This paper, Urbanization, Peace, and Security, explores the peace and security implications of rapid global urbanization. It considers how multilateral actors can support and partner with the growing number of local governments, community leaders, and civil society groups emerging in this new landscape, often in fragile or conflict-affected areas. The report presents a concept of the urban political space as a potentially unifying framework for peacebuilding and security at various levels.

At this roundtable discussion, we explore the opportunities to further support and engage cities in the global commitment to improve security, reduce violence, and build peace.

Contact

Jai-Ayla Sutherland

Program Officer
Mass Violence and Atrocities