Violence Prevention: A Critical Dimension of Development
Violence has become one of the most salient developmental issues in the global agenda. Its negative impact on social and economic development in countries across the world has been well documented. Studies have shown that in about 60 countries, over the last ten years, violence has significantly and directly reduced economic growth. It has hampered poverty reduction efforts and limited progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. About half of these 60 countries currently experience violent conflict or are in post-conflict transition. The other half experience high levels of violent crime, street violence, domestic violence, and other kinds of violence.
The Social Development department in the Sustainable Development Vice Presidency has set-up a new team working on conflict, crime and violence. This team will pursue some of the work previously covered by the Conflict Prevention and Reconstruction unit, but will broaden its approaches. The objective of this team is to support the World Bank’s efforts to make societies more resilient to violence.
The event was opened by:
Hon. Martti Ahtisaari 2008 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Former President of the Republic of Finland
Mr. Enrique Peñalosa Former Mayor of Bogota, Colombia
The “Violence Prevention: A Critical Dimension of Development” event was an occasion to showcase:
How violence prevention crosscuts important development priorities, such as fragile countries, governance, gender and youth inclusion, post-conflict reconstruction and urban development.
What we know about what works and does not work in violence prevention.
How this agenda can be translated into concrete policy advice and operations, and how the World Bank can move forward in addressing crime and violence.
The event also featured the session Children and War, a Testimony, a discussion with former child soldiers Dominic Akena, protagonist of the 2008 Academy Award Nominee for Best Documentary, Grace Akallo, author of Girl Soldier: A Story of Hope for Northern Uganda’s Children, and John Kon Kelei, public educator for War Child Netherlands; as well as war survivor Zlata Filipovic, author of Zlata’s Diary: A Child’s Life in Wartime Sarajevo.
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