Co-facilitated by Pathfinders for a Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Society at NYU’s Center on International Cooperation, together with the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice at the University of San Diego, PlusPeace, and the Stanley Center for Peace and Security, Peace in Our Cities is a growing network of 22 cities and 30 community-based and international partners that work together to halve urban violence by 2030. We create concrete, participatory, and evidence-based exchanges to reduce and prevent severe violence in member cities, while building a global movement of advocates to reduce urban violence. Together, we are demonstrating that progress is possible and action is essential.
Peace in Our Cities will continue to: scale up opportunities to network and exchange knowledge; connect city and city-based actors to expert advisors in specialized areas; offer cities practical support on contextualized violence prevention; learn from and expand Peace Incentive Fund initiatives; commission research prioritized by our members; and expand the network to include new cities and city-based organizations committed to implementing evidence-based and innovative solutions for violence in cities.
PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVES
Peace in Our Cities seeks to:
• Spread knowledge about the scale of urban violence in the world and about evidence-based solutions that save lives and heal communities.
• Advance effective, justice-centred and evidence-based strategies to reduce violence.
• Accompany city leaders and partner organizations in their efforts to reduce and prevent the most serious forms of violence in their cities.
There is no cost to joining Peace in Our Cities.
KEY PROJECTS
Peace in Our Cities works to address the most serious situations of violence taking place across cities in the world today.
• We support our members through the provision of tailored action research; in-person and virtual peer exchange opportunities on relevant topics; advisory services as requested; network opportunities to connect partners across a range of areas of expertise; and opportunities to share and present at high-level international policy and advocacy events.
• In 2021 we introduced a new, exploratory programme that, through our Peace Incentive Fund, provided nine PiOC members with micro-grants for locally-driven prevention initiatives.
Peace in Our Cities remains steadfast in its commitment to halve urban violence by 2030. No-one should live a life plagued by fear of violence.