 The Joint Programme on Strengthening Urban Security in Ouagadougou (PCRSU, in French), recently held a sensitization workshop on the institutionalization of integrated crime and violence prevention approach/initiative and a training on the establishment of local safety committees
The workshop was attended by more than sixty key stakeholders from the city as well as experts from Canada, Burundi, Cameroon and the United Nations. The objective of the workshop was to inform government and non-governmental actors on the importance of institutionalization of an integrated prevention approach. UN-HABITAT is coordinating the implementation of the overall programme including the facilitation of expert group meetings, campaigns and training of trainersor practicitioners on serveral issues on integrated urban safety. UN-HABITAT is also providing advisory services to national team leaders and consultants with the aim to enhance the scientific component of the process. Among the participants were national and international experts such as Claude Vezina, Urban Security and Crime Prevention Expert, Jean-Claude Mbwentchou, Coordinator of the National Programme of Urban Governance Yaounde-Cameroon, Dr. Friedericke Fuhlrott, Technical Adviser of the "Safer Cities" Programme in Bujumbura, and Elkin Velasquez, Coordinator of the UN-HABITAT Safer Cities Programme. In order to prevent delinquency, Elkin Velasquez emphasised that "the State has a key role to play in providing an enabling environment for social and economic development and fostering the opportunity to develop with the least risk possible. Regarding the manifestation of offences and crimes, public policy must include actions to reduce negative consequences on victims as well as actions to facilitate the recovery victims". The PCRSU intends to replicate its experience at the national level as the issue of insecurity is not only a concern for the city of Ouagadougou. Eventually, this should result in the establishment of a network of Burkinabe cities for the prevention of criminality. This network could result in a "Forum for Urban Security of Faso" or "Burkinabe Forum of Urban Security". At the end of the meeting, the participants formulated three main recommendations: - The creation of a national institute of integrated prevention of insecurity and criminality to support other urban municipalities In Burkina Faso to prevent insecurity.
- Make Ouagadougou become a resource centre for the reflection on and the formulation of strategies of prevention of criminality and urban insecurity.
- Provide the city of Ouagadougou with a strategic vision "Safer Ouaga 2025". This vision should guide the strategies of the programme and projects to implement for the next 15 years building synergies with the urban development plan and mobilization all the key actors.
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