The International conference on the state of safety in world cities will:

Review and assess the state of safety in cities and towns – using as a basis, UN-HABITAT’s flagship report the Global Report on Human Settlements 2007: Enhancing Urban Safety and Security. The meeting will look at global, national and local trends and aspects of urban governance, planning and management that assist in crime prevention.

Promote urban planning and governance for safety as an integrated approach to addressing crime and enhancing the role of local government in crime and violence prevention - the conference will discuss how urban planning and management can be used in crime and violence prevention.  Topics will include social issues, law enforcement, and space design and the role of the city governments in coordinating local partners, including criminal justice systems and civil society organizations, to develop and implement multi-sectoral local crime prevention strategies.

Identify international policies and strategies to assist cities in tackling crime and insecurity – the conference will develop a strategic vision that integrates crime prevention, urban governance, urban management and urban poverty issues to provide guidance for the future work of UN-HABITAT and Habitat Agenda partners on how to address crime and insecurity within the context of the Habitat Agenda.