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Gender and Crime Prevention
This edition of the IO is concerned with gender and crime prevention. Over the
past few years there have been increasing calls around the world for crime prevention
strategies and action to give much greater attention to gender - to the ways in
which women's and men's experience of crime, and their prevention needs differ.
Since the 1980's many international conferences, declarations and protocols have
called on governments to increase their support for gender equality. Much of the
international initiative has been in reaction to the situation of women in developing
countries, and the crucial role that women can play in achieving sustainable development. While
the significance of gender differences has been recognized in fields such as health,
medicine and education, there has been less action in the field of crime prevention.
To a large extent prevention policies relating to women remain separated from
overall policies. There are also differences between countries and regions in
understanding about what gender means or includes, and about how best to integrate
it into good prevention practice. The arguments for paying greater attention to
gender differences relate both to the promotion of good governance and democratic
policy-making, as well as to increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of crime
prevention strategies and practice for both women and girls and men and boys.
The attached discussion paper looks at some of the difficulties,
trends and developments in the integration of gender into crime prevention. Comments
and responses are welcomed. (pdf file attachment) Links:
See also Women's Conference, International Observer #6 June 2002. | 
