Vulnerability may be defined as the probability of an individual, a household or a community falling below a minimum level of welfare (e.g. poverty line) or the probability of suffering physical and socio-economic consequences (homeless or physical injury) as a result of risky events and processes (as forced eviction, crime or flood).

Safer Cities Programme’s approach to urban safety pays a special attention to urban vulnerabilities vis-à-vis urban violence. Reducing the probability that crimes occur means acting on both potential perpetrators and potential victims.

The main vulnerable groups vis-à-vis urban violence are youth and girls and women.

Youth living in poor and overcrowded urban environments are at much higher risk of becoming involved in offending as well as being victimized. Rates of reported delinquency and youth crime have increased in many countries in the developed and developing world. Youth violence and gang activity appears to have increased, partly due to greater concern about and reporting of incidents, but also increasing availability of drugs and guns.

The strategy is to work with local authorities in reducing youth vulnerability in urban areas via empowerment, reduction of risk factors of marginalization and social exclusion, by capitalizing on youth as resources and not as problems.

Girls and young women face considerable disadvantages in many countries compared with males. They are exposed to different sets of experiences and risks as they grow up and their roles, responsibilities and daily activities differ considerably because of social and cultural factors. Deeply rooted historical, religious and cultural practices and beliefs often place girls as second-class citizens with less access to education, employment and personal freedom and subject to greater controls at home and in public. They are more vulnerable to trafficking, sexual assault, exploitation, and sexually transmitted disease including HIV/AIDS. These disadvantages are increased for girls and young women in urban areas where they are even more vulnerable to discrimination and exploitation than in rural settings.

The strategy is to work with local authorities to contribute to the development of policies addressing violence against women.