Urban violence and insecurity: an introductory roadmap

Brief of the October 2004 issue of E&U. Violence in cities has reached record levels in many nations, and is having a devastating impact on people’s health and livelihoods and on the economic prospects of many cities. Fear of violence isolates the poor in their homes and the rich in their segregated spaces. Violence, the use of physical force which causes hurt to others, can also be defined to include psychological hurt and material deprivation.