As the global population becomes increasingly concentrated in urban areas, the world has witnessed growing threats to urban safety and security. While some of these threats have taken the form of large-scale events such as natural disasters and terrorist attacks, others are the widespread and more common symptoms of physical, economic and social inequalities within the world’s cities. The 2007 Global Report will be devoted to three major dimensions of urban safety and security: crime and violence; security of tenure and protection against forced eviction; and natural and human-made disasters. The report will focus on appropriate urban planning and management methods designed to: (i) reduce the incidence and impacts of crime and violence; (ii) reduce the incidence and consequences of tenure insecurity (including forced evictions), with respect to both shelter and informal sector enterprises; and (iii) mitigate the impacts of disasters (both natural and human-made). The volume will be essential reading for all professionals and researchers in the relevant fields and a valuable resource for teachers and students of urban development.


The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the agency responsible for coordinating human settlements issues within the United Nations system. It promotes economically productive, socially inclusive and environmentally liveable cities, towns and rural settlements, as well as adequate shelter for all. The Global Report on Human Settlements is the most authoritative and up-to-date global assessment of human settlements conditions and trends. It is an essential reference for researchers, academics, public authorities and civil society organizations all over the world. Preceding issues of the report have addressed such topics as Cities in a Globalizing World, The Challenge of Slums and Financing Urban Shelter.