Urban Violence: Status Report

In 1950, 30% of the world’s total population lived in cities. Now more than half of the population resides in urban areas, and this trend towards greater concentration of people is continuing. In the developed countries, the rate of urbanisation has already reached 75% of the overall population. Cities are the preferred space, enjoying strong power of attraction because they offer easy access to services and to the jobs market. But they are also the place where social tensions rise to the surface and where specific forms of violence appear.