Catalog

Violence and the Poor

A study is looking at the rising tide of violence in Asia’s cities—and what can be done to stop it

By Graham Dwyer (gdwyer@adb.org)
External Relations Specialist

Background

With more than half the world’s population projected to be living in urban centers by 2020, the dream of a better quality of life is being undermined by an increasing menace—urban violence.

Surveys and poverty assessments show that urban violence has risen by 3%–5% per year over the last 20 years—and the degree of violence has intensified.

This violence ranges from street crime, such as muggings, robberies, and carjackings; to kidnappings, murder, drug-related violence, and organized crime conducted by gangs; to assaults, sexual violence, and personal abuse.

Asia experiences lower rates of violence than other regions. But it is home to an explosive growth in urbanization, which brings a threat of more violence.

“Exposure to violence is psychologically toxic and damaging. It inhibits productivity and income-earning capacity, affects the investment climate, destroys infrastructure, and disrupts delivery of services,” says Gulfer Cezayirli, an Asian Development Bank (ADB) Senior Urban Development Specialist.

However, addressing the problem is constrained by inadequate data and knowledge on the extent, trends, and specific causes of urban violence in Asia.

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Mutually Reinforcing

Most such studies are confined to Africa and Latin America. A few regional urban poverty assessments allude to urban violence, but have not carried out comprehensive investigations.

To fill this gap, ADB is undertaking a study to strengthen approaches to urban upgrading, poverty reduction, and pro-poor governance by increasing awareness of the link between urban violence, poverty, and ineffective governance.

Funded by a technical assistance grant of $150,000, the study will analyze the types of and reasons for violence, identify key players and the most likely victims, and draw up common lessons and suitable options to mitigate urban violence and enhance public safety and security in urban areas.

The grant comes from ADB’s Poverty Reduction Cooperation Fund, financed by the Government of the United Kingdom.

Previous studies indicate that urban violence, poverty, and ineffective governance are inextricably linked and mutually reinforcing.

“An inadequate urban environment and social and economic exclusion, coupled with inadequate access to safety services, lead to distrust, frustration, and hopelessness, and contribute to circumstances that encourage urban violence,” says Ms. Cezayirli.

Conversely, urban violence mostly affects the poor as they live in vulnerable physical conditions, cannot afford protection, and have no access to private security services.

A lack of understanding of the complex nature of the problem and the link between poverty and violence has led to government policies that focus on repression and conventional policing measures, with a predictably limited impact.

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Reducing Violence a Priority

Under the grant, a comparative analysis will be carried out in two Asian cities—most likely Dhaka and Phnom Penh. Three other cities in Asia and Latin America will be studied under a parallel exercise by the World Bank.

VICIOUS CYCLE Urban violence, poverty, and ineffective governance are inextricably linked and mutually reinforcing

With one of the relatively higher violence rates in the region, Phnom Penh’s poor, who constitute 25% of the city’s population, identify the reduction of violence, crime, and exploitation as among their major needs.

Likewise in Bangladesh, where urban poverty levels are among the highest in the Asia and Pacific region, high levels of insecurity and violence are major problems facing the poor.

Bangladesh also demonstrates the link between weak governance and urban violence. In the slums of Dhaka, the governance gap—in meeting the basic needs and providing security for the poor—is filled by middlemen who control land allocation and services to poor communities, while being widely engaged in violent acts against the poor, especially women.

“Urban violence and its consequent feeling of insecurity erode the poor’s social capital, dismantle their organizations, prevent social and physical mobility, and perpetuate poverty,” says Ms. Cezayirli.

“Unless urban violence—and its manifestation of exploitation of the poor—are addressed as part of poverty reduction and governance improvements, programs to improve the lives of urban dwellers will have limited impact.”

Sporadic initiatives have been taken to integrate urban social and physical strategies that mobilize effective partnerships led by urban governments. But these have not been replicated.

Innovative approaches are needed to address the multifaceted nature of violence and specific security needs of the urban poor. Without this, the vision of a better quality of life for city dwellers will remain just a dream.

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