The European Forum for Urban Security (Efus) is a non-governmental organisation established in 1987 in Barcelona under the auspices of the Council of Europe supporting a network of more than 250 European local authorities in 16 countries.
Contents
Goals
Efus aims to:
Associations and Coalitions
Efus works with the majority of the 28 member states of the European Union and has a consultative status in the field of crime prevention within the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and the European Commission. It is a member of the Civil Society Forum on Drugs. It assists with the work carried out by the European Union Crime Prevention Network.
Efus is a founding member and Secretary of the International Centre for the Prevention of Crime. It is also the Regional Vice President of the Global Network on Safer Cities, led by UN Habitat, representing Europe. In 1998, Efus was awarded an honorific prize by the United Nations Settlements Programme.
On other continents, Efus supports the development of African and Latin American forums.
Activities
Efus works on all majority issues related to urban safety. It is also charged with developing a network of European local authorities through the exchange of practices, knowledge, cooperation, and training. In addition to linking local authorities in Europe, Efus connects local authorities and institutions at a national, European, and international level. Efus promotes the work of locally elected officials throughout its programs, publications and research.
In December 2012, the European Forum for Urban Security organised, in partnership with the cities of Aubervilliers and Saint-Denis (France), its fifth international and interdisciplinary conference. Entitled “Security, Democracy and Cities: The Future of Prevention”, this conference was dedicated to the exchange of practices, experience and knowledge on crime prevention in Europe and around the world. 900 participants took part in the event, representing 200 cities, 40 countries and 5 continents.
Manifestos
The Manifesto of Aubervilliers and Saint-Denis
The Manifesto of Aubervilliers and Saint-Denis was adopted at the end of the conference. In this Manifesto, Efus member cities call for long-term policies to manage security as opposed to short-term management. They claim that prevention is a rational, strategic and cost-effective option. In particular, they call for a full participation of youth and demand that citizen participation is included as an overall principle ruling of all security policies. 19 thematic recommendations complete the Manifesto. The Manifesto of Aubervilliers and Saint-Denis will act as a blueprint for Efus and its members in the years to come. It is designed to be a source of support and inspiration for local authorities in drawing up and promoting their security policies. It also aims to act as a mouthpiece for cities, speaking on their behalf to national, European and international institutions. “This new initiative aims to encourage dialogue between local European authorities, civil society and other parties involved in urban safety and security issues, including the private sector. As part of the initiative, debates, conferences, study days and many other events have been organised with and by local authorities, with citizens and at the institutional level” ("“Sharing the Manifesto” Initiative"). The manifesto emphasizes the endorsement of well thought out, long term prevention policies, well thought out prevention policies, making sure the citizens are engaging in activities, promoting women’s rights, getting younger people involved, equal rights for sexs, and security policies are of the highest quality ("“Sharing the Manifesto” Initiative").
Saragossa Manifesto
"800 representatives from 230 European cities and 30 universities in 40 countries", met in Saragossa from 2–4 November 2006 to adopt the Saragossa manifesto “Security, Democracy and Cities” in the presence of African, North American, Latin American, and Asian cities. Non-European representatives were invited to join those present by signing and implementing the guidelines of this document. Over the three days many workshops were performed, ideas were exchanged, and prevention policies were established concerning housing and safety, technologies and liberties, youth and violence. ("International Conference of Saragossa, 2–4 November 2006").
Safety is an essential public asset closely linked to other public assets such as social inclusion and the right to employment, healthcare, education, and culture. It is necessary to replace all fear-based strategies with others that promote an active community spirit, an adaptation of the urban territory, and the collective development of coexistence. The access to rights fosters the right to security.
At the end of the three days, which the Saragossa Manifesto was written. The participants wanted the cities to intertwine the policies, workshops, and ideas that were expressed in the meeting. Before they could get the program running, the European Union was contacted for financial support ("International Conference of Saragossa, 2–4 November 2006"). The Saragossa Manifesto was a way the European Forum for Urban Security to expand their message, so other countries across the world would also decrease the problem in cities.
Naples Manifesto
The international conference in Naples was held December 7–9, 2000 ("The Naples Manifesto"). This was the largest event the European Forum for Urban Security held, since it was established by Gilbert Bonnemaison in 1987 (Who We Are). During the conference the participants discussed democracy, security, and long term policies that would address the issues that the government was not tackling, which were the concerns of the citizens("The Naples Manifesto").
Efus Executive Committee
The European Forum is led by an Executive Committee of 32 cities, elected annually by the member cities of the Forum, presided by Guilherme PINTO, Mayor of Matosinhos, and vice presided by the cities of Reggio Emilia (Italy) and Nantes (France), and the LPR Lower Saxony (Germany).
The current president of Efus,Guilherme Pinto, was elected in 2010 ("Guilherme Pinto, President of the Efus"). Pinto is the mayor of Portugal and the first president to represent Portugal. “Formerly a lawyer, he has been a member of the National Assembly, Vice-President of the City Hall of Matosinhos, member of the European Sustainable Cities and Towns Campaign representing the ACR+ Association of Cities and Regions for Recycling and Sustainable Resource Management; a secondary school teacher; Municipal Deputy; and a member of the Socialist Party Studies Cabinet” ("Guilherme Pinto, President of the Efus").
National Forums
National Forums were created in:
Membership
The European Forum organises for its members EU-funded exchange projects, training programmes and technical assistance missions, and helps them access EU funds. Based on the principle of “cities helping cities”, Efus members share and compare their experience and expertise in order to strengthen their local security policies and to contribute to the development of European crime prevention policies. Efus represents its members at various levels of government in order to advocate the principles it defends and to bridge the gap between citizens, local authorities and national and European policy makers.