Young people living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods are often the victims and perpetrators of violence, both inside and outside the home, and experience prejudice and discrimination that results from a climate of fear associated with violent crime in their neighbourhoods.

Public authorities should work to ensure that the neighbourhoods that young people live in are safe, and that support systems are in place for the victims and perpetrators of violence.

Public authorities should facilitate dialogue with young people; national, regional and local authorities; police, justice and probation services; and youth organisations and youth workers from disadvantaged neighbourhoods to identify the causes of violence and to agree strategies to deal with violence.

Furthermore formal and non-formal education programmes to deal with bullying, sexual harassment, gender-based violence, and other forms of violence should be introduced, as well as support programmes to aid the recovery of young victims of violence and provide information through youth-friendly communication.

Victims should be encouraged to report violence against them, including gender-based violence, to the police, and they should have access to services that can guarantee their safety and the safety of their families, including, if necessary, re-housing, counselling and financial support. Members of police forces, the legal profession and the staff of other relevant public bodies involved in dealing with violence in disadvantaged neighbourhoods should be trained in gender-sensitive human rights.

Public authorities should introduce initiatives to support the rehabilitation and social re-integration of those young people who commit acts of violence and other young offenders and set up initiatives to prevent hate-speech and hate-crimes.
 

Read more about preventing Violence (Chapter 6 - Publication Taking it seriously)