SEMARANG – President of World Society of Victimology (WSV), Prof. Dr. Robert Peacock, explained the connection between crime and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). On the second day of 6th ICENIS (International Conference on Energy, Environment, Epidemiology and Information System) held by Postgraduate School of Diponegoro University (UNDIP), on Thursday (5/8/2021), Prof. Peacock was worried about the effect of crime on the sustainable development agenda which is the commitment of nations include as United Nations members.
While guiding the presentation of Prof. Peacock who is also Chair of Department of Criminology at University of Free State, South Africa; The Chair of Undip Board of Professors, Prof. Dr. Purwanto DEA, said that Prof. Peacock’s theme was very interesting. Discussing crime prevention and victimization to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals is something new in the ICENIS series, which has entered its 6th year of implementation.
According to Prof. Peacock, legal and security aspects have not been widely discussed in their contribution to encourage the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, particularly Goal 16. “Sustainable development, crime and victimization prevention are interrelated and strengthen each other. Combating crime can encourage the achievement of Agenda of SDGs 2030, and conversely the achievement of SDGs can contribute to the eradication of various forms of crime, especially in the midst of the current Covid-19 pandemic condition,” said the WSV President.
For information, WSV or World Society of Victimology is an international non-governmental organization whose membership includes academics and researchers in fields of social sciences, government representatives, doctors, lawyers, law enforcement, emergency service personnel, students and other members of residents. WSV often has a role to provide input and advice to the United Nations Economic and Social Council and the Council of Europe.
Through his presentation entitled “Crime and Victimization in the era of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals”, Robert reminded the contents of Goal 16, namely to significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere; end harassment, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence and child abuse; support national and international legal instruments; equal access to justice for all by 203. Goal 16 also directs countries to significantly reduce the flow of illicit finance and weapons, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets and combat all types of organized crime, substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all its forms, build accountable and transparent institutions at all levels, ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels and broaden participation of developing countries in global governance and institutions.
“As a framework, the SDGs extend the MDGs in many aspects, especially concerning the relationship between social, economic and environmental aspects, including significantly reducing violence, suicide, death; eliminating violence against women and children; ensuring equal access for everyone including the victims,” said Robert, who was once served as Head of Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Monash University.
He emphasized that without the Covid-19 pandemic, we are actually still not on the track towards achieving the SDGs in 2030. Therefore, with the outbreak of Covid-19, it is estimated that achievement will be even more difficult. On the other hand, at the same time the pandemic actually creates an opportunity to develop a recovery plan.
Before the pandemic occurred, said Robert, there were 4 billion people who had not received any social protection at all. Moreover in 2020 there were more than 71 million people fell into extreme poverty, while at the same time various natural disasters occurred and made the poverty gap deeper. Regarding the second target, namely the absence of hunger, it is certain that with a pandemic that also threatens the food system, this target will be increasingly difficult to achieve.
Robert suspected that there would be many stunted children. There will also be more children who cannot go to school, or are forced to leave school due to economic difficulties (Goal 4).
Regarding the Goal 5, namely gender equality, it is feared that limiting activities or what is commonly known as a lockdown will increase the risk of violence against women and children. In some countries, it is reported that there has been a 30% increase in domestic violence.
Regarding Goal 8, namely decent work and economic growth, it is also predicted that it will be difficult to achieve because there are millions of informal sector workers who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic.
Robert closed his presentation by offering several alternative thoughts and activities that concluded the opportunity to develop a recovery plan for achieving SDGs, including by increasing the character of sustainability research to become more interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary. Thus the research will be more oriented to find solutions for community needs within the framework of glocalization and multilateralism.
Involved parties from local, national, international and regional levels must be seen as equals in a people-oriented victimization discourse. Policy makers must be unbiased by involving more ‘strong communities’ because this does not lead to systemic solutions,” he said. (PR team)
Translated by: Titis – Public Relations
