Review of Related Literature
What bothers us?
-Personal Safety and security
-Vulnerability to criminality, uneasiness and insecurity about our personal welfares in the society we live in
As
Filipinos who have been brought up in the Philippines, members of this
team share the same sentiments about the state of personal safety and
security we experience. Accounts from friends and family who have had
experiences being victimized by theft, robbery, assault and the likes
cause a sense of eeriness in the land we call our home. Wandering
mendicants, snatchers, pickpockets and hold-uppers are just a few of the
entities that threaten our sense of safety and securities, thus making
us feel vulnerable to criminality.
This review of related
literature helps delve into the root cause of these acts of crimes and
understand how these may be addressed in line with governance projects
tasked to partner with.
The Oxford dictionary defines crime as an
action or omission that constitutes an offense that may be prosecuted by
the state and is punishable by law. The word crime may be synonymous to
illegal activities or actions that are deemed evil, shameful or wrong.
In the paper entitled “Is Poverty the Main Cause of Crime?” written
by Susan Thomas, a criminologist at Oxford University argues that an
actual definition of the concept of crime is still somewhat contested
and ambiguous as diversities in paradigms affected by culture, tradition
and religion set different sets of standards. She illustrates the point
in the case of moral transgressions such as kissing in public are
punishable by incarceration or imprisonment in Dubai; but is accepted in
a somehow more liberal society towards public display of love and
affection like the Philippines.
The United Nation’s
published paper in 2009 entitled, Urban Safety and Poverty in Asia and
the Pacific; crime is said to be often defined as a breach of the law.
Although not necessarily universal, crime is associated with legal
systems, norms, values and are subject to constructs of culture and
tradition. Crime may be high in some cities, but this does not
necessarily equate to an increased threat to personal safety if
contained in a particular area or is directed towards a minority social
or ethnic group.
In the very same study, it is pointed out
that threats to safety and human security have a growing impact in the
Asia-Pacific region ranging in scale and scope from forms of crime such
as organized crimes in forms of terrorist attacks, public disturbances
and riots driven by ideological tensions, violence in the community and
households, forms of abuse, physical and armed assaults, gang activity
and the likes. Although crime and safety have universal tendencies that
go beyond geographical, social and cultural borders, there still remain
local characteristics indigenous to one.
Levels of
performance and welfares of cities are affected and greatly influenced
by crime and levels of safety. Both crime and degrees of safety
influence structures of cities. Development issues that share the growth
and dynamics of institutions and livelihoods are subject to violence,
safety and security. Cities can only act as engines or economic growth,
democratization and social prosperity if those who live in them feel
safe to engage in economic, social, cultural and political life
(UN-HABITAT 2007a:8).
Both S. Thomas and the study
conducted by the United Nations claim that poverty in itself is not a
cause of crime or violence. There is no direct correlation between
poverty, gender and safety. Studies, however do not debunk that poverty,
when coupled with several triggers such as lack of opportunities,
inequality, exclusion, availability of drugs and firearms and such
becomes an important factor. This means that the impact of crime and
safety on people’s capabilities, livelihoods and sources becomes
broader. The study conducted by the United Nations gives emphasis on
urban dynamics such as employment and economic opportunities; familial,
inclusive cultural and social structures; governance and institutional
performance can all contribute to safer cities.
Crime may
take in the form of violence. The World Health Organization defines
violence as the undue and unlawful exercise of physical, emotional and
or psychological force. It may derive from personal assault to
institutional and structural reforms and is intended to cause or lead to
injury or harm. It is therefore substantial to consider the level of
people’s fear of violence, which at times maybe higher than the actual
recorded cases of violence.
As citizens dwelling under
sovereigns ought to protect and govern over safety and welfare, it is
but essential to dwell into the issue of safety. Views toward safety and
evaluation of one’s own sense of security differ from person to person.
UN-HABITAT’s research indicates that people to respond to their sense
of safety in relation to how they understand or experience crime and
violence. That very understanding or sense of fear shapes the social and
economic functioning of cities and the functioning of social
interactions. UN defines security as a condition where people enjoy a
set of freedoms, from crime and violence, but also from poverty, social,
political and cultural systems which affect people’s capabilities to
live life to its fullest.
Violence is said to arise due to
increasing levels of conflict between governments and the urban poor
regarding developments of infrastructure, housing, access to land and
environmental policies. Rising costs of land, the integration of urban
cities into the global economy and emerging civil societies would create
tensions that would further contribute to conflict.
Furthermore,
in UN’s study; the relationship between crime, violence, safety and
poverty; as previously pointed out belie straightforward cause and
effect patterns. Poverty in itself is not a cause of crime or violence.
It has no direct relationship to feelings of safety or fear. What is
clear from research is that poverty becomes an important factor when
coupled with other triggers. Kusakabe states in his work on Policy
Making on Street Vending published in 2006 that there is a significant
economic cost when cities are unsafe. Informal sector livelihoods can be
negatively affected by the inability to work safely at night, by petty
corruption of local police officers and by policies that seek to
sanitize urban space through clean-up campaigns.
In the
Philippines, in a published online article entitled The National
Association of Criminal Gangs of the Philippines Nationwide in 2009it
was taken into account that crimes such as sneaky office intruders who
ran sack during breaks, ATM scams where money is trapped or cards are
swapped, Zesto, Salisi, Dugo-Dugo and Budol-Budol gangs post threats to
safety.
The study conducted by Fajnzylber and others in
2006 illustrates that social exclusions and marginalization both
contribute to and result from crime. In many cities, inequality may be
the more important determinant and might be necessary to include in the
agenda. The existence of informal settlements and the emergence of
resettlement sites continue to be distantly located poorly serviced and
thus promulgate disassociation, isolation and fragmentation. This may
lead to increased family tensions and vulnerabilities. With these in
mind, children in these resettlement sites may be denied of education
opportunities, or are less likely to attend school. The loss of shelter
security sets a rippling effect into household incomes, health,
education and such. When due to stresses brought about by poverty due to
domestic abuse or deprivation, households may become dysfunctional.
This may negatively affect development among the youth and normalizes
the concept of violence both within and outside the walls of home. When
the youth are denied opportunities and the ability to integrate into
society, problems occur. The consequences for not being able to meet
such needs give rise to development of youth gangs, prevalence of drug
abuse, increasing number of street children and associated health
problems (Jones 2008).
As of the end of 2011, in an
account by Exploredia Philippine population has reached 94,012,200.
About 2.68 million are in Quezon City, 1.6 million in Manila, 1.4
million in Caloocan, 1.36 million in Davao.
According
to the Philippine National Police (PNP) there is a 16.77% decline in
crime rates in the Philippines for the first quarter of 2012. “Index
crime rates”, which is 61.14% of total crime rate went down by 18.86%
according to PNP spokesperson Chief superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr.
Crime against persons (murder, rape, homicide, physical injuries) had a
20.24% decline. This includes a 4.75% decline in rape cases and in
homicide and physical injuries, a decline of 20-25%. Crime against
property (theft, robbery, car-napping, cattle-hustling) rates also
dropped.
“Based on the 2009 official poverty
statistics for the basic sectors, fishermen posted the highest poverty
incidence for nine basic sectors in the Philippines at 41.4%, the same
level in 2006, followed by farmers and children at poverty incidences of
36.7% from 37.2% in 2006 and 35.1% from 32.7% in 2006, respectively.
Poverty Incidences for fishermen, farmers, children, self-employed and
unpaid family workers are higher than the poverty incidence among
population in the Philippines at 26.5% in 2009.
Poverty
incidence for four basic sectors increased between 2006 and 2009: youth
and migrant and formal sector workers, both with 1.0 percentage point
increases, and children and individuals residing in urban areas, both
with 0.3 percentage point increases.(NSCB, 2012)”
There
has been a decrease in crime rate since 2009 because of the increase in
visibility of police in crime prone areas. In the article “What’s The
Real Cause of Crimes in The Philippines?”, it states that illiteracy,
unemployment, poverty, etc. influence the presence of crime in the
Philippines but the root cause of this is lack of moral values. It is
said that most Filipinos do know the difference between right and wrong
but they do not have the initiative or will to do the good. “Instilling
good character and virtues of self-discipline, integrity and service
within the context of a loving family and healthy community structures
like schools and churches is the best anti-crime program we all can take
part and believe in. (Definitely Filipino, 2012)”
Susan
Thomas in her work on the relationship between Poverty and Crime, she
quotes Kanazawa who points out that human beings have evolved to compete
for resources. These instincts need to be kept under control. The
hunting instincts of prehistoric man may be compared to the competitive
urges in modern man. These may motivate acquisitive crime.
According
to the WHO, violence and crime result from inequality and
marginalization and acts to reinforce it. There are concerns over safety
and these mean that it is less likely that groups and populations of
people will find it a challenge to access resources and services
provided for, thus leading to marginalization.
Poverty is
indeed not the main cause of criminality, but is a possible driver when
triggered or aggravated by feelings of exclusion, marginalization and
separation from access to opportunities. This team believes that in line
with the sentiments shared in class about safety and security,
criminality will be addressed through empowerment, inclusion, motivation
and introduction to new opportunities to a better way of life.
Sources:
Carillo, J., Petrella L. et al. Urban Safety and Poverty in Asia and the Pacific. UN-HABITAT. 2009. 22 June 2012.
Thomas, Susan. Is Poverty the main cause of crime?.
http://susantthomas.blogspot.com/2011/03/is-poverty-main-cause-of-crime.html. 22 June 2012.
National Statistical Coordination Board. http://www.nscb.gov.ph/secstat/d_safety.asp. 23 June 2012.
What’s The Real Cause Of Crimes In The Philippines?
http://definitelyfilipino.com/blog/2012/03/17/whats-the-real-cause-of-crimes-in-the-philippines/
Crime Rate by Area. http://www.nscb.gov.ph/secstat/d_safety.asp. 21 June 2012.
Poverty Statistics. http://www.nscb.gov.ph/pressreleases/2012/PR-201206-SS2-01_pov2009.asp. 23 June 2012.
Leones, C. The
Current Situation of Crime Associated With Urbanization: Problems
Experienced And Countermeasures Initiated In The Philippines. 22 June 2012.
