Category: Latest News

The ICPC took part in a Conference on Combating Human Trafficking in the Americas

The ICPC attended online the 7th Meeting of National Authorities on Trafficking in Persons of its partner, the Organization of American States (OAS), which took place on February 5, 2024, in Washington, focused on combating human trafficking in the American continent. This meeting brought together delegations from various countries to discuss the challenges and concerns faced, as well as priorities and strategies to adopt in response to the alarming increase in human trafficking, including forced labor and sexual exploitation. 

During this event, a delegation representing Canada particularly emphasized the importance of combating sexual exploitation, calling for greater public awareness and reporting of abuses. The conference highlighted the role of technology in human trafficking, showing how advancements allow criminal networks to recruit and exploit victims discreetly, mainly online. The need for innovation and international collaboration to monitor and counter these activities was emphasized, with particular attention to identifying and blocking platforms facilitating these crimes. 

Discussions also focused on prostitution networks and how victims, mainly young girls and boys, are exploited through transnational routes, highlighting the importance of cooperation between countries to provide aid and assistance. The use of social media and other online platforms in the recruitment and exploitation of young people was a key topic, indicating an urgent need to act on these fronts. 

Finally, the link between climate change and human trafficking was addressed, recognizing that vulnerabilities arising from forced migrations due to climate changes require global responses to ensure safe and secure migrations. 

Thus, this conference allowed the ICPC to continue its commitment to the prevention of human trafficking but also to enhance its capabilities to better combat this scourge on a global scale and to expand its network of partners. 

Thank you for the invitation! 

The ICPC in the media: crime prevention strategies in Montreal

In 2023, according to Montreal police, 33 homicides were recorded in Montreal, down from 41 in 2022. In the context of this significant decrease, Michelle Côté, the research director at ICPC, highlights the progress made in the fight against urban violence in the Metropolis, emphasizing the crucial importance of collaboration between the police and community organizations to effectively prevent violence. 

For more information, we invite you to read the article “Homicides drop in Montreal, but police and critics disagree as to why” on CBC Montreal (published January 22, 2024). 

Improving Metro Safety; the ICPC’s Strategic Approach with the STM

The ICPC was mandated by the Montreal Transit Corporation (Société de transport de Montréal, STM) for a pilot initiative of “exploratory walks” aimed at combating the sense of insecurity among users in the city’s metro network. 

In 2023, the ICPC supported the STM project team in developing a structured methodology to guide these exploratory walks. Moreover, the ICPC played a role in guiding the participants during the walks, focusing on key observation aspects and documentation. This ensured systematic data collection and interpretation of results to understand security issues and propose concrete strategies and solutions for enhancing security in the Montreal Metro. 

Read the following article for more information

Job Offer: Analyst and Project Officer, Community Safety

The ICPC is looking for an Analyst and Project Officer, specializing in Community Safety. This key position involves managing community security projects, supervising teams, as well as designing and implementing consultation and citizen participation projects. The ideal candidate should have significant experience in these areas, a background in urban studies, sociology, or a related field, and skills in data analysis and interpretation. Bilingualism in French and English is essential, with a preference for candidates who also speak Spanish. 

This position offers a unique opportunity to work in a dynamic international organization with attractive working conditions and a stimulating environment. 

Interested candidates are invited to send their resume and cover letter by February 5, 2024. 

For more information and to apply, please contact Kassa Bourne, Director of Administration and Finance, at kbourne@cipc-icpc.org.  

To see the full job offer: Analyst and Project Officer – Community Safety 

The ICPC took part in a series of webinars organized UN-Habitat on safer cities

On October 30, 2023, ICPC participated in an introductory meeting on how cities, organizations, and local governments can work together to implement the UN system wide Guidelines on Safer Cities and Human Settlements through peer review.  

We were also honered to participate, on December 12 2023, first interactive webinar on the peer review of the Global Safer Cities Programme organized by our long-standing partner UN-Habitat. 

In partnership with United Cities and Local Governments, Habitat Norway and Vibe Lab Germany, the webinar brought together around 50 participants to discuss urban safety in the context of the UN’s New Urban Agenda and Agenda 2030, focusing on safe spaces for all, especially young people and women.  

The aim of this approach is to improve the quality of life of city residents by taking inspiration from innovative practices that have been implemented around the world.  

This was an opportunity for the ICPC to take part in workshops with international crime prevention and security experts on the challenges and responses in terms of safety that cities represent today. The discussions also focused on an example of the Norwegian model of community policing, recognized in particular for its hierarchical structure and informal selection methods.  

 Thanks for the invitation! 

The ICPC took part in the last 2023 RAPS meeting

The ICPC took part in the last meeting of the year of the RAPS network (Research and Action on Social Polarizations), a network created in Montreal by the Sherpa University Institute, which addresses issues related to violent extremism and radicalization leading to violence.  

The meeting was attended by representatives from the Centre d’Action et de Prévention contre la Radicalisation des Individus (CAPRI) in Bordeaux and the Réseau Virage in Strasbourg, marking a significant development in the Franco-Quebec partnership between these French organizations and the Centre for the Prevention of Radicalization Leading to Violence (CPRLV), our Montreal partner, as part of the funding provided by the Commission permanente de coopération (CPCFQ) for the project entitled “Franco-Quebec exchanges on the prevention of radicalization” 2023-2025.  

The expertise of these international organizations  in family support, primary prevention and professional support for people affected in some way by radicalization leading to violence, enriched discussions with RAPS members. It was also an opportunity for the French partners to discover other Quebec initiatives by RAPS and its members, and to share inspiring practices in the prevention of violent extremism.  

Thank you for the invitation! 

Participation of the ICPC in the launch event of a new training course on acts of hatred by the CPRLV

On December 14, we had the pleasure of attending the launch, in Montreal, of the online training course “Hate-motivated acts” organized by our partner, the Centre for the Prevention of Radicalization Leading to Violence (CPRLV).  

Designed to raise awareness of the issue of acts of hatred, both in theory and through role-playing exercises, the training will provide participants with a deeper understanding of the phenomenon in Quebec and Canada. It will also help hem identify and promote specific strategies and actions that are effective in preventing or dealing with hate-motivated acts so that everyone can do their part in society.  

Thank you for the invitation!  

ICPC shares its expertise at the First Inter-American Conference of Crime Observatories and Analysis Centres

The ICPC had the privilege of participating in the First Inter-American Conference of Crime Analysis Observatories and Centres, held online from November 21 to 22, 2023.

Organized by the Department of Public Security of the Organization of American States (DSP/OAS) and the Latin American Institute for Security and Democracy, and attended by some 150 participants, this was an opportunity for many representatives of research organizations, political and legal institutions, to exchange views on new methodologies, tools and public policies to combat the rise in insecurity and all forms of crime in the Americas.

Oscar Figueroa, Strategic Consultant for Latin America at ICPC, moderated a panel on the impact of different tools used and their application on geospatial crime analysis. The panel featured presentations from CentroGeo, with the participation of Pablo López Ramírez, General Director, Oscar Gerardo Sánchez Siordia, Coordinator (Yucatán headquarters) and Carlos Vilalta, Research Professor, as well as Arturo Arango, Director of CrimiPol, who presented tools and products developed from geospatial crime analysis.

More info.

Thank you for the invitation!

The ICPC attended an event organized by the IBCR on justice adapted to children

To celebrate the World Children’s Day, on Monday 20 November we had the pleasure of attending an event organized by the International Bureau for Children’s Rights (IBCR), which featured two panels on justice adapted to children

Organized at the Maison du développement durable in Montreal, this hybrid event, attended by almost 150 people, provided an opportunity for various national and international specialists to discuss new practices and solutions for combating the privation of freedoms and the lack of application of justice adapted to children’s rights around the world.   

It was also the opportunity for the ICPC to connect with its partner and network, with whom we are working on a project to develop a second line of sexual exploitation prevention services for youth aged 12 to 25.  

Thank you for the invitation! 

A new employee joins the ICPC team!

With a PhD in geography from the University of Paris 1 – Panthéon Sorbonne since 2004, Djibril Diop has been a professor at the School of Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture, since 2007, and at the Department of Political Science, since 2018, at the University of Montreal. 

Previously, Dr Diop was a research manager for a better operationalization of the concept of Proximity Security Governance (PSG) in Senegal before becoming, between 2019 and 2020, the Principal Consultant for the Senegalese National Gendarmerie as part of the preparations for the Presidential Council on Internal Security (2019-2020).  

Throughout his career, he has focused on development challenges, urban management and governance, particularly in the fields of security and the environment. 

For more information on his career path

Welcome to the team!