Security is fundamental to people’s livelihoods, reducing poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals. It relates to personal and state safety, access to social services and political processes. It is a core government responsibility, necessary for economic and social development and vital for the protection of human rights. Security matters to the poor and other vulnerable groups, especially women and children, because bad policing, weak justice and penal systems and corrupt militaries mean that they suffer disproportionately from crime, insecurity and fear. They are consequently less likely to be able to access government services, invest in improving their own futures and escape from poverty...

The opinions expressed and arguments employed in Part II of this publication and in the subsequent Annexes are the sole responsibility of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect those of the OECD or the governments of its member countries.