UNODC accompanies the launch of the “Hand in Hand for your Safety” Initiative within the framework of the COVID-19 Campaign in the Queretaro municipality.
Mexico City, January 29th, 2020. UNODC, through the Center of Excellence in Statistical Information on Government, Crime, Victimization and Justice (CoE), accompanied the launch of the initiative “Hand in Hand for your Safety” within the framework of the Campaign of Attention to vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Queretaro municipality.
As a result of the Local Safety Audit in the Queretaro municipality, one of the challenges identified was the increase in violence against women and the elderly, so the initiative proposed by the Ministry of Public Security of the Queretaro municipality (SSPMQ, as abbreviated in Spanish) aims to address this situation, which may become aggravated in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This initiative aims to improve the quality of life of the elderly.
During the welcome speech, the UNODC Representative in Mexico, Mr. Kristian Hölge, thanked all the participants for their presence, highlighting that “Hand in Hand for your Safety” will undoubtedly mark a great contribution for the elderly, recognizing that this is an innovative project by the SSPMQ, and will reduce the risk situations that the population encounters in public spaces.
The proposal of the SSPMQ consists in carrying and using a bracelet through which the personal data of the elderly can be known, safeguarding the confidentiality of the information by scanning QR codes that can be read by electronic tablets. This will reduce their exposure in public spaces and speed up contact with their caregivers, as well as police assistance. The bracelet can be requested at the SSPMQ’s General Office for Attention to Victims of Domestic and Gender-Based Violence.
These actions are taken not only for security reasons but to also prevent COVID-19 contagions within populations in vulnerable situations. He concluded his speech by acknowledging the willingness and work between the authorities of Queretaro and UNODC, which makes an impact on the solution of the citizen’s problems.
Continuing with the presentation, Mr. Juan Luis Ferrusca Ortiz, Secretary of the SSPMQ, explained the operation mechanisms of “Hand in Hand for your Safety”, where the system developed by the IT team of the SSPMQ, which is accessible for all types of devices, links to 911 emergencies and directs towards a police officer from the area of attention to victims, which is the only one to have access to the information of the elderly, providing assistance and further contact with their support network.
Ms. Salomé Flores, UNODC’s National Program Officer, emphasized that the initiative, in addition to being very innovative and creative, seeks to ensure the safety and well-being of the elderly in compliance with the actions of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations SDG 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities, specifically target 11.7, which proposes a scenario that seeks to provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible public spaces, particularly for women, girls, boys and the elderly.
The Queretaro municipality has a population of approximately 70,000 adults over 65 years of age, of which slightly more than 14,000 have some condition or disability that prevents them from concentrating. Older adults in public places are the group most vulnerable to contract the disease during the COVID-19 pandemic and therefore require more attention.
Mr. Luis Nava, Municipal President of Queretaro, shared that the right to good health is fundamental, which is why institutions must safeguard it. The commitment of this initiative is a specific action directed to populations in vulnerable conditions such as the elderly. Therefore, this initiative, the only one of its kind in Mexico, offers extremely important support. He emphasized that this measure would not have been possible without the support of the UNODC and the donation of 1,500 bracelets for its implementation.
Finally, this initiative is a continuation of the collaborative work within the framework of the Local Safety Audit conducted in the Queretaro municipality, which is an indispensable guide for security and prevention strategies. Under this program, the physical and emotional integrity of the elderly will be safeguarded.
For more information please contact:
Teresa Navarrete
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