Transforming Civic Coexistence and Public Trust through Open Government (COBOG0015)
Overview
At-a-Glance
Action Plan: Action plan – Bogotá, Colombia, 2025 – 2027
Inception Report: Not available
Commitment Start: Nov 2025
Commitment End: Sep 2027
Institutions involved:
- Secretariat of Security, Coexistence and Justice / Directorate of Prevention and Civic Culture and Advisory Office of Planning
Primary Policy Area:
Primary Sector:
OGP Value:
- Civic Participation
- Access to information
- Public Accountability
- Technology and Innovation for Transparency and Accountability
- Civic Participation
Description
Commitment ID
COBOG0015
Commitment Title
Transform Civic Coexistence in Bogotá and Strengthen Public Trust through Open Government Practices
Problem
The Bogotá District Secretariat for Security, Coexistence, and Justice faces a structural challenge of public distrust toward its management. Although official figures indicate a reduction in six of the ten most significant crimes between 2024 and 2025 —including theft of vehicles, motorcycles, commercial establishments, extortion, and sexual offenses— the increase in homicides and domestic violence has sustained a negative perception of safety in the city. According to the 2025 Accountability Report, more than 60% of citizens continue to believe that Bogotá is unsafe and doubt the institutional capacity to respond effectively. This gap between technical results and social perception reveals a lack of clear and timely communication regarding progress and available services in the area of security. The limited social appropriation and weak public visibility of institutional achievements have eroded the connection between citizens and the administration, undermining public trust and the sustainability of coexistence and justice policies across the territory.
Status quo
The Bogotá District Secretariat for Security, Coexistence, and Justice faces a structural challenge of public distrust toward its management. Although official figures indicate a reduction in six of the ten most significant crimes between 2024 and 2025 —including theft of vehicles, motorcycles, and businesses, as well as extortion and sexual offenses— the increase in homicides and domestic violence continues to sustain a negative perception of safety in the city.According to the 2025 Accountability Report, more than 60% of citizens believe that Bogotá remains unsafe and question the institution’s capacity to respond effectively. This gap between technical outcomes and social perceptions highlights a lack of clear and timely communication regarding progress and available security services. The limited public awareness and appropriation of institutional achievements have weakened the bond between citizens and the administration, undermining public trust and the sustainability of coexistence and justice policies across the territory.
Action
The Secretariat for Security, Coexistence, and Justice will implement Open Government actions to build institutional trust and transform behaviors that undermine social coexistence in Bogotá. The commitment seeks to strengthen the relationship between citizens and institutions through pedagogical processes, timely access to clear information, technological innovation, and inclusive citizen participation in monitoring institutional actions. The commitment is structured around 4 key pillars:
Access to Information: Disseminate clear, relevant, and inclusive content on security, coexistence, and justice through community media, local partnerships, and accessible communication formats.
Innovation and Technology: Develop a digital application for citizen access to security and coexistence services, strengthen online communication channels, and promote neighborhood innovation meetings that foster collaborative problem-solving.
Citizen Participation and Accountability: Create participatory spaces for dialogue, monitoring, and co-creation between citizens, authorities, and the private sector to build collective solutions.
Educational and Awareness Interventions: Implement pedagogical processes with prioritized populations to promote safe environments, strengthen social cohesion, and encourage respect for public space.
How will the commitment contribute to solving the public problem described above?
This commitment contributes to reducing public distrust toward the Secretariat for Security, Coexistence, and Justice (SDSCJ) and to transforming behaviors contrary to coexistence through the implementation of Open Government practices. By ensuring clear and accessible information, strengthening digital service channels, promoting technological innovation applied to security and coexistence, and enabling meaningful citizen participation, the Secretariat will enhance its institutional legitimacy and foster citizen co-responsibility in building safer communities. In addition, the pedagogical and awareness processes will strengthen social cohesion and promote a culture of respect for public space and civic coexistence.
Expected Results:
Increased citizen trust in the management of the SDSCJ through transparency and accountability practices.
Institutional information is disseminated in clear, inclusive language, with relevant content on security, coexistence, and justice.
A fully operational digital application for the Secretariat’s services, integrated with enhanced digital communication channels.
Citizen participation spaces established for dialogue and monitoring, ensuring real influence in institutional decision-making.
Pedagogical processes implemented among prioritized populations to strengthen coexistence, social cohesion, and respect for public space.
Greater social ownership of public policies on security, coexistence, and justice.
What long-term goal as identified in your Open Government Strategy does this commitment relate to?
This commitment aligns with Bogotá’s long-term objective of consolidating an Open State model, promoting a transparent, participatory, and collaborative public administration that addresses citizens’ everyday challenges related to security and coexistence. Through the implementation of Open Government practices, the Secretariat for Security, Coexistence, and Justice seeks to strengthen institutional trust, ensure clear and timely access to information, and foster meaningful citizen participation and oversight in monitoring institutional actions. By doing so, the commitment embodies the principles of Open State, transforming the relationship between communities and government through co-responsibility and innovation. It directly contributes to the District Development Plan 2024–2028 “Bogotá Camina Segura”, by reinforcing the legitimacy of public management, promoting a culture of coexistence, and consolidating safer, more inclusive, and trustworthy environments across the city.
Primary Policy Area
Digital Governance, Right to Information
Primary Sector
Cross-sectoral, Security and Public Safety
What OGP value is this commitment relevant to?
| Civic Participation | Citizen participation is an essential component for the development of active, responsible, and cohesive communities. It enables the creation of harmonious relationships between individuals, their surroundings, and public spaces. Through participation, citizens engage in the formulation and fulfillment of social agreements based on solidarity, self-regulation, and co-responsibility—core principles of peaceful coexistence. These processes strengthen both individual and collective capacities, transforming citizens into active agents in promoting sustainable and peaceful urban life. |
| Access to information | This commitment aligns with the values of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) by promoting clear, timely access to public information and strengthening trust and understanding of institutional management. It also fosters transparency and accountability by allowing citizens to know, follow, and evaluate actions related to security, coexistence, and justice.This commitment aligns with the values of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) by promoting clear, timely access to public information and strengthening trust and understanding of institutional management. It also fosters transparency and accountability by allowing citizens to know, follow, and evaluate actions related to security, coexistence, and justice. |
| Public Accountability | Through formative interventions, communities identify their challenges, build consensus, and actively propose solutions based on their strengths. By developing skills such as human-centered communication, conflict transformation, and emotional management, citizens become active agents whose individual actions contribute collectively to improving their environment. This co-responsible participation ensures that agreements reflect community needs and foster a culture of mutual respect. |
| Technology and Innovation for Transparency and Accountability | Furthermore, interlocal citizen dialogue spaces enable communities to identify and address the factors that impact safety and coexistence in their territories. Citizen participation becomes a key mechanism for designing and implementing initiatives that mitigate these challenges. The integration of digital tools and innovative pedagogical approaches enhances the role of technology by expanding access to information and improving communication between citizens and institutions. Digital interaction channels are complemented by in-person dialogue spaces, ensuring a more inclusive and effective participation process. |
| Civic Participation | Furthermore, interlocal citizen dialogue spaces enable communities to identify and address the factors that impact safety and coexistence in their territories. Citizen participation becomes a key mechanism for designing and implementing initiatives that mitigate these challenges. The integration of digital tools and innovative pedagogical approaches enhances the role of technology by expanding access to information and improving communication between citizens and institutions. Digital interaction channels are complemented by in-person dialogue spaces, ensuring a more inclusive and effective participation process. |