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CRIME AMONG HEMISPHERE’S TOP CHALLENGES—OAS SECRETARY GENERAL

Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary General José Miguel Insulza, addressing officials and students of the Inter-American Defense College, today called for more attention from governments to the issue of crime, which he said was among the major challenges for security and democratic stability in the hemisphere.

In his overview on “Political Perspectives in the Hemisphere,” Insulza said that while Latin American and Caribbean countries saw fewer victims of armed conflicts than other regions, they ranked among countries with the highest incidence of homicide in the world. He expressed concern that the region was also subjected to the highest rates of violence related to illegal drugs, guns and gang activity, particularly in urban areas, and noted that in many instances, homicide rates exceed those in regions with ongoing armed conflict. This type of violence has a negative impact on people’s lives and has complex social implications, the Secretary General remarked, adding that people are often afraid to leave their homes.

Insulza said the hemisphere had made significant progress in terms of democracy, especially since the adoption of the Inter-American Democratic Charter in 2001. The Democratic Charter, he noted, goes further than the 1991 Santiago Resolution in focusing on the relationship between democracy and fundamental freedoms.

On the human rights front, Insulza praised the inter-American infrastructure, noting that it is comprised of individuals who act independently and whose responsibilities and decisions are not bound to the interests of their governments. He said their decisions may sometimes generate disagreement but the Inter-American Human Rights Commission and Court are autonomous bodies and should be respected accordingly. Beyond individual human rights cases, the OAS Secretary General said, there is a need to give greater emphasis to problems that plague the region as a whole, such as racism and discrimination, the condition of women and prison conditions.

Insulza said that in terms of integral development the region had also made strides, but that the various integral development plans and strategies must be harmonized to move the hemisphere forward as a whole. He stressed the need to continue OAS initiatives focusing on poverty alleviation as well as on trade and the environment.

The Inter-American Defense College’s Director, U.S. Army Major General Carl M. Huber, moderated the program, thanking the Secretary General for his presentation to the students and college officials. The institution operates under the purview of the Inter-American Defense Board, an advisory and technical services arm of the OAS.

Reference: E-004/07