
New OAS Report on Citizen
Security in the Americas
SMS / OAS
THE OAS REPORT ON CITIZEN SECURITY in the Americas 2012 shows, contrary to what one might think, that in the last decade, the region has not experienced a gradual increase in violence. Levels of violence in the hemisphere have in reality been stable, and they vary substantially across OAS Member States, and even within a given nation.
The main objective of the OAS Report is to provide countries with the knowledge required to develop informed public policies on security, applying the principles of Smart Security. Smart Security does not necessarily mean more security. Rather, it seeks to curtail insecurity using diagnostics, empirical evidence, common standards and integrated strategies.
"Implementing Smart Security solutions first and foremost must be based on reliable data. For this reason, it is vital that we support our member States in the development of coherent evidence which will lead to the creation of the type of security policies that are so badly needed," said Adam Blackwell, Secretary for Multidimensional Security of the OAS.
This 2012 OAS Report, which is the second edition, contains more facts and figures than its predecessor in 2011, and shows that countries have been able to compile more statistics with which to create strategies to tackle crime and violence.
>> Read the report... |