Digital Library

This manual describes ten seminars oriented to provide at-risk youth with the knowledge needed to improve their life skills, perceptions of life as also those of society. It profits from the capacity that sports have to create a sense of support, belonging and loyalty which in turn encourage participants to collaborate, understand and tolerate individuals from different backgrounds. By changing mentalities through education, “Line up, Live up” builds on previous UN experiences in developing and implementing an evidence-based crime, violence and drug use prevention program. The seminars are designed to be accessible and easy to put into place as there’s no need for complex or expensive equipment. It is also desirable to include youth from all genders, sexual orientations, socio-economical backgrounds and cultures in order to create from the beginning an atmosphere of tolerance and empathy.

Una de las razones por las cuales la sensación de inseguridad y la desconfianza en las instituciones se encuentran en un punto alto en la actualidad colombiana es la reincidencia delincuencial. En efecto, 21% de los criminales aprehendidos y judicializados reinciden en actividades criminales. Aún más alta sería dicha cifra si se considera la reincidencia de aquellos criminales que no fueron judicializados debido al gravemente alto nivel de impunidad (94% según datos de la Fiscalía General de la Nación). Completando un círculo vicioso, la desconfianza en las autoridades que lleva a la no-denuncia crea las condiciones que permiten continuar y aumentar dicha reincidencia. Siendo un punto neurálgico de discusión en la actual carrera presidencial colombiana, la Fundación Ideas para la Paz estudia el fenómeno y ofrece posibles soluciones para mitigar el flagelo.

The demographic composition and the steady economic growth in Latin America have led to broad access to internet and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT’s) in the region. Indeed, Latin America leads the way in the developing world on the percentage of the population connected to the Net. Nearly half of the population is connected and progress has been made to deliver 3G and 4G connections to marginalized areas. Governments, activists, citizens and international organizations have used this advantage to promote accountability and effectiveness in the policing effort. As citizens produce and consume more information in the internet, virtual communities and initiatives have been created to share experiences and data on crime and violence. However, these technologies have also been used by criminal organizations to broaden their influence and business. The present article looks to the characteristics of “digitally enhanced violence prevention” in the region using the cases of Brazil, Colombia and Mexico.