Biblioteca Digital

Trinidad and Tobago has seen its public security deteriorate as the epidemic of violence in Latin America spreads from country to country. This violence is the result of the easy access to firearms and the segregation/exclusion of young men from the society, which translates in the formation of highly territorial gangs. With these conditions, Trinidad and Tobago counted more than 100 gangs and a tenth place on global murder rates in 2016. To tackle this issue the government partnered with the US State Department and the Pan American Development Foundation to create the “Resistance and Prevention Program” (RAPP), which is also present in the Bahamas and Suriname. The RAPP program builds trust between communities and law enforcement agencies through dialogues, community policing and outreach programs. It has brought a whole government approach, where different institution share information and don’t duplicate information. Through efficiency and comprehensiveness the program provides the tools to schools, families, social workers and law enforcement officers for the common reconstruction of the social fabric and harmony in the communities.

The present report evaluates the results of World Vision’s strategy for violence against children in five countries of Latin America: Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Peru. The data shows all aspects of children and adolescents’ lives: from their experiences at home and school to the broad atmosphere of their communities. Changes in attitudes, perceptions, norms and laws are seen to be the key driving factors for the creation of safe spaces where children and adolescents can fully and freely develop. Taking into account that violence against children is a structural-caused phenomenon, all of the members of society have a share of responsibility in the issue, including children themselves. World Vision programs look for the empowerment of children to maximize their capacities of leadership and productivity, providing the tools for the future adults to be agents of change. In the meantime, families, government institutions, faith congregations and local communities must work together to enforce laws that prevent violence to happen and to modify the behavior of grown adults.

Esta sesión estuvo integrada por Claudia Paz y Paz, Secretaria de Seguridad Multidimensional, y María Victoria Llorente, Directora Ejecutiva de la Fundación Ideas para la Paz.

Youth violence is reaching epidemic levels in some parts of Latin America. It is also a top priority for the region’s policymakers, with growing investments in youth violence prevention and reduction. Yet the knowledge base on what works and what does not in terms of youth violence prevention is comparatively thin, and there is comparatively limited awareness of existing or planned impact studies.

Given the strong ties linking citizen security and the development of Latin America and the Caribbean, the Bank has been supporting efforts to tackle crime and violence. It has framed its work in citizen security through the establishment of specific guidelines (Operational Guidelines for Program Design and Execution in the Area of Civic Coexistence and Public Safety, GN-2535), which identify the Bank’s areas of support, as well as those outside its mandate and those for which it does not have a comparative advantage as a development institution.