OAS General Assembly: towards a culture of non-violence.

AuthorRamdin, Albert R.
PositionOrganization of American States

With the 39th OAS General Assembly rapidly approaching, it may be an opportune time to reflect on the economic, environmental, and political changes affecting our region, and their impact on citizen security in the Americas. One of the most critical hemispheric issues we face today is the escalating level of violence and crime and the attendant consequences on the social, economic, political, and cultural development of the people of the Americas.

Indeed, violence has become one of the most pressing development issues in the global agenda. World Bank studies have shown that, in about 60 countries, over the last ten years, violence has significantly and directly reduced economic growth. In Latin America and the Caribbean, it has hampered poverty reduction efforts and limited progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Crime and violence have a significant relationship with poverty, lack of economic opportunities, and education. Therefore it is of critical importance not only to address the symptoms of poverty, crime, and violence, but also to analyze and address the underlying structural causes of these problems.

Securing democracy today requires a comprehensive approach that incorporates a strong social and economic development focus in our security agendas. Certainly, the nations of the Western Hemisphere can attest to the direct and indirect effects of violence on human welfare in the short run and the long term implications for economic growth, democratic governance, and social development.

In Central America and the Caribbean, the increasing incidence of violence and criminal activities, along with the transnational impact of gangs and other forms of urban violence, is testing the capacity of democratic institutions across the region. Youth violence has become one of the primary social challenges for governments and societies in the subregions. Policy makers and the international community have begun to consider the idea of the "social ecology" of violence which posits that violence cannot be clearly understood, much less resolved, without directly addressing the sources of violence within society, including economic, ethnic, cultural, and gender conflicts, among many others, that often lie at the core of the most serious crime and violence issues we face today. These sources include a range of risk factors such as the lack of economic opportunities and access to support services; social norms and beliefs about...

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