AFSC - Latin America / Caribbean Region
Latin America and
the Caribbean
Since 2008, AFSC is focusing their regional program development under a single thema responding to challenges posed by current urban citizen insecurity. The experience shows that citizen insecurity affects all sectors of society, having a huge negative impact on citie’s economic, social and political life.
‘Violence in Central America cost approximately $6.5 billion in 2006 - equivalent to 7.7% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - according to the results obtained by a study called "The economic costs of violence in Central America " (Los costos económicos de la violencia en Centroamérica), conducted by the National Council for Public Security (CNSP) of the office of the President of El Salvador.’ (source:
http://www.comunidadesegura.org/?q=en/STORY-High-Cost-of-Violence-in-Central-America)
AFSC expects to develop a number of joint endeavours with local partners to help transform current urban conflicts and induce policy change that will enhance citizen security. Emphasis will be paid to issues related to: violence reduction through Mediation and Conflict Transformation, building local social capital and development of Restorative Justice initiatives to empower communities.
In 2009, three pilot projects have been started in Mexico City, Bogota-Colombia and Callao-Lima, Peru. See details under each country.