Political and Security Issue in Contemporary Latin America

Metropolitan University Prague

                                Report on UNDP

For: K. Březinová, Political and Security Issue in Contemporary Latin America

                                                      Nikolet Šáliová

Security in Latin America is known worldwide that, it is not as safe as it should be. Citizens of Latin America are scared for their life's and all this is proved by statistic and analyses throughout the years. According to those two reports, we can clearly see the cultural, economic, health, crime and human rights problem. Fortunately the number of people that have stopped going out during the night, it is extremely high number and is reaching 65 percent of the population. Approximately 13 percent of the population are feeling and have a need to move to an other country which is very high number compare of the population in Latin America, not even mentioning homicide rates which are quite hight too. Crime in this part of world is not only happening because, the standards of living is low, but as well in some part of the region there are not opportunities to have proper job which is effecting the health and way of living. Not earning enough money to provide secure financial situations is not issue of families but individual as well specially women who has higher number of unemployment than men. Organized crime is effecting the economy and political situation in the countries of Latin America. Such as: “gender-based violence, street crime, corruption, and illegal violence by state agents, as well as crime and violence by and against young people”(Citizen Security with a Human Face). However the insecurity is in all of the regions in Latin America and is really well know and proved, it is a collection of reports and statistics.

In this report there are being analysed 18 countries, but of course we are going to look at some differences between. The records are showing throughout all the statistics and crimes, programs against crime, problematic in genders, health, education, policy and corruption happening in the regions. The number are high compare to the other states, violence, homicide, armed conflicts plus many others. Need to be considered that those crimes and violence have effects on the young population which most likely to be effected in the future or they may take the same path, however the statistics are showing that is true and the cultural problem which cannot be solved so easily.  

Drug issue is as well one big problem in this part. The reposts have proved that there is not only the problem with consuming it but as well, with selling and producing it, which is consider as an illegal process and is registers as a crime. Highest numbers are in Argentina, also about 64 percent had weapon before turning 18.

Robberies are the most often crime and is being reported by 1 of 5 people, this crime is more frequent than organized crime and gang crimes. While in Eurasia the numbers of robberies were lower in Latin America were doubled, this could be explained by very bad and unstable justice regime in the state including the policy and government authorities.

The localisation of crime in region is so instance that is terrifying to even believe your own neighbour, not even some one from other town. Constance psychological pressure and fear of your life and your family, although it may have serious effect on family life's and individual behaving as well. The numbers according to the report is over 50 percent, people are living in fear and stopped going to certain places because they are scared of crime or any violence to be done on them. Continuing with the increasing numbers it is not just some small rise up, it is more like 20 to 30 percent increase during few years.

Additionally, it is not only the death or the victim's but the state are losing millions of dollars according to the report which was done by Human Development Index in 2009 and they have lost about 331 million due to homicides.

As I mentioned before, on one hand there the crime and violence but on the other hand the average population education has increased based on low economic possibility, high number of single mothers, bad general behaving of the young population who are mostly likely turn into some illegal or crime way. All those effects need to be sum up together and contest them with the government of state. Where state is investing money and time to development project to solve those problem but obviously they are not being successful enough.