Gdp if citizen security, law enforcement and health care are included. These countries, which suffered large refugee outflows during civil war and political violence in the 1980s, are once again a focal point for displacement in the americas. In november 2016, the company was recognized by the us. The end goal was to provide authorities, citizen security specialists and other stakeholders with more nuanced information regarding the dynamics of violence, so that they can better determine intervention strategies in areas with high homicide rates and areas where there the presumed level of gang and drug traffickingrelated violence is high. The most obvious linkage between public health and gang violence is in the direct acts of violence committed by gangs. The central american state response to gangs has involved the implementation of zero tolerance policies with an. Background and policy issues for congress, by peter j. For instance, there are far fewer gang members in nicaragua than in the other three countries, and neither of the marasms or 18th streetis found in that chronically poor, conflictridden.
It also examines weak justice institutions as a high risk factor for crime and violence. Erecting more barriers and forcing migrants and refugees underground deepens the humanitarian crisis and strengthens the illegal networks turning much of central america into a criminal battleground. This study documents how gangs or maras represent emotive communi ties which. The warning signs are evident in this report gun related crime, gang violence, kidnapping, the prolif eration of private security companies. The first book to look specifically at the central american gang problem by drawing on the perspectives of researchers from. Maras gang violence and security in central america edited by. Ribando analyst in latin american affairs foreign affairs, defense, and trade division summary the 110 th congress is likely to continue to be concerned about the effects of crime and gang violence in central america, and its spillover effects on the united states. In recent years, mexico and central america have experienced dramatic increases in crime and violence. Since the end of the 1980s, a period of armed conflict.
Crime and violence affect the lives of millions of people in latin america. Seeking asylum from gangbased violence in central america. Also see crs report r41731, central america regional security initiative. This report describes the gang problem in central america, discusses country approaches to deal with the gangs, and analyzes u. Central america, the systematic use of violence and the brutality shown by the new type of. But the character and the origins of central american youth gangs, and the problem of youth gang violence, are not simple to understand or address. Crime, violence, and communitybased prevention in honduras. Some consider social inequality to be a major contributing factor to levels of violence in latin america, where the state fails to prevent crime and organized crime takes over state control in areas where the state is unable to assist the society such as in impoverished communities. Gang violence and insecurity in contemporary central america. Forged from a partnership between a university press and a library, project muse is a trusted part of the academic and scholarly community it serves. The first book to look specifically at the central american gang problem by drawing on the perspectives of researchers from different disciplinary backgrounds, maras. For a decade, the united states has exported its gang problem, sending central americanborn criminals back to their homelands without warning local governments.
In this article, i argue that it is necessary to bring the state back into the analysis of criminal violence by examining the many ways in which the state directly contributes to violence. Country and regional strategies must address the status of women, eliminating impunity for crimes against them and integrating women into processes for building peace and security. Domestic and gang violence victims become ineligible for. Most explanations of the high levels of violence in latin america and the caribbean have focused on economic factors, cultural variables, and drug wars. Mar 01, 20 gang activity constitutes one of the most serious problems of crime in central america. Criminal violence in central america the violence that is currently afflicting central america is the most complex this region has faced in its periods of peace. The deteriorating security conditions in central america funda mentally. Gang violence and security in central america provides muchneeded insight.
Sensational headlines have publicized the drug trafficking, brutal violence, and other organized crime elements associated with central america s mara gangs, but there have been few cleareyed analyses of the history, hierarchies, and future of the mara phenomenon. Central america ntca, one of the most violent regions in the world today. Unfortunately, violence in central america is not only carried out by drug trafficking organizations. The first book to look specifically at the central american gang problem by drawing on the perspectives of the first book to look specifically at the central american gang problem by drawing on the perspectives of researchers from different disciplinary backgrounds, maras. Table 1 conceptual framework for understanding violence in central america. Lowend estimates suggest there are 70,000 100,000 gang members in the central american region and high end estimates sometimes triple that number. As washington fiddles, the gangs are growing, spreading north into mexico and back to the. Gangs, urban violence, and security interventions in. Unprecedented numbers of men, women and children are fleeing the regions violenceplagued cities and towns. Gang violence and insecurity in contemporary central america article pdf available in bulletin of latin american research 32s1 march 20 with 974 reads how we measure reads. The violence work of transnational gangs in central america, third world quarterly, doi. This part of the project focuses on how violent gang warfare and grinding poverty are driving new. Gangs, violence and displacement in central america. Report r41731, central america regional security initiative.
We would like to thank kinds legal services team for their contributions to this report. Diverse experiences with the gangs in central america much about the variability of the gang situation in central america is conveyed in table i. Nov, 2016 fleeing gangs, central american families surge toward u. The economic drive of mara gangs in central americas. Mar 11, 2014 with gang and organized crime violence common in parts of central america, more and more people trying to enter the us say they are fleeing out of fear. The result has been an explosive rise of vicious, transnational gangs that now threaten the stability of the regions fragile democracies. Countering criminal violence in central america provides impor. Countering criminal violence in central america council on. Gangs in central america congressional research service summary the mara salvatrucha ms and its main rival, the 18th street gang, continue to undermine citizen security and subvert government authority in parts of central america. The two predominant central american gangs, mara salvatrucha ms.
Central american gangs, also called maras are named after the voracious ants known as marabuntas. These children come from central american countries with homicide rates ranking among the top five worldwide, high poverty rates, and widespread gang violence. Mental health central american refugee health profiles. Both levels and types of violence impact peoples livelihood security and the functioning of. Deportations and the roots of gang violence in central america. Dec 11, 2014 the countries of central americas northern triangleel salvador, guatemala, and honduras face challenges ranging from some of the worlds highest homicide rates, rampant extortion, communities controlled by youth gangs, domestic violence, impunity for most crimes, as well as economic despair and lack of opportunity.
Public authorities routinely seek to contain such violence through repression, as well as through its exportation to and containment at the periphery of metropolitan centres. Violence in the central american region overseas development. This report presents a detailed analysis on three main drivers of crime in the region. Combating criminal gangs from central america and mexico. The groups transnational activities across north and central america offer a further point of distinction. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Rodgers, muggah, and stevenson gangs of central america 1. Gang violence, gbv and hate crime in central america. Youth violence and gangs are a critical concern in central america today. Even though the journey to the united states is filled with grave danger, children are fleeing central america because of their dire living situations. Maras, security and development in central america task force.
Hide footnote even so, some signs point to a strengthening of prevention. The goal is to promote debate and cooperation, and to support research, advocacy, and policymaking on pressing issues such as organized crime, gangs, criminal justice, and citizen security in central america. Oct 10, 2016 the texas tribune is taking a yearlong look at the issues of border security and immigration. Michael shifter countering criminal violence in central. Gangs move with impunity across borders, and gang violence threatens fragile democracies. Fleeing gangs, central american families surge toward u. Armed groups, guns, and human security in the ecowas region, edited by nicolas florquin and eric g. What is behind crime and violence in central america. Maras and gangs, community and police in central america sida. Deportation polices estimates of the number of gangs and gang members that exist in central america vary enormously. How the street gangs took central america foreign affairs.
Few regions of the world better illustrate the intimate nexus between human development and security than does central america. Since february 2005, more than 1,758 alleged members of the violent mara salvatrucha ms gang have been arrested in cities across the united states. Rodgers, muggah, and stevenson gangs of central america iii. Chicago has a long history of organized crime and is home to numerous street gangs that use the illegal drug trade to build their criminal enterprises. Gangs, urban violence, and security interventions in central america article pdf available in security dialogue 4045 september 2009 with 528 reads how we measure reads. Violence toward women, often perpetuated by gangs and armed criminal groups, has been widely documented. For central americans, fear is increasingly the reason for. Violent, wellarmed street gangs 18th street barrio 18 and ms mara salvatrucha being the largest concentrate on street. Curbing gang violence in central america the globalist.
Gangs from central america and mexico, which emphasized. Some members of congress have also expre ssed interest in the effects of u. Gang violence and security in central america and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Other situations of violence in the northern triangle of central. Gangs in central america congressional research service summary congress has maintained an interest in the effects of gang violence in central america, and on the expanding activities of transnational gangs with ties to that region operating in the united states. Whereas levels of violence since 2000, in terms of homicide rates, dropped everywhere else in the world, latin america and. Criminal violence and democratization in central america.
State and criminal violence in latin america springerlink. Most poignantly, it threatens to alter the social fabric of the countries in the region. The 110th congress maintains a strong interest in crime and gang violence in central america, and in the related activities of central american gangs in the united states. Contribute to diegovallecentral america development by creating an account on github. Of particular note is florina christiana mateis essay on the deportation policies of the united states and their seemingly negligible impact on the gang problem in central america. Security in c entral a merica s northern t riangle. Congress is likely to maintain an interest in crime and gang violence in central america, as well as the related activities of central american gangs in the united states. Nov 07, 20 while exact numbers of displacement and deaths from gang violence in central america are hard to confirm, on a recent visit, elizabeth ferris saw how similar the reasons are for flight from. Violence reduction and the role of the private sector in e l salvador ii c entral america has the worlds highest homicide ratemore than three times the global averageand without urgent action and new approaches, regional statistics point to continued deterioration in citizen. Population movements central american refugee health. Gang violence, public health, and security in honduras. Pdf gangs, urban violence, and security interventions in. Education, security and youth policy responses to gang violence in central americas northern triangle caitlin doreen kent july 2016 a master of arts paper in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of master of arts approvals.
Gang violence and security in central america, eds. Unaccompanied migrant children from central america. Crime and violence in central america world bank documents. Urban latin america has become synonymous with violence and insecurity. Gang violence in central america gang violence is also extremely prevalent throughout central america, and many of the gangs, known as maras, attack anyone who crosses their turf whether on the way to school or work. Crime and development in central america united nations office. Unaccompanied migrant children from central america context, causes, and responses by dennis stinchcomb and eric hershberg. Key security threats plaguing central america, especially gang violence and organized crime, affect the us as well. Central american regional security initiative carsi funding, fy20082015. Gang wars, poverty driving central americans over u. Dec 01, 2011 the first book to look specifically at the central american gang problem by drawing on the perspectives of researchers from different disciplinary backgrounds, maras. Gang violence and security in central america austin, 2011, pp. Some indicators of violence in central america, 20082010 homicide rate victims of street gang 2010 street crime membership per 100,000 pop.
Pdf the violence work of transnational gangs in central. The northern triangle of central america ntca i continues to be affected by significant displacement. Although the murder rate in chicago has declined significantly since the 1990s, recent instances of gang related homicides have. Jun 29, 2017 a silent emergency is spreading across central america and mexico. In thomas bruneaus introduction, maras are distinguished from local street gangs or pandillas, in their hierarchal organizations and extensive use of violence, both physical and sexual. Of course, id heard about the gang violence in central america, the rampant crime, the skyhigh homicide rates, the proliferation of maras and pandillas.
Project muse promotes the creation and dissemination of essential humanities and social science resources through collaboration with libraries, publishers, and scholars worldwide. The presence of armed security and the use of security. The impact of gang activity on community mobility in guatemala city. According to the world bank, there are currently over 900 active gangs in central america with about 70,000 members. The major gangs operating in central america with ties to the. Guatemala have suffered high levels of violence associated with organized criminals. Jul 06, 20 gang violence, fueled by the drug traffic in latin america, central america and the caribbean, is having a serious effect on peoples lives. League central america is dedicated to making clothes for 3,000 universities in the united states and has approximately 400 employees. Gang members prey on communities, families, and children by employing tactics such as extortion, murder, and other crimes. Gangs in central america summary the 110th congress maintains a keen interest in the effects of crime and gang violence in central america and its spillover effects on the united states. Violence is on the upswing in central america, with the region currently exhib iting some of the highest rates of reported criminal violence in latin america and indeed the world moser and mcilwaine, 2004.
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