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Despite steady improvement in governance, insecurity puts a dampener on growth
BOGOTA (TrustLaw) - Spiralling violent crime in Latin America and the Caribbean threatens to undermine the region’s growth and development, the United Nations says.
“Trans-national criminal organisations pose a huge threat to state security institutions whose mandate is limited to the national context,” said Helen Clark, head of the U.N.’s Development Programme (UNDP), as reported by the U.N. News Centre.
“Societies and states are sometimes tempted to use illegal means to fight crime, and the public debate on insecurity can become unduly polarised.”
With an annual average of 25 murders per 100,000 inhabitants, Latin America is among the most violent regions in the world.
Last year, more than 18,000 people were murdered in Central America, with many deaths attributed to drug-related violence, says the U.N.
Central America is also spending more on tackling organised crime. Governments there spent $4 billion on security and justice – a 60 percent increase over four years and more than what some countries receive in foreign aid, according to the UNDP.
BOGOTA (TrustLaw) - Spiralling violent crime in Latin America and the Caribbean threatens to undermine the region’s growth and development, the United Nations says.
“Trans-national criminal organisations pose a huge threat to state security institutions whose mandate is limited to the national context,” said Helen Clark, head of the U.N.’s Development Programme (UNDP), as reported by the U.N. News Centre.
“Societies and states are sometimes tempted to use illegal means to fight crime, and the public debate on insecurity can become unduly polarised.”
With an annual average of 25 murders per 100,000 inhabitants, Latin America is among the most violent regions in the world.
Last year, more than 18,000 people were murdered in Central America, with many deaths attributed to drug-related violence, says the U.N.
Central America is also spending more on tackling organised crime. Governments there spent $4 billion on security and justice – a 60 percent increase over four years and more than what some countries receive in foreign aid, according to the UNDP.
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