Visit to Central America

Violence and street gangs in Guatemala and El Salvador

Ten to 13 homicides are committed in El Salvador every day, most of them attributed to the maras (street gangs) who count an overwhelming 30, 000 – 250, 000 members, most of them youths.  According to UNDP, the costs of dealing with the consequences of gang violence account for a devastating 8.2% of El Salvador’s total GDP.  Though both Guatemala and El Salvador have developed tough responses to their respective gang problems, they soon realized that preventive measures must also be taken, and that crime prevention initiatives must also be further consolidated. Among such measures are school-based activities against violence (text submitted by Alan Quinn, available in French only, click here). Daniel Sansfaçon, Deputy Director General of ICPC, recently took part in a field mission at the invitation of the Canadian Centre for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI). Continue reading his text (Article available in French only, click here)


(March against school violence)