The traditional approach to violence in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region has centered on a criminal justice perspective, where increasing law enforcement personnel and implementing strict punitive measures is seen as the solution. The results of such efforts have proven otherwise as trends in violence continue to rise in most countries of the region. Violence is receiving increasing attention due to its negative impact on the social and economic development of the region. The violence in the region has its roots in the social, political, and economic conditions in which much of the population lives. Young people, comprising 30% of the LAC population, are particularly affected by these conditions and the culture of violence that ensues. There are several current initiatives in the LAC region addressing adolescent safety and violence; most, however, are not coordinated, not based on evidence, and without systematic approaches to evaluation and monitoring. In response to recognition of this void and demand from national governments in the region, PAHO is supporting the development and implementation of violence prevention programs based on a conceptual framework that integrates youth development, gender, human rights, and social inclusion into the ecological model. This paper provides an update in the current situation of youth violence in the LAC region and offers a conceptual framework for understanding the underlying causes and consequences of violence affecting youth, and recommendations for action based on this framework. road traffic injury prevention. Geneva: WHO.
