Workshop Initiatives for Crime and Violence Prevention in Central America: Scope for inter-agency collaboration Organized by The World Bank, and the Inter-American Coalition for the Prevention of Violence (IACPV) AGENDA April 25th, 2008 From 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The World Bank 1818 H Street Washington D.C. 20433 Room: MC-9-100
AGENDA Initiatives for Crime and Violence Prevention in Central America: Scope for inter-agency collaboration Crime, violence and public security have become a serious development issue. The report of the United Nations on Crime and Development in Central America, Caught in the Crossfire 1, published on May 2007, highlights that Guatemala and El Salvador rank among the most dangerous nations in the world, base on the most recent crime trends surveys (CTS). Experts argued the Central America crime situation is caused by two main problems: the exposure to drug flows and the high levels of violence in its societies. In this context, recent reports showed that homicide rates in the region had increased as well as the rate of violence against women and children. Another core crime problem is the gang culture in countries like El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua. For example, in Honduras 5% of the entire male population aged 15-24 are members of gangs 2. As a consequence high rates of crime and violence in the region have both direct effects on human welfare in the short-run and longer run effects on economic growth and social development. As a result, the Inter-American Coalition for the Prevention of Violence (IACPV), an alliance of inter-american and international organizations and regional agencies, currently hosted by the Organization of American States, was formed to develop strategies and solutions to address high levels of violence and crime in the Americas & the Caribbean. The purpose of the Coalition is to act as a catalyst for the prevention of violence in the region by increasing knowledge about systematic violence prevention and by facilitating the development of partnerships and programs that put this knowledge into practice. The objective of this workshop is to discuss the initiatives and experiences of the coalition members and other relevant agencies in order to consolidate ways to prevent crime and violence in Central America. The participant institutions will develop a concept proposal and guidelines indicating how the international community can assist Central America countries to fight against violence incorporating a crime prevention mentality into the development interventions. 1 United Nations, Office on Drugs and Crime, Report: Crime and Development in Central America, Caught in the Crossfire, May 2007. 2 United Nations, Office on Drugs and Crime, Report: Crime and Development in Central America, Caught in the Crossfire, May 2007.
9:00-9:30 a.m. Welcome Light Breakfast OPENING REMARKS 9:30-9:45 a.m. The World Bank Managing Director, Juan José Daboub 9:45-10:00 a.m. Organization of American States (OAS) and Inter-American Coalition for the Prevention of Violence (IACPV) Executive Secretary for Integral Development and Director General of the Inter-American Agency for Cooperation and Development (IACD), Alfonso Quiñónez SESION I: PRESENTATIONS 10:00-10:15 a.m. World Health Organization (WHO) Prevention of Violence Coordinator, Department of Injuries and Violence Prevention, Alexander Butchart 10:15-10:30 a.m. Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) Sector Manager of the Institutional Capacity and Finance Sector, Mario Marcel 10:30-10:45 a.m. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Senior Recovery Adviser, Conflict and Governance, Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery, Eugenia Piza López 10:45-11:00 a.m. Coffee Break 11:00-11:15 a.m. State Department Director of the Americas program at the bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Tony Arias 11:15-11:30 a.m. United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Democracy Specialist, Latin American & Caribbean Bureau, Roopa Karia 11:30-11:45 a.m. United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Director, Washington Office, Chris Williams 11:45-12:00 p.m. World Bank Director, Sustainable Development Department, Laura Tuck
12:00-12:15 p.m. Discussion and comments Working Lunch 12:15-1:00 p.m. SESION II: WORKING GROUP 1:00-2:45 p.m. Discussion topics: i) Concept proposals for inter-agencies collaboration in Central America. ii) Next steps to take these proposals further. Moderation: Bernice van Bronkhorst, World Bank Urban Specialist, Latin American and the Caribbean Region United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Director, Washington Office, Chris Williams Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) Chief of the Institutional Capacity of the State Sector, Xavier Comas Modernization of the State Specialist, Institutional Capacity and Finance Sector, Nathalie Alvarado Modernization of the State Specialist, Institutional Capacity and Finance Sector, Gustavo Beliz Inter-American Coalition for the Prevention of Violence (IACPV) Technical Secretary, Elizabeth Gozzer Organization of American States (OAS) Director of the Department of Public Security, Christopher Hernandez Roy Coordinator of Public Policy of the Department of Public Security, Julio Rosenblatt Public Security Specialist, Department of Public Security, Ana María Díaz World Health Organization Prevention of Violence Coordinator, Department of Injuries and Violence Prevention, Alexander Butchart Panamerican Health Organization (PAHO) Regional Advisor for Violence and Injury Prevention, Alberto Concha-Eastman State Department Director of the Americas program at the bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Abelardo A. Arias
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Senior Recovery Adviser, Conflict and Governance, Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery, Eugenia Piza Lopez United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Democracy Specialist, Latin American & Caribbean Bureau, Roopa Karia Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) Senior Associate on issues related to youth gangs, human rights, and prevention in Central America, Lainie Reisman World Bank Urban Specialist, Latin American and the Caribbean Region, Bernice van Bronkhorst 2:45-3:00 p.m. Coffee break 3:00-4:15 p.m. Following discussion 4:15-4:30 p.m. Conclusions, recommendations and Closing Remarks