UNICEF and Violence Prevention Initiatives in the LAC Region

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UNICEF and Violence Prevention Initiatives in the
LAC Region
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Overview

• LAC is one of the most violent regions in the
  world
• LAC has the highest rate of homicide between
  people of 15-17 years old
• In the Caribbean boys are six times more likely
  that girls to be victims of armed violence
  (murder)
• The most dangerous places, should be the safest
  of places homes, schools
• Children are far more the victims than the
  perpetrators of armed violence up to 13 of
  homicide by firearms are homicide of children
• Individuals under the age of 18 represent only
  around 1 of all perpetrators of armed crimes
• 220 children die every day from abuse at home

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UNICEFs framework for action
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UNICEF supported activities

• Capacity Building Development of conflict
  resolution skills, reporting, parenting
  education, Childrens Rights and rights
  perspective
• Lifeskills for children and adolescents Brazil,
  Costa Rica
• Awareness, Open Discussion MTV Latin America
  alliance
• Support to Positive Adolescent Development
  Projects Guatemala, Brazil, Panama, Costa Rica
• National plans of action for children, national
  policies for adolescents Ecuador, Brazil and
  Honduras
• Juvenile Justice Promotion of the UN Guidelines
  on Justice, Fight trends of reducing the age of
  criminal responsibility and the increase of
  penalties, Visits and monitoring
• Interventions at Local and Community level for
  the realization of Childs Rights (local and
  community protection systems)
• Child Friendly Municipalities Initiatives,
  Communitarian Models of Violence Prevention

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Recommendations

• UNICEFs strategy to reduce and prevent violence
  against children and adolescent and promote a
  culture of peace is to advocate for
• Investing early in children (IECD)
• Data generation activities on children,
  adolescents and young people and violence
• Interventions in favor of a culture of peace
• continue investing through adolescence, focusing
  on opportunities for them to develop positively
• preventing and responding to abuse, exploitation
  and violence (most perpetrators have been
  abused),
• providing rehabilitation and reinsertion services
  of children in conflict with the law, for the
  realization of Childrens rights
• Promoting real opportunities for positive
  adolescent participation as a means of fulfilling
  their rights, and as a means of encouraging their
  commitment to and their own belief in their role
  as citizens
• Signing the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence
  and Development