Download IMPACT OF ARMED VIOLENCE IN THE CENTRAL AMERICAN REGION

IMPACT OF ARMED VIOLENCE IN THE
CENTRAL AMERICAN REGION
High rates of homicides by firearms in El Salvador.
Presents: Ignacio Paniagua/ El Salvador, Central America
Central America is the
geographic portion
composed by seven
countries:
•Guatemala,
•Belize,
•Honduras,
•El Salvador,
•Nicaragua,
•Costa Rica and
•Panama.
INTRODUCTION
 Its location is the
forced land bridge
between South
America and
North America,
between the
Atlantic Ocean
and the Pacific.
 In the past 50 years, the region went from
being: an economy exporting coffee agro-exporting region
to humans and went from being the most
violent political region to the most
social violent.
In El Salvador it is notable that the number of violent deaths
during the period of armed conflict (1980-1992) has been
like in times of "peace" (1993-2013).
A third of the population lives
abroad, sending remittances totaling 4,000 million
dollars per year, this is equivalent to the Annual General
Budget of the Nation and corresponds to 12% of GDP
The Salvadoran peoples are good
worker and have high sense about
their family and community.
• Problem:
High rates of firearm homicides in El Salvador.
 Violent Situation in the region.
To get an idea of the magnitude of this problem in the Central Region is important consider
the following comparison: both Spain and Central America have a population of 40
million people, however, Spain in 2006 recorded 336 murders ( less than one per
day), while Central American 14,257 recorded ( almost 40 per day), only in El Salvador were
14 deaths per day.
40 million people
336 murders/year
One /day
40 million people
14,257 murders/year
40 /day

El Salvador in 2011 had the
highest homicide rate in Latin
America , 58 per 100,000,
Guatemala and Honduras have
homicide rates of 45 and 43
per 100,000 population, respectively.
In the region,
Latin American
countries is about 20
per 100,000, and for all of Central America
The same index in
in general are

35.4 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The Salvadoran Association of Physicians for Social
Responsibility (MESARES) developed a research on injuries
and deaths by firearms in hospitals of Sonsonate and Santa Ana
Among other data, the research showed that 90% of those
injured were male and over 50% of patients were
younger.
 Central American had
the highest
homicide rate in
Latin America
 Central America in
general are 35.4 per
100,000 inhabitants.
 But the statistics
burglary of all
Central American
countries is below
the average for
Latin America.
 Four Central
American
countries also have
overall rates of
victimization
Measuring violence without specifying its type below the regional average.
(Public Opinion Project (LAPOP), for its acronym in English).
 but the question is, whether the
violence plaguing this region is
less related to the traditional
crimes against property and more
crimes where the weapons is
involved.
 Crimes have increased due to
their easiness and to weapons use


Distribution of violence is not consistent across the region, delimiting
areas have high rate
of homicides similar declared WAR combat zones.
These are located in the border areas, the migration routes, the most
densely populated cities, and Peten Jungle of Guatemala and the
Atlantic Coast of Honduras.
1. CAUSES: ASSOCIATED FACTORS THAT PROMOTE
CRIME AND VIOLENCE.
Rather than talk about causes of violence, we prefer to do reference to factors associated, following the approach proposed by PAHO: its
epidemiological concept of cause and causality of violence, such as:
Social factors (social network)
• Cultural factors (Conflict Resolution /Attitude to arms)
• Economic factors (Poverty / Crisis)
• Institutional factors (Citizenship)
•
Situational Factors (Urban)
• Family Factors (Head of Household / Migration)
•
•
•
Personal factors (Youth/ Drug)
Global Factors (Markets/Drug)
In order to make evidence-based study we limit to analyze the most
relevant factors.
(An exploratory analysis broader- See MESARES presentation at the International
Congress of IPPNW in Paris 1995).
 Overall drug trafficking promote violence in many forms, including fights trafficking
organizations (inside), fights between traffickers and police officers, increased availability
of firearms, and the weakening of the system criminal justice by diverting judicial or
corrupting the judicial system itself. Most of the perpetrators and victims of crime and
violence are young people, mostly men. The third factor contributing to criminal violence
in the region is the history of armed conflict and the widespread availability of firearms.
We analyze the root causes of crime and
violence in Central America:
1. Drug trafficking,
2. Youth violence and gangs,
3. The availability of firearms.
1.1 Drugs and Drug Trafficking
U.S. government estimates that
90
percent of all
cocaine entering the
USA (approximately
560 metric tons
in 2007) comes through
Mexico-Central America corridor. Official
figures show that 72 metric tons (13 percent)
were intercepted in Central America.
According to studies United Nations Office
on Drugs and Crime (UNODC, for its
acronym in English), the fight for control of
the Central Transit Corridor is a
phenomenon of the past two decades.

For Central America, the amount of money on this trade is large and to get an idea of the implications of this movement of money in a poor
: If we distribute 560 metric tons of cocaine
shipped through the region among each one of the 40 million people
living in Central America it would represent the equivalent of 14
grams per individual, an amount that in the United States has a value
of $ 2,300 dollars, this for a Salvadoran is equals the annual minimum
wage ( it is said, a sufficient amount to ensure annual basic foods
needs). With this example is not hard to imagine the amount of resources available
region we presented the following calculation
to the narco-trafficking to influence the region.
560 metric
tons / 40
millions peoples
14
grams
every
one
$2,300
ANNUAL
MINIMUM
WAGE
BASIC
FOOD
BASKET
ANNUA
L
The drugs generate violence in three ways:
• For Addiction: Violence triggered by the effects of a drug on the consumer.
For economic- compulsive reasons: Violence used to
•
generate money for drugs.
For systemic reasons:
•
Violence related to disputes over
territory to sell drugs, debts related to these and other problems related to the drug trade.



Between trafficking organizations.
Within the drug trafficking organizations.
Diverting of criminal justice resources or corruption in the judicial system itself.

Availability of weapons.

Compliance with the prohibition and prosecution of crime.
1.2 Youth violence and
gangs.
Dimension of the phenomenon of the Maras: Currently in El Salvador
number of gang
members is 60,000, and at least 300,000
depend on them directly and a similar number indirectly
higher authorities publicly accepted that the
(between
5% and 10% of Salvadorans).

Gang involvement in the execution of the killings has been widely studied
(as discussed below these data becomes uncertain given recent events) the
Institute of Legal Medicine of El Salvador, described that
14
percent of the killings in El Salvador
between 2003 and 2006 were related to
the activities of the gangs. In Honduras
(IUODOP, 2006), gangs were
responsible for about 33% of all deaths in
the investigation, including those between gang members and when they
renounces as gang members. Another study in Honduras (Casa Alianza,
2006) showed that about 15 percent of the murders were committed by
gangs.
 Gangs in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras
are held responsible for
extorting (Demanding
payment) to local businesses, major
retailers, street vendors, buses and taxis in return
for protection, and less are involved
in drug-retail and common
crime.
 This process has increased to form a parallel state
that distributes control of territory, applies his
own righteousness, have their own code and
hierarchy, taxation and defense, all sustained by
violence and marked by death. Recent actions
indicate that gangs have used force to seize
business and increasingly penetrating properties
to organized crime.
1.3. Firearms

Definitely firearms in El Salvador is a major factor in the increase of
violence, play a role in the prevalence, the magnitude and the lethality
of it.
 Before 1960, firearms were scarce in El
Salvador, the military had a stock
obsolete weapons World War I composed of nonautomatic rifles (Czech made, Garands, Carbines M-1), a major
consideration was the amount of weapons in civilian hands (small
arms) held by landowners as a symbol of social power and unfair labor
relations.
 It was due to the war with Honduras (1970) that the government
spending 20 million dollars raised through the "patriotism" of more
affluent families to buy automatic rifles-type G-3, HK-21 machine guns
among others, this war only lasted "100 hours", but leave the ruling
class prepared for any internal threat.
 During the Civil Armed Conflict (1980-
1992) entered as many weapons for the
military and insurgent groups from the
United States, the Soviet Union, Israel,
Argentina and Cuba. We have information transfers by
the United States clandestinely made including the Contras of
Nicaragua.
The organization Latin American Country Data, Geneve: Small arms Survey,
2012 says there are 2.2
million registered guns of these
 870,000 in the hands soldiers and
 the rest civilians.
It adds that there are 2.8 million registered NO weapons.
If this is correct it could mean that 1 in 3 adult
male carries a weapon.
In the region according to the Military Balance and Small Arms Survey, there
are more weapons that soldiers, only in
Nicaragua there are 35 weapons for each and
Guatemala and Salvador 7-8 per soldier
in El Salvador
 It is estimated, based on survey projections, there are more than
450,000 weapons in the hands of civilians
.
 That means that
at least one in four men have a
firearm in his possession.
60 percent of the weapons
circulating in the country are illegally.
 A little over
 Around 175,000 weapons are duly registered or have the
permission of the authorities.
in Central American
circulating
total 429.237 legally
firearms.

It is estimated that

In Guatemala is who has the highest percentage of
weapons with 37.96 percent of the total. El
Salvador is not far from the situation in
Guatemala, with a percentage of 33.35. The
remaining countries show lower percentages: the
12.21 percent Nicaragua, Costa Rica and
Honduras on the 6.41 and 10.07 percent.
 But the situation on firearms is
more complex, given the
magnitude represented by the
illegal circulation of weapons.
Researchers argue that
circulate in the
area about 2
million illegal
weapons (Godnick,
1999).
 More than
80 percent of the murders
that have been committed in the country in recent
years have been carried out with
firearms and
about 70 percent of assaults and armed
robberies reported by the National Civil Police have
committed using firearms.

2. CONSEQUENCES: SOCIAL, ECONOMIC
AND HEALTH
2.1 Economic impact
 Economic situation in El Salvador
 The country received a total of U.S. $ 4,000 million in
remittances last year, mostly from the United States,
according to a report released by the Central Reserve Bank
(BCR).:::::::::::::::What
it means this?????
 The BCR report highlights "to El Salvador, remittances now
account for 17
% of gross domestic
product."
GENERAL BUDGET OF THE NATION (PGN) OF EL SALVADOR FOR THE YEAR
2013 DISTRIBUTION BY BRANCHES
Revenues / Appropriations
$ Million
Total
Gross
Product (GDP)
23,054
Ingresos/Asignaciones
Millones de $
Domestic
Total del Producto Interno Bruto (PIB)
% of PGN
% del PGN
% GDP
% PIB
100.00%
Remittances to GDP enters
4,000
17.00%
PGN TOTAL (% of GDP)
4,505.3
18.03 %
Remesas Familiares ingresa al PIB
T O T A L del PGN (% del PIB)
Justicia y Seguridad Publica
Justice and Public Safety
Education
Educación
Health Salud
Public
Works
Transportation
/
Obras Publicas/ Transporte
National
Nacional
Defense
Other
Branches
Government
Defensa
356.0
7.90 %
1.42 %
862.4
19.14 %
3.45 %
565.4
255.3
12.55 %
5.67 %
2.26 %
1.02 %
153.3
of
Otros Ramos del Gobierno
Data provided by the Ministry of Finance, Directorate General of Budget, November 2012
0.61 %
Calculating the Costs of Violence in El Salvador
These include different areas:
 1. Costs in health
 1.1.1. Medical expenses
 1.1.2. Production loss due to death
 1.1.3. It costs of the victims in Injuries and emotional damage.
 2. Institutional
costs
 2.1.1. Additional government spending on security and justice system
 3.
Security Costs
 3.1.1. Homes and businesses
 4. Materials costs.
 4.1.1. Loss of goods
 4.1.2. Both individuals and companies.
Cost of Violence in Central America as a percentage of GDP
Cost Type
Guatemala
El
Honduras
Salvador
Nicaragua Costa
Rica
In the Matter
of HEALTH
4.3 %
6.1%
3.9%
4.5%
1.5% 4.06%
Institutional
Justice and
Public Safety
1.0%
1.5%
2.6%
1.6%
1.0% 1.54
Private Security
Corporate and
individual
1.5%
1.8%
1.9%
2.3%
0.7% 1.64
0.8%
7.7%
1.4%
1.2%
10.8% 9.6%
1.5%
10.0%
2,291
2,010
529
0.4% 1.06
3.6
8.34%
%
791 6,506
Tipo de Costos
Average
En Materia de SALUD
Institucionales
Seguridad Pública y Justicia
Seguridad Privada
Empresarial e individual
Other Otros
TOTAL
Total in Millions
of Dollars
Total en Millones de Dólares
Source: Acevedo / BM, 2008
885
The result of the calculation performed by Acevedo accounting approach in
2008 for the National Security Council and UNDP El Salvador, allows a
comparison between the Central American countries:
• Total
costs for all of Central America are of the order of 6.506
million dollars, equivalent to
8.34% of regional GDP.
• This is more than spending on public health throughout the region.
• The health costs (including moral damage costs) accounted for the largest portion of the additional
financial burden for all countries in the survey, reaching
in El Salvador.
• El Salvador is the one with the highest percentage of
of its GDP.
6.1 percent of GDP
costs of crime, 10.8%
• Honduras has the highest institutional cost (Public Safety: 1.6%).
• Nicaragua is the most spending is on Private Security.
• Guatemala is the country with more violence costs.
 In El Salvador the costs of violence on
health (6.1%) are similar to those
budgeted annually to the Govermment
Social Spending including: Education line, line of
Health and Local Development Financing (Funds for
Mayors, Local Development Funds (FISDL), pensions,
etc..).
 A calculation exercise (World Bank, 2006) shows that a
10% reduction of the murder rate would result in an annual
increase of 1% GDP for El Salvador.
2. DATA ANALYSIS
 Violence in El Salvador has multi-causal origin,
rather this is a process that tends to reproduce
and increase.
INFAMOUS FORMULA
Migration
Illegals Business
Few opportunities
Poverty and
Margination
Maras
Youth gangs
organizations
violence and insecurity
(Social, ecomical and political )
economic costs and
lower investment
 At the base is the marginalized social system that
closes doors to most Central American youngster with
their real needs and created by the same system which require satisfaction.
 Central America youngster only have two alternatives:

migrating to developed countries or joining to local
gangs or local organized gangs enabling them to survive in the marginalizations.
Outside the legal code of conduct imposed is violence and death,
encouraging crime and organized crime, this behavior competes
against the whole social network structure, radically affecting productive investment, business
investment limited only usufruct business heritage of the state and creating a consumer economy
that feed on remittances from abroad, resulting in
low productivity
increased poverty and a cycle of violence.
Where are these guns?,
 Firearms involved in different
parts in this circle perennial
violent, act as catalysts for this
disastrous chemical formula,
accelerating and are facilitating
the process of violence. The weapons
allow different forms of crime to the inexperienced.
Moreover, the presence of firearms prevent other forms of
understanding forcing immediate solutions and superficial.
Migration
Illegals
Business
Few
opportunities
Poverty and
Margination
Maras
Youth gangs
organizations
violence and insecurity
(Social, ecomical and political )
economic costs
and lower
investment
3. Solutions
 The weapons are not only part the problem they have also
been part of the wrong solutions.
 In the two previous presidencies period (2000-06) attempted
to implement a repressive strategy called " Hard hand" and
"Super hard hand", the results were disastrous increased the
number of victims of armed violence.
It Has been tried all kinds of solutions,
usually disintegrated:
• Death squads
• Hardening of laws and prosecution of gang organizations
• Disarmament Campaigns and arms-free
public spaces
• Comprehensive plans for prevention and care of
youngsters people at risk.
• Gang
pact truce and peace
agreements
The results of these measures are more or less known, for its novelty
expand the latter.
Truce Among Gangs

This process started at the initiative of a hierarch of the Catholic Church and a civilian veteran guerrilla combatant
obvious supported high government authorities,
consisting of a non-aggression pact
among the two largest gangs and achieved through the heads of the gangs who are in prisons
.
Before March 2012 (Date of signing
the truce between gangs) had an
average of 14
homicides per day has
now fallen to 5.5
homicides per
day. Put more
simply, since the
truce began eight
Salvadorans killed
less each day.
The truce between the major
gangs has had many detractors
On the other hand the
government
 Citing lack of transparency
 Talks of a "peace process"
from the government,
 Doubts about the
concessions given to the
criminal groups and
 The acceptance of a
parallel power.
begun with the truce and
accompanied
 Progressive introduction of
free municipalities of
violence and
 Representative of the
society foundation to
support the process.

Raul Mijango says (one of the main facilitator of the Truce): "The problem is that to talk about
rehabilitation, social integration and prevention, we should enter the mentioned second phase. To
achieve this, both the state and society need to overcome skepticism, which in his opinion is "the main
enemy of this process", and access a direct negotiation with the gangs. "
 Certainly after 14 months of truce the number of homicides has fallen
by more than half and the decrease in the number of injuries by
firearms has been evident by 33% comparing the months of 2011 with
those of 2012. According to the SILEX is found that the injuries for
other violence (knives, trauma, family) have not diminished.
Conclusions from this experience:
• The practical effects have been evident
• The armed violence homicides depend at least 50% of
gangs.
• The criminal acts is mediated by firearms, are the
instrument to facilitate violence.
• The peace process goes through social inclusion
(reintegration into the system) of youth at risk and this
requires the contribution of the whole society (civil
society organizations, government, politicians,
businessmen, etc..).
• The truce alone is not sustainable