It took a long while to arrive in Rio de Janeiro, but in half a dozen years it has become an inescapable reality in the lives of the city’s most vulnerable residents: its homeless. A recent survey estimates that approximately 90% of the children and youths sleeping rough and living on Rio’s sidewalks use crack, the cocaine derivative that is easy to use, low cost and quick to act, having irrevocably replaced glue.
This article tells the story of a young Haitian who was sent by his mother to the Dominican Republic in order not to engage in armed violence. However, he returned to his country of origin after not adapting to the new environment. Back to Haiti, he got involved with the banda in his area, being arrested and promising his mother that he would get rehabilitated.
This article explains the Tambou Lapè Project, which aims reducing community violence in Viva Rio’s area of intervention in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The Peace Agreement signed between rival bases and the profits resulting from the area’s pacification represent two positive experiences in managing the local conflict and the creation of a way out for the youth involved in armed violence.
This article presents Gustavo Cifuentes Castellanos’ history, a Guatemalan youngster who tells his life story, telling about his past on the streets, on drugs, in the gangs and at juvenile detention centers, up to finally finding an exit opportunity that changed his life.
To offer children and youth a way out of gang violence is the goal of MDI, a concept inspired in post conflict DDR measures. Viva Rio's COAV program coordinator, Rebeca Pérez discusses the proposal for peace in Latin American cities.
The new study “Prevention, Disengagement and Suppression,” by South Africa’s RAPCAN reviews current gang policy, examining what works and what does not in prevention, disengagement and suppression.
Despite a variety of local experiences, a recent study points to the shared pressures and demands of South America's newest generation, that takes up close to a quarter of the population. Their profile, a mix of pragmatic needs and utopian beliefs.
Comunidad Segura interviewed Stéphane Quéré, specialist in bandes and co-author of the book "Les bandes criminelles", on how street protests may or may not be associated to gangs in France.
The Almighty Latin Kings and Queens Nation are "transgressing borders all over the place...physical, cultural, social, political borders." CUNY Professor, criminologist David Brotherton from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, spoke to Comunidad Segura on the new role of gangs as street organizations.
"Unbiased, focused, careful and comprehensive reporting" has its place in generating pressure. But at the end of the day", said Special UN Rapporteur to Brazil Philip Alston in an exclusive interview to Comunidad Segura, "recomendations must resonate with key actors in Brazilian society who want change."
This article explains the Tambou Lapè Project, which aims reducing community violence in Viva Rio’s area of intervention in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The Peace Agreement signed between rival bases and the profits resulting from the area’s pacification represent two positive experiences in managing the local conflict and the creation of a way out for the youth involved in armed violence.
