HomeNewsBrief'Iron Fist' Policies Driving Up Violence in LatAm: Report
BRIEF

'Iron Fist' Policies Driving Up Violence in LatAm: Report

HONDURAS / 8 AUG 2012 BY TRACEY KNOTT EN

Hard-line security policies in Latin America are increasing violence, according to experts at the United Nations and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

In Tegucigalpa, Honduras on July 23, representatives from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and the United Nations presented their latest reports on security and human rights in Latin America and the Caribbean. Among their findings, both organizations agreed that "mano dura" (iron fist) security policies adopted in some countries were having the adverse effect of increasing violence levels, reported La Red 21.

In addition to contributing to the overall level of violence, hard-line security policies were found to be creating an atmosphere of social stigmatization and violating civil liberties. The targeting of youths who associate with gangs and the lowering of the age of criminal accountability in some countries were highlighted as examples of this.

InSight Crime Analysis

"Mano dura” policies have been shown to have a number of inherent problems, as well as the human rights concerns outlined in both reports. The policies have led to the targeting of youth based on their appearance, acquaintances and other superficial characteristics. An InSight Crime investigation in 2010 found that in El Salvador, the stereotyping led to the stigmatization and alienation of disenfranchised communities. Moreover, the policy was ineffective at combating crime, as the arrested youth were often placed prisons where they were prime targets for gang recruitment.

As part of its mano dura policy, Honduras has repeatedly extended the military’s powers in an effort to fight rising crime. On June 30, a human rights group in Honduras filed a claim with the country’s Supreme Court, alleging that the government’s decision to grant police powers to the military is unconstitutional. Honduran President Porfirio Lobo has proposed a constitutional reform that would create a permanent military police force.

share icon icon icon

Was this content helpful?

We want to sustain Latin America’s largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources.

DONATE

What are your thoughts? Click here to send InSight Crime your comments.

We encourage readers to copy and distribute our work for non-commercial purposes, with attribution to InSight Crime in the byline and links to the original at both the top and bottom of the article. Check the Creative Commons website for more details of how to share our work, and please send us an email if you use an article.

Tags

Was this content helpful?

We want to sustain Latin America’s largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources.

DONATE

Related Content

CARIBBEAN / 11 FEB 2022

Latin American countries scored poorly on Transparency International’s latest corruption index, with the worst joining the ranks of war-torn nations…

HONDURAS / 20 APR 2022

Juan Orlando Hernández, Honduras’ former president, is facing trial on US drug charges after allegations that he received bribes to…

CACHIROS / 23 MAR 2021

Usually loath to name sitting presidents in criminal cases, prosecutors in the United States have made an exception for Honduran…

About InSight Crime

THE ORGANIZATION

Venezuela Coverage Continues to be Highlighted

3 MAR 2023

This week, InSight Crime co-director Jeremy McDermott was the featured guest on the Americas Quarterly podcast, where he provided an expert overview of the changing dynamics…

THE ORGANIZATION

Venezuela's Organized Crime Top 10 Attracts Attention

24 FEB 2023

Last week, InSight Crime published its ranking of Venezuela’s ten organized crime groups to accompany the launch of the Venezuela Organized Crime Observatory. Read…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime on El País Podcast

10 FEB 2023

This week, InSight Crime co-founder, Jeremy McDermott, was among experts featured in an El País podcast on the progress of Colombia’s nascent peace process.

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime Interviewed by Associated Press

3 FEB 2023

This week, InSight Crime’s Co-director Jeremy McDermott was interviewed by the Associated Press on developments in Haiti as the country continues its prolonged collapse. McDermott’s words were republished around the world,…

THE ORGANIZATION

Escaping Barrio 18

27 JAN 2023

Last week, InSight Crime published an investigation charting the story of Desafío, a 28-year-old Barrio 18 gang member who is desperate to escape gang life. But there’s one problem: he’s…