23 January 2024, Panama City, Panama. - The Government of Panama and the United States through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) by way of the InfoSegura Regional Project, have joined efforts to hold the Second Citizen Security Week in Central America and the Dominican Republic “Innovative People-Centred Solutions”.

Citizen insecurity and all forms of violence pose transcendental challenges facing governments in such uncertain, unstable and risk-ridden times in the region. Notwithstanding certain indicators improving over the past decade—from 2014 homicides have declined 44 per cent in the region—the dynamics of crime and criminal phenomena are constantly diversifying, mutating and transforming. Efforts need to multiply and coordinated and concerted work has to continue in a region with just nine per cent of the world population but accounting for over 30 per cent of homicides worldwide.

Violence and crime still pose a barrier for development in most countries in the region. Although the homicide rate for Central America and the Dominican Republic for 2023—17.3 homicides per 100,000 population—is the lowest on record, estimates point to 20 people losing their lives to homicide every day in the subregion. Homicides are concentrated in areas where populations are large, economic activity high, and those near borders or on the coast. On the other hand, violent deaths of women have declined at a slower rate than homicides of men over the last ten years.

The Second Citizen Security Week takes place on 23, 24 and 25 January providing a venue for high level dialogue and the exchange of experiences and best practices for enhancing citizen security, social cohesion and justice, and to promote better governance that is effective in working on- and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16 on peace, security and justice.

“The United States has historically supported Central America and the Dominican Republic in addressing citizen security from a multidimensional perspective with effective governance and inclusive development. Along these lines, for almost 10 years the USAID and UNDP InfoSegura Project has provided countries with the data and statistics they need to prepare effective crime and violence prevention strategies and programmes,” noted John Barrett, Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Panama.

Attendees at the Second Citizen Security Week in Central America and the Dominican Republic include ministers, vice ministers and senior functionaries policymakers in matters of citizen security, justice and violence prevention in the region. Also in attendance are representatives of national and local governments, international experts, statistics institutes and offices, business sector and civil society, along with representatives of USAID and UNDP.

“The region cannot sacrifice either democracy or human development for security at any price. The Rule of Law and solid institutions are the way forward to fully develop and expand people's capabilities and, therefore, to improve security conditions,” said José Cruz-Osorio, Manager of the UNDP Regional Centre for Latin America.

About InfoSegura:

The USAID-UNDP InfoSegura Regional Project helps countries in the region of Central America and Dominican Republic use and analyse data and statistics to develop effective crime prevention strategies and policies to prevent crime and address insecurity. The initiative trains institutions to design and implement evidence-based and gender-responsive citizen security policies that contribute to making people’s lives better and make societies more peaceful, just and cohesive.