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Crime and Violence in Central America : A Development Challenge - Executive SummaryCrime and violence are now a key
 development issue for Central American countries. In three
 nations El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras crime rates are
 among the top five in Latin America. This report argues that
 successful strategies require actions along multiple fronts,
 combining prevention and criminal justice reform, together
 with regional approaches in the areas of drug trafficking
 and firearms. It also argues that interventions should be
 evidence based, starting with a clear understanding of the
 risk factors involved and ending with a careful evaluation
 of how any planned action might affect future options. In
 addition, the design of national crime reduction plans and
 the establishment of national cross-sectoral crime
 commissions are important steps to coordinate the actions of
 different government branches, ease cross-sectoral
 collaboration and prioritize resource allocation. Of equal
 importance is the fact that national plans offer a vehicle
 for the involvement of civil society organizations, in which
 much of the expertise in violence prevention and
 rehabilitation resides. Prevention efforts need to be
 complemented by effective law enforcement. The required
 reforms are no longer primarily legislative in nature
 because all six countries have advanced toward more
 transparent adversarial criminal procedures. The
 second-generation reforms should instead help deliver on the
 promises of previous reforms by: (i) strengthening key
 institutions and improving the quality and timeliness of the
 services they provide to citizens; (ii) improving efficiency
 and effectiveness while respecting due process and human
 rights; (iii) ensuring accountability and addressing
 corruption; (iv) increasing inter-agency collaboration; and
 (v) improving access to justice, especially for poor and
 disenfranchised groups. Specific interventions reviewed in
 the report include: information systems and performance
 indicators as a prerequisite to improve inter-institutional
 coordination and information sharing mechanisms; an internal
 overhaul of court administration and case management to
 create rapid reaction, one-stop shops; the strengthening of
 entities that provide legal counseling to the poor and to
 women; and the promotion of alternative dispute-resolution
 mechanisms and the implementation of community policing programs.
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Crimen y violencia en Centroamerica : un desafio para el desarrolloCrime and violence are now a key development issue for Central American countries. In three nations El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras crime rates are among the top five in Latin America. This report argues that successful strategies require actions along multiple fronts, combining prevention and criminal justice reform, together with regional approaches in the areas of drug trafficking and firearms. It also argues that interventions should be evidence based, starting with a clear understanding of the risk factors involved and ending with a careful evaluation of how any planned action might affect future options. In addition, the design of national crime reduction plans and the establishment of national cross-sectoral crime commissions are important steps to coordinate the actions of different government branches, ease cross-sectoral collaboration and prioritize resource allocation. Of equal importance is the fact that national plans offer a vehicle for the involvement of civil society organizations, in which much of the expertise in violence prevention and rehabilitation resides. Prevention efforts need to be complemented by effective law enforcement. The required reforms are no longer primarily legislative in nature because all six countries have advanced toward more transparent adversarial criminal procedures. The second-generation reforms should instead help deliver on the promises of previous reforms by: (i) strengthening key institutions and improving the quality and timeliness of the services they provide to citizens; (ii) improving efficiency and effectiveness while respecting due process and human rights; (iii) ensuring accountability and addressing corruption; (iv) increasing inter-agency collaboration; and (v) improving access to justice, especially for poor and disenfranchised groups. Specific interventions reviewed in the report include: information systems and performance indicators as a prerequisite to improve inter-institutional coordination and information sharing mechanisms; an internal overhaul of court administration and case management to create rapid reaction, one-stop shops; the strengthening of entities that provide legal counseling to the poor and to women; and the promotion of alternative dispute-resolution mechanisms and the implementation of community policing programs.
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Trafficking and Fragility in West AfricaTrafficking is an emerging concern in West Africa. In 2011, 17 percent of all cocaine consumed in Europe -- 21 tons -- passed through the region, for a retail value of US$1.7 billion. This paper discusses the evolution of trafficking in the region and provides estimates of the size and value of trafficking flows to demonstrate the significance of this illegal activity. Although this topic is gaining increasing attention, less attention has been has been paid to how trafficking is perpetuating fragility. This paper contributes to this area of research by identifying five channels through which trafficking is intensifying fragility in the region. The relative importance of each channel is discussed, with specific countries as case-study examples. Possible programmatic responses are then suggested with examples of policy approaches successfully adopted elsewhere in the world.