MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Crime rates and lack of safety in streets the main concerns of Latinamericans

OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza

The Organization of American States (OAS) assured Tuesday that democracy in Latin American countries have taken a step back due to the increasing lack of safety in the streets as well the crime rates within the region.

During the Latin American Democracy Forum celebrated in Mexico City, the OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza indicated that nowadays, “Citizens no longer go out to the streets as they used to do, and the number of protective fences and walls on individual's houses has increased dramatically.”

The Chilean OAS member also remarked that “while the region has shown advancement regarding social equality, there is a clear backward movement in safety matters as there are groups that seek to impose their own law and rules, which does nothing but harm democracy in Latin America.”

According to a survey and studies conducted in 2009 by “El Latinobarómetro”, the lack of safety was the first concern of Latin Americans, while the same category was ranked on sixth position when the same pool was conducted in 1995.

The United Nations Development Programme Assistant Secretary-General for Latin America and Caribbean, Heraldo Muñoz, stated that more than hard policies what is needed are “intelligent policies, and justice, police, and penitentiary reforms within the region.”

The OAS informed that after studying the current situations of 18 regional nations, a paper on the state of democracies within Latin America will be release soon.

Among the presents at the Forum are former presidents Carlos Salinas (Mexico), Ricardo Lagos (Chile), Carlos Mesa (Bolivia), and Julio María Sanguinetti (Uruguay).