Haitians endeavour to restore peace, democracy, and public security after a three year crisis that began to subside with the 2006 elections. This dossier documents examples of the struggle to consolidate human rights in the nation and shed light on a better future awaiting Haitians.
An estimated 300,000 child soldiers around the world came out of invisibility with Graça Machel’s 1996 UN study, the “Impact of armed conflict on children”. The international community has since then taken successive steps to bring them under the rule of international law.
Rooted specifically in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, the Maras have also branched out to the United States, Mexico and Spain. It is estimated that they mobilize 25,000 to 300,000 members within the confines of Central America.
With over 2 million and a half displaced people, and an estimated 14 thousand boys and girls recruited by so-called irregular groups, the nation is looking for ways out of an internal conflict that has lasted for over 40 years.
COAV stands for Children and Adolescents involved in Organized Armed Violence, the concept was born in 2003 with the aim of stimulating discussion and the creation of public policy to divert children at risk from gang and gun violence in non-war settings.
Breaking the silence, the UN study on violence against children compiles data on child security around the world, calling for an end to corporal punishment among other issues. Comunidad Segura heard specialists about the repercussions of this groundbreaking investigation.
News reports and articles on how partnerships between youths, NGOs and institutions of public security contribute to lowering the levels of violence present in the relations between police and youths.
