Multisector Resource Guide for Preventing Youth Violence in Latin America

The LAC region accounts for an estimated 30% of the world's homicides, despite representing only 8.5% of the global population. High rates of homicide correlate with stifled progress toward sustainable development goals, such as reducing extreme poverty, hunger, youth unemployment, infant mortality rates, and adolescent birth rates. The education sector plays a vital role in preventing youth violence in schools and in the surrounding communities where students and their families live. Schooling can serve as a protective factor for youth, as young people who stay connected to school are less likely to exhibit disruptive and violent behavior, carry or use a weapon, and experiment with illegal substances. However, violence in the community can be a significant source of trauma that can affect a student's attendance at school due to fear of moving between home and classroom. The health sector has the strong potential to contribute to violence prevention through public health approaches. Violence both directly and indirectly affects the health sector in LAC in diverse and significant ways, particularly because it depletes scarce healthcare resources and places undue stress on health sector organizations. The health sector can contribute more effectively to violence prevention by broadening its focus beyond treatment to include greater communication about violence prevention as a public health priority and more involvement in health and social service partnerships for violence prevention. The workforce sector can also play an important role in preventing youth from engaging in violence. Young workers in the LAC region are especially vulnerable to a wide range of workplace violence from myriad sources. In particular, the informality of employment and the specific subsector in which they work put young workers at increased risk for violence at work. Using a preventive approach that considers how gender, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status intersect to place young people at risk for violence is key to reducing risk and improving outcomes for youth, employers, and the broader community. Youth violence is preventable by using data to identify the drivers of violence, consulting the research on effective strategies, and engaging community stakeholders and institutions to address the issue. An effective violence prevention plan can be put in place by considering the intersection of multiple sectors, including education, health, and workforce. This approach can help to reduce the effects of youth violence and improve outcomes for youth, families, and communities in the LAC region. The education sector can take a proactive approach to preventing youth violence by implementing evidence-based strategies, such as providing training and support for teachers and school staff, promoting positive relationships between students and teachers, and addressing the root causes of violence in the community. The health sector can also play a critical role by providing access to mental health services, promoting healthy behaviors, and addressing the social determinants of health that contribute to violence. By working together across multiple sectors, it is possible to reduce the prevalence of youth violence in the LAC region and improve outcomes for youth, families, and communities. This requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the root causes of violence, promotes positive relationships and behaviors, and provides access to resources and support for those affected by violence.