Uniting Nations to Change a Life

“UNITING NATIONS TO CHANGE A LIFE” 

New model for prevention of violence and building a Culture of Peace 


 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 


Background

 Citizen Security in the "northern triangle" of Central America: El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras is in an accelerated deterioration that threatens to become the main challenge for these companies in this decade process.

Similarly, but in different proportions, the deterioration extends to different cities in Mexico, the United States and Canada. 
 Multiple factors determine the situation of violence and insecurity currently facing in the sub region: drug trafficking, has moved and expanded its operations increasingly the sub region strengthened efforts to evade national and international police in Mexico, Colombia and Caribbean; the culture of violence that is installed on every level of society; youth gangs and their impact on criminal activities, including killings and extortion. 


The results of these factors are clear: Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala are the first, second and eighth in rates of intentional homicides in the world in 2011, with the aggravating circumstance that - given the high impunity - those responsible for crimes violence are rarely brought to justice; Also, according to the Center for the Study of Women, Guatemala and Honduras have the first and second highest rates of domestic femicide in Central America, as more women become victims and victimizers of drug violence and organized crime.


In response to these challenges, the Central American governments are making efforts to improve the level of coordination of approaches, policies and activities to address the problems of public safety. 


In the area of ​​regional integration process, the Central American Integration System (SICA) launched in June 2011 with the support of the United States, Mexico and Colombia and other countries and multilateral organizations, a comprehensive strategy that included 22 projects to address insecurity, where four principal dimensions include: prevention, combating crime, social rehabilitation and institutional strengthening. 


In addition, governments in the region are exploring new approaches to address the problem more comprehensively, articulating approaches to prevention, control, institutional reforms. Also are exploring ways to involve citizens in the design and implementation of public security policies at different levels of public action, and especially at the local level, recognizing the important role that civil society, the private sector and political parties can play in strengthening democratic processes and public safety.

In this context, the active participation of civil society and the private sector have begun to identify various ways to address this issue, but in an uncoordinated and isolated manner, by implementing interesting projects that can contribute to empower youth and motivate them to become agents of positive change for society, but with limited impact. 


In this regard, it should be noted that the interest and support from various organizations representing the Diasporas from these countries, mostly from El Salvador and Guatemala, who reside in the United States is also highlighted in this effort. This involvement is not casual; if you consider that the city of Los Angeles is considered the first in the world where the largest number of youth gangs is. Moreover, in this city reside about 1.2 million Salvadorans; statistics suggest that one in three Salvadorans have a family member, acquaintance or friend gang related. The two most dangerous and fastest growing are the "Mara Salvatrucha" and "Barrio 18", which have expanded in the United States, at least 13 states of the Union, including Washington DC and New York where they live close to a million Salvadorans. 


Bearing in mind the complexity and multidimensionality of this phenomenon, last May 14, 2015, CG Global Consultant organized a meeting at the offices of South-South News in New York, with a view to presenting some 20 civil society organizations of this city, the project led by FEPADE, entitled "Solutions". 


This project was created in 2012 under an agreement of $ 20 million from USAID El Salvador and leverage $ 22 million additional dollars from the private sector, for a total contribution of $ 42 million is expected, which will be invested in 5 municipalities and 55 communities in El Salvador.
 "Solutions" is an alliance of five major Salvadoran foundations, which have joined forces to prevent crime and violence, in support of the target 11 of "Partnership for Growth", are them the Business Foundation for Educational Development (FEPADE); Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and Social Development (FUSADES); National Development Foundation (FADE); Salvadoran Foundation for Health and Human Development (FUSAL); and Glasswing.

Of these institutions, FEPADE is the administrator of the partnership and liable to USAID, for all the technical, financial and administrative aspects of the project.

Together the five organizations of the alliance have the knowledge and experience in the areas of education, health, economic development, research, prevention of crime and violence, and youth development to join forces and work on prevention of crime and violence El Salvador, through the following components: 

1. To strengthen the prevention of crime and violence at the municipal level.

2. Increase social investment by the private sector in El Salvador to prevent crime and violence.

3. Research, publish and disseminate research on strategies and best practices for the prevention of crime and violence.

Moreover, from January 2011 to May 2014, the Centro Escolar Distrito Italia, located in Tonacatepeque, El Salvador has been promoting a series of initiatives and programs to prevent violence and build a "Culture of Peace" with the support of the Permanent Mission of El Salvador to the United Nations in New York, through its "Art Inspiring Action" (2010-2014)
 

In this program, we were able to mobilize and motivate non-governmental organizations both in New York and El Salvador, and the Office of Economic and Cultural of Taipei in New York to support and / or implement various initiatives, taken as a together they have created the necessary conditions for significant changes related to the prevention of violence and building a culture of peace in that school. 


Among the most notable achievements was the construction of the "pool for Peace", making the Centro Escolar Distrito Italia the unique public school in El Salvador, which has its own pool facilities. Additionally, they were created and / or strengthened paint and drawing, music, theater, visual health, a computer room with 50 computers, solar cookers, bakery, farming tilapia, jewelry, pottery, home gardening, education of the brain and the STEM program, among others.



Considering these experiences gained in the field, and coupled with the development vision promoted by the United Nations, particularly from the perspective of the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the progress in defining the Agenda Post-Development 2015;and the collective vision developed by the various organizations attended the workshop from May 14, 2015, in South-South News, the conditions were created for the CG Global Consultant (New York), SOAR Method (San Francisco) and the Mayan Foundation (Los Angeles), to schedule an event entitled "A Day in LA, East meet West", to be held on September 12, 2015, at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles).

However, in light of a broaden support received by several organizations and individuals in New York, it was decided to have the launching of this initiative in August 12, 2015 at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York (TECO) under a new umbrella that were flexible enough to host several groups and nationalities...the Global Program "Uniting Nations to Change a Life" was born. 


General Purpose:

To contribute to the prevention of violence due to illegal gang activity and the creation of a culture of peace everywhere, through the development of new models to heal the social wounds caused by violence, and the promotion of ecosystems to change the fibers of local communities.

 Specific

Objectives: 


• Show the advantages and the broad impact of the reproduction of the ecosystem to change the fibers of local communities, through a pilot project on a small scale, prevention of violence and the creation of a culture of peace, using a format style show Los Angeles, California, also connecting New York and El Salvador, in a first stage, but with a view to multiply everywhere, to create a chain reaction that can "unite nations to change a life" and finish together with the violence.



• Strengthen links between civil society, the private sector and local governments in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the countries of Central America and the Caribbean, who are interested in this project, in order to move together the implementation of new models to heal the social wounds caused by violence, among others, derived from illegal gang activity, and creating a culture of peace at local, national and regional level. 


Ecosystem to change the fiber of local communities: 


The idea of ​​implementing an ecosystem to change the fiber of local communities is based on sacred geometry (fractal expansion) and critical mass, ie the importance of addressing prevention of violence through a multidimensional approach to building bridges between communities

They are threatened by transnational organized crime, youth gangs and violence, in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean; and in any other place on earth.

In this context, the two main characteristics that should be taken into consideration for the effectiveness of this model are:

• Concurrency
• Comprehensiveness

Annex

Reflexiones sobre los Acuerdos de Paz en El Salvador

"Reflexiones sobre los Acuerdos de Paz en El Salvador"

Embajador Carlos Garcia, 16 de Enero de 2015

No cabe duda que a 23 años de haberse suscrito los Acuerdos de Paz, se impone una revisión crítica de los mismos, tanto de sus logros como de sus vacíos y los desafíos actuales que la violencia social impone a nuestra sociedad. A mi juicio, la mayor contribución de los Acuerdos de Paz fue terminar con el enfrentamiento armado en el país, y desmontar las estructuras militares irregulares (la guerrilla del FMLN) para convertirla en Partido Político. 

En el caso de la fuerza armada, disminuir el número de sus miembros y la eliminación de las fuerzas élites, sobre las que cayó la responsabilidad de una serie de violaciones masivas, masacres y otros actos que violaron los derechos humanos de nuestra población.

Adicionalmente, se crearon instituciones nuevas como la Policía Nacional Civil (PNC), la Academia de Seguridad Pública, la Inspectoría de la PNC, y la reforma de la Constitución de la República, para permitir una nueva institucionalidad democrática en nuestro país.

Estos son algunos logros importantes que permitieron una apertura democrática, que se ha ido consolidando desde entonces. No fueron logros menores, fue un paso histórico en el desarrollo de El Salvador que merecen destacarse y reconocer su contribución al desarrollo de nuestro país.

En relación a los vacíos evidentes de los Acuerdos de Paz, a mi juicio el principal de todos, fue su incapacidad de cambiar el poder oligárquico de nuestro país, lo que ha continuado siendo el principal obstáculo para lograr un sistema económico y social más equitativo, que supere la marginación social y eleve el nivel de vida de los salvadoreños, fortaleciendo las clases medias del país, y beneficiando más ampliamente a nuestras clases populares con las remesas recibidas de nuestros compatriotas viviendo fuera del país, que a la fecha representan el 20% del PIB.

Adicionalmente, los gobiernos posteriores a la firma de los Acuerdos de Paz, incluido el actual, han sido incapaces de abordar el tema de la reconciliación nacional, ni siquiera desde la perspectiva de la "salud mental" y muchos menos se han planteado la importancia de contar con una "Política Nacional de Salud Mental", que permita asimilar los efectos emocionales, sicológicos, traumas y otros desequilibrios que impiden aún a una gran parte de la población, perdonar y seguir adelante.

Este factor emocional que se magnifica en la psiquis colectiva, en lugar de superarse se ha ido deteriorando progresivamente, como consecuencia de la inseguridad y la violencia social representada por el accionar ilegal de las pandillas. Las cuales, en un principio, estuvieron relacionadas directamente con la política de repatriación forzada, impuesta por el gobierno de los Estados Unidos, a los migrantes indocumentados; pero que desafortunadamente han mutado, hasta convertirse en aliados y gatilleros del crimen transnacional organizado, reflejado en los carteles mexicanos y sudamericanos que se han acomodado en Centroamérica, como consecuencia de las acciones militares impulsadas por los Estados Unidos, en cooperación con Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia y Peru, en los carteles de narcotráfico, que operan en sus territorios.

Dicho lo anterior, hay que considerar los desafíos actuales y de cara al futuro. El principal de todos es la necesidad histórica de reducir el poder de la oligarquía y crear un contra poder, que equilibre de alguna manera, la influencia determinante de ésta en la vida económica y social del país. Este tema es fundamental, porque no se trata de formar un "puñado" de nuevos ricos, aislados del resto de la sociedad, como esta ocurriendo en la actualidad. Se necesita crear las condiciones para que un mayor número de salvadoreños mejoren sus condiciones de vida material, como en Brasil, que elevo las condiciones de vida de su población en pobreza extrema en por lo menos un 89% en los últimos diez años.

Por la experiencia vivida fuera de El Salvador por más de 18 años, estoy convencido que los "hermanos lejanos, cercanos o como quieran llamarnos" estamos obligados a contribuir a la construcción de esa masa crítica que potencie las clases medias de El Salvador, junto con un gobierno que impulse un verdadero programa de desarrollo nacional, con una política exterior abierta al mundo.

No es una tarea fácil, pero no hay otro camino. El Salvador cada día es menos viable, debido a la alta polarización política y la continua profundización de un sistema económico y social que permite a los ricos ser más ricos, y a los pobres más pobres, con el agravante del desgaste de la clase media, que su aspiración de progreso se diluye al ver que sus condiciones de vida se disminuyen constantemente.

Hay mucho camino que recorrer aún, no hay soluciones fáciles ni mágicas que cambien este panorama de la noche a la mañana, pero lo que si se puede hacer ya, es forjar nuevos líderes políticos que motiven a nuestra población a ver hacia adelante, que contribuyan a forjar una visión común, aunque tengan distintos puntos de vista políticos, a aprovechar las oportunidades de contar con un ingreso constante del 20% del PIB, por medio de las remesas, pero que estas se inviertan de manera más racional, se que se han hecho algunos esfuerzos en esta materia, pero no han tenido los resultados esperados, se necesita "pensar", "analizar" y "proponer" nuevos caminos, esa es la responsabilidad histórica de nuestra generación, cuando hablamos de renovar la política, somos nosotros quienes debemos promover ese cambio.

Los Acuerdos de Paz de 1992 cumplieron con una etapa de desarrollo del país. Se han agotado y no son adecuados para enfrentar los retos actuales y futuros de El Salvador, por tanto, esta en nosotros dar el siguiente paso....estamos dispuestos a hacerlo?

"Reflexion on the Peace Accords of El Salvador"

by Amb. Carlos Garcia, 16 January 2015

No doubt that 23 years of the Peace Accords have been signed, a critical review of them, both his achievements as to its accuracy and current challenges that social violence imposed on our society. In my view, the greatest contribution of the Peace Accords was to end the armed conflict in the country, and remove the irregular military structures (the FMLN guerrillas) to convert Political Party.

In the case of armed force, to reduce the number of its members and the elimination of the elite forces, which fell responsibility for a series of mass rapes, massacres and other acts that violated the human rights of our people.

Additionally, new institutions such as the National Civil Police (PNC), the Public Security Academy, the Inspectorate of the PNC, and reform of the Constitution of the Republic was created, to allow a new democratic institutions in our country.

Here are some important achievements that have a democratic opening, which has been consolidated since. Were not minor accomplishments, was a historic step in the development of El Salvador that deserve recognition and acknowledge their contribution to the development of our country.

Regarding the apparent gaps in the Peace Accords, in my opinion the main of all was its inability to change the oligarchic power of our country, which has remained the main obstacle to achieving a more equitable economic and social system, that overcomes social marginalization and raise the standard of living of Salvadorans, strengthening the middle class of the country and benefiting our widely popular classes remittances received from our compatriots living abroad, which to date represent 20% of GDP.

Additionally, following the signing of the Peace Accords governments, including the present, have been unable to address the issue of national reconciliation, even from the perspective of the "mental health" and far fewer have raised the importance of have a "National Mental Health Policy" to assimilate the emotional, psychological effects, traumas and other imbalances that prevent even a large part of the population, forgive and move on.

This emotional factor that is magnified in the collective psyche, rather than overcome has deteriorated progressively, as a result of insecurity and social violence represented by the illegal actions of gangs. Which, initially, were directly related to the policy of forced repatriation, imposed by the government of the United States, undocumented migrants; but unfortunately have mutated to become allies and gunmen of organized transnational crime, reflected in Mexican and South American cartels have been accommodated in Central America as a result of military actions taken by the United States, in cooperation with Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru, where drug cartels operating in their territories.

That said, consider the current and the future challenges. The principal of these is the historical necessity of reducing the power of the oligarchy and create a counter power to balance somehow the decisive influence of the latter in economic and social life of the country. This issue is critical because there is forming a "handful" of new rich, isolated from the rest of society, as is happening today. You need to create the conditions for a greater number of Salvadorans improve their material living conditions, as in Brazil, which raised the living conditions of the population in extreme poverty by at least 89% in the last ten years.

By the experience outside El Salvador for over 18 years, I am convinced that we are obliged to contribute to building that critical mass that enhances the middle classes of El Salvador "distant, close or whatever you call us brothers" along with a government that promotes a true national development program, with an open foreign policy on the world.

It is not an easy task, but there is no other way. El Salvador every day is less viable because of the high political polarization and the continuous deepening of economic and social system that allows rich get richer, and the poor poorer, aggravated wear middle class, its aspiration to progress is diluted to see that their living conditions are steadily declining.

There is a long way to go yet, there are no easy or quick fixes to change this panorama overnight, but what if you can already do, is to forge new political leaders to motivate our people to look forward, to contribute to forge a common vision, though they have different political views, to take advantage of opportunities to have a steady income of 20% of GDP, through remittances, but these are invested in a more rational way, which have made some efforts in this area, but have not had the expected results, you need to "think", "analyze" and "propose" new roads, that is the historical responsibility of our generation, when we renew the policy, we who we should promote that change.

The Peace Accords of 1992 met a stage of development. Are exhausted and are not suitable to meet current and future challenges of El Salvador, therefore, is in us take the next step .... we are willing to do?

http://www.southsouthnews.com/south-south-news/ssn-features/448-un-coverage/un-main-bodies/36074-un-chief-hails-23-years-of-peace-in-el-salvador