OAS-UNODC cooperation in implementing in the Americas the UN Survey on Crime Trends MISPA II, Santo Domingo 4-5 Nov 2009 Angela MeJose Manuel Martinez Chief, Survey and Statistics Section Representative DPARegional Office Panama
Why do we need crime and criminal justice statistics? To develop targeted policies To monitor the impact, effectiveness, efficiency of policies and programmes Evidence-based policy making
Why do we need crime and criminal justice statistics? National level Crime is no longer uniform in its distribution and no longer predictable In many countries crime today is characterized by hotspots National trends may hide large differences which need different policy responses
Why do we need crime and criminal justice statistics? An example well-known decrease in violent crime in the US in past years Sprinfield, MA (population: 152,644): % violent crime between Jackson, MS (population: 177,334) % violent crime between
Why do we need crime and criminal justice statistics? National policy makers need to be more agile, using statistics, research and informed observation to understand and respond to ongoing challenges
Why do we need crime and criminal justice statistics? International level
Internally: How are we doing? Externally: What countries offer the safest environment? What countries need more assistance? To compare with other countries/regions Source: UNODC International Homicide Statistics
To inform International Policy Making
To better understand the dynamics of crime Source: UNODC
To better understand the dynamics of crime Source: UNODC
The evidence at international level is possible with an international data collection system
Not a new idea……
The United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (UN-CTS) UNCCPCJ asked for a review Resolution sponsored by Argentina
Regional Partnership UNODC-OAS in monitoring Crime in the region Developing a regional monitoring system for the American States Core (CTS) + region-specific indicators No duplications, no overburdening of countries An international data collection system which is closer to countries
Revision of the CTS according to the resolution Inter-governmental meeting to finalize the content of CTS and core indicators hosted by Argentina (February 2010) The Region is in a leading position CTS includes only administrative statistics
Source: International Crime Victim Survey (ICVS) Average percentage of crimes reported to the police in different world regions Studying crime requires more than statistics on reported crimes
Figure reproduced from Trends in Crime and Justice 2005 Countries with high victimization rates very often do not rank high in police recorded crime and viceversa
More needs to be done at national and international level to collect and analyze statistics on victimization
More specific UNODC contributions to knowledge and action in the region
Evidence-based programme development Crime, Violence and Development: Trends, Costs, and Policy Options in the Caribbean (UNODC and WB, 2007) Crime and Development in Central America (UNODC and IDB, 2007)
SANTO DOMINGO Pact / SICA-UNODC MANAGUA Mechanism ADAM Legal Assistance Consultative Mechanism Centres of Excellence Network of Prosecutors Network of National Strategic Analysts Focal Points for Expertise & Training Donors Central America Caribbean International Organizations (UNODC, CARICOM, SICA,OAS etc.) Experts, Policy Makers
Centres of excellence - mandate Managua Conference: Centers of Excellence 1). Research and generation of regional expertise providing the following services. 2). Capacity-building through training and provision of technical equipment. 3). Information sharing and cooperation. 1Belize, Corruption 2Honduras, (to be defined) 3Costa Rica, (to be defined) 1Dominican Republic, Prison Reform 2Nicaragua, Community Policing 1El Salvador, Urban Crime 2Panama, Maritime Security 3Guatemala, Organized Crime Stage 1 Aug.-Cct. 09 Stage 2 Nov.-dic. 09 Stage 3 1 st S 2010
South Cone and Andean Region Historic UNODC activities in the Andean Region UNODC will soon start developing a regional programme for Argentine, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay
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