Insecurity and Democracy: Keys to Promoting Effective and Democratic Security Policies

On August 30, 2024, the Inter-American Dialogue Rule of Law Program published a policy brief addressing the critical challenge of insecurity in Latin America and the Caribbean, emphasizing the need for democratic and effective security policies. This is the third policy brief in a series on security policies and the rule of law in the region launched by the Dialogue’s Rule of Law Program.

Based on a comprehensive analysis of current security challenges and policy responses, including experiences from Guatemala, São Paulo and Bogotá, the paper identifies four central pillars for a security policy grounded in the rule of law:

• Effective criminal sanctions and social prevention: A balanced approach that combines effective criminal prosecution with social prevention strategies, focusing on young people to address the root causes of crime.

• Transcending Ideological Divisions: A framework that combines punitive measures typically applied by centre-right or right-wing governments with social components prioritised by centre-left or left-wing governments.

• Sustainable security policy: The importance of long-term policies that can count on broad political consensus to ensure their continuity during political transitions.

• Regional coordination and cooperation: The need for transnational cooperation to effectively tackle organised crime in the region.

The policy report also emphasises the crucial role of strategic communications in gaining public support and ensuring the successful implementation of these policies.

DOWNLOAD THE POLICY OVERVIEW HERE: