Authors: Dr. Ida Santana, Dr. Katia Robledo Dr. Inés Lazo Dr. Víctor López,

1. Guatemala Promotes a Strategic Approach on the Issue of Violence with RESSCAD and COMISCA Authors: Dr. Ida Santana, Dr. Katia Robledo Dr. Inés Lazo Dr. Víctor López,

2. Justification • The Northern Triangle presents characteristics of post-conflict. High circulation of arms and ammunition and growing urban insecurity motivated especially by criminal operations, and violence of youth gangs and drug-related groups.

3. Justification • Violence in all of its manifestations has become a social and public health problem, more pressing in Central America in general and, more specifically, in Guatemala. • The National Mental Health Survey conducted in Guatemala shows a relative increase in the prevalence of anxiety disorders (USAC, 2,009).

4. Justification • The 2007 Statistical Report on Violence, presents Guatemala City as the most violent city in Latin America with a homicide rate of 108 per 100,000 people. • The ‘Northern Triangle’ is today the world’s most violent region (UNDP, 2,009).

5. Selected Topic Violence in the Northern Triangle of Central America

6. International Health Conceptual Model Violence Approach at the regional level

7. Forces Related to Violence • Project objective: Human rights • Influential forces: Trade and Model of Development • Strategies for approaching: International Relations

8. Explanation of the violence using the IHCM

9. Key Questions • Does Guatemala’s foreign policy and the non-binding strategic frameworks permit the inclusion of the topic of violence in the regional health structures (RESSCAD and COMISCA)? • Is Guatemala complying with the WHO recommendations on the topic of violence?

10. Project Objectives • Create a space for analysis and reflection on issues of violence, including possible alternatives to overcome the conflict situation in Central America, and to help build State policies for the prevention of violence and promotion of human rights. • Initiate a process of searching for and identifying common strategic elements and new instruments to incorporate the issue of violence in the projects of RESSCAD and COMISCA in the region.

11. Community of Practice • Research Center on Health Sciences (CICS-USAC) • Master of Social Psychology and Violence (USAC, Guatemala) • Research and Development Institute on Violence and the Promotion of Social Harmony, CISALVA, (Universidad del Valle, Colombia) • Global Health and Trauma Program (McGill University, Canada)

12. Members of the Community of Practice

13. Methodology • Design: qualitative research • Collection techniques: • Document review of treaties, agreements, policies and programs generated within RESSCAD, COMISCA, and other organizations, that establish precise actions on the issue of violence. • Semi-structured and open interviews to key informants that have a particular role in the topics mentioned.

14. Methodology • Collection techniques • Negotiation and advocacy meetings with key stakeholders and with RESSCAD and COMISCA to achieve inclusion of the topic of violence and health in the agendas of subsequent meetings within both bodies. • Implementation of a forum/workshop with key local stakeholders • Presentation of results in the Interactive International Health Room.

15. Forum Participants

16. Results • Description of the magnitude of violence • Cost analysis of the fight against violence • Evaluation of the Information System on Violence • Evaluation of forces in the country that play a role in the issue of violence and its control • Institutional capacity on the issue of violence. • The issue of violence in the agreements and treaties in Central Region agencies. • Priority of violence in the plans and agendas of regional organizations (RESSCAD and COMISCA) • Consensus and commitment to consider the issue of violence as a priority in national institutions and NGO’s.

17. 2010 Cohort in Panama