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Democracy and Governance
CENTRAL AMERICA PROGRAMS
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A young man paints the USAID logo on the wall of an outreach centerEnsuring the safety of their citizens is one of the most critical challenges facing Central American countries today. Because of this, the USAID Central America Regional Program in the area of democracy and governance assists countries in lessening crime and violence, as well as youth vulnerability to gang activity across Central America. To accomplish this, USAID has expanded partnerships that support youth by opening community Outreach Centers and offering educational and recreational activities as well as vocational skills training. USAID works closely with the General Secretariat of the Central American Integration (SICA) in accomplishing these goals.

The USAID Central America Regional Program in democracy supports public-private partnerships to help stop youth from joining gangs, provides youth with opportunities and alternatives to delinquent activities, and assesses regional legal and juvenile justice frameworks and practices to promote policy and legal reforms that involve multiple countries across the region. USAID assistance:

Creates outreach centers to provide at-risk youth with education, training and job-opportunities

  • Awards sub-grants to support municipalities, communities, and civil society organizations, including faith- and community-based organizations, to develop innovative, community-specific responses for at-risk youth and gang prevention
  • Collaborates with SICA to promote dialogue between Central American countries as well as coherence in their approaches to issues of citizen safety
  • Assesses regional legal/juvenile justice frameworks and promotes policy reforms in the area of juvenile justice

Regional Youth Alliance for Gang Violence Prevention Regional Youth Alliance for Gang Violence Prevention
ng activity in Central America poses an increasing threat to the security of the region and the safety of its citizens, particularly in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. The problem is exacerbated by high levels of youth unemployment along with insufficient access to education and economic opportunities, inadequate social services, family disintegration and inter-familial violence, and overwhelmed and ineffective justice systems.
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Last Updated on 2011-02-24 09:02:56