- 2 -

PERMANENT COUNCIL OF THE OEA/Ser.G

ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES CP/CSH/SA-128/08 corr.1

27 February 2008

COMMITTEE ON HEMISPHERIC SECURITY Original: English

Summary of the meeting held on January 17, 2008

1.  Introduction by the Chair of the Committee on Hemispheric Security

The meeting was chaired by Ambassador Graeme Clark, Permanent Representative of Canada to the OAS, and Vice-Chair of the Committee on Hemispheric Security.

The Chair, in his introductory remarks, welcomed delegates to the Special Meeting on the Phenomenon of Criminal Gangs and highlighted that the General Assembly of the OAS, recognizing the complexity and gravity of the problem, instructed the Committee on Hemispheric Security through resolution AG/RES. 2299, to hold a special meeting devoted to analyzing the phenomenon of criminal gangs in their diverse forms and specific manifestations, using a crosscutting and integral approach.

The Chair underscored the problem and threat that constitute the presence of gangs to the security in many member states. The Chair also reminded the attendees that this was not the first time this organization has met to address this topic. The Chair made reference to the Special Committee on Transnational Organized Crime, which met in November 2005 to address specifically the issue of Transnational Criminal Gangs. At that time, that Committee recognized the connection between criminal gangs and transnational organized crime, and emphasized the need to address criminal gangs as a specific topic. The Chair pointed out that since then there have been changes within the General Secretariat of the Organization to respond to this request – namely the creation of the Department of Public Security as well as the establishment of a contact group made up of Member States that are concerned or particularly affected by the phenomenon of criminal gangs, in fulfillment of resolution AG/RES. 2299.

2.  Presentation on gangs by the Department of Public Security of the Secretariat for Multidimensional Security

The Chair offered the floor to Mr. Christopher Hernandez-Roy, Director of the Department of Public Security of the Secretariat for Multidimensional Security. Mr. Hernandez-Roy made reference to the meeting of the Special Committee on Transnational Organized Crime held in November 2005, where the issue of gangs was addressed. Mr. Hernandez-Roy mentioned some of the proposals that were presented at this meeting for the hemispheric plan of action against transnational organized crime – to include the deportation issue in any discussion about gangs given that it is a major factor in this context; to strengthen government policies in each member state affected by the gang phenomenon, look for similarities, and devise genuinely regional strategies; to maintain or establish regional policies that enable governments to analyze and propose strategies in this field; and to develop an experience-sharing program among the competent authorities in each country.

Mr. Hernandez-Roy highlighted some of the actions taken by the General Secretariat in this area, and stressed the need to address this issue in an integral manner. Mr. Hernandez-Roy reminded the delegations that the Department of Public Security is at the disposition of the Committee and of the contact group in all matters regarding this topic.

Mr. Hernandez-Roy gave the floor to Mr. Julio Rosenblatt, Chief of the Public Policies Section of the Department of Public Security. Mr. Rosenblatt explained that the study being presented on the definition and classification of gangs was carried out by 7 consultants and that the intention is to expand to other countries in the Hemisphere. The purpose of this regional-wide study is to better understand the problem of gangs, and thus be able to design intervention strategies in Member States. Mr. Rosenblatt underscored that in the past years the problem of gangs has sharply grown both in numbers and intensity. The presentation by Mr. Rosenblatt on the study carried out by this Department on the definition and categorization of gangs has been distributed as document CP/CSH/INF.148/08.

The Delegation of Bolivia raised the topic of migrants in the United States and that some studies show that the migrant population mostly follow the law, and are rarely known as a population committing crimes. To this end, the delegate pointed out that the study presented by Mr. Rosenblatt shows a different perspective, and suggests that there is an increasing number of gangs of Latin American origin that are committing crimes. The delegate also made reference to the linkage between gangs and organized crime.

Mr. Christopher Hernandez-Roy clarified that gangs cannot be automatically categorized as organized crime, indicated that there is a wide range of activities that these groups undertake, and that most of these activities are not involved in organized crime. Mr. Hernandez-Roy noted that, in most cases, the leaders of the gangs are involved in organized crime, or are used by organized crime organizations.

Mr. Rosenblatt clarified that the existence of gangs composed by Latin Americans is a fact, and that there are experiences of recovering gang members. Mr. Rosenblatt pointed out that the Department of Public Security is in contact with organizations that work for the recovery of gang members in Virginia. In addition, Mr. Rosenblatt noted that there are a number of gangs in the United States that are not of Latin American origin (Russian, Polish, among others).

The Delegate of El Salvador requested to the Department of Public Security that the study be made available to Member States.

3.  Presentation by Alberto Concha-Eastman, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)

Dr. Alberto Concha-Eastman, MD, MSc in Epidemiology is currently the PAHO/WHO Regional Advisor on Violence and Injury Prevention in Washington, DC. The presentation delivered by Dr. Concha-Eastman on the public health aspects of gangs was distributed as document CP/CSH/INF.150/08.

Dr. Concha-Eastman pointed out that the problem was not exclusively in Central America or in some cities of the United States, but there are also manifestations of this problem in countries like Costa Rica and Chile, which are countries that have a tradition of being peaceful.

The delegate of Guatemala highlighted prevention as a focus given by PAHO on the topic of gangs, but noted that the law enforcement aspect should not be considered as repression. The delegate stated that it is important to understand that the states have the responsibility of providing security to its citizens and enforcing the law.

4.  Presentation by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR)

The statement by Ms. Debora Benchoam, on behalf of Mr. Santiago Cantón, Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, has been distributed as document CP/CSH/INF. 156/08.

5.  Presentation by the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development on the results of the seminar “Art and Culture as a Strategy for Preventing Social Violence” (El Salvador – February 26-28, 2007)

The statement by Ms. Lenore García, Director of the Department of Education and Culture of the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development, has been distributed as document CP/CSH/INF. 149/08.

The Permanent Representative of Panama was pleased to see that culture was being used as a means to prevent the existence of criminal gangs, however he manifested his concern in that the education systems of most member states are focused on educating the youth to be able to attend a University for traditional careers even though a lot of these young people might not have the means for attending a University. The Permanent Representative questioned if it was not worthy to aim at reorienting the education systems of our member states so that there is a focus on technical jobs, thus facilitating their access to jobs.

Ms. García noted that this is a very complex phenomenon and that the reform of the education systems also required very complex measures, and stated that one of the principal flaws of the education systems of our member states is the inequality between some people that have access to acquiring academic competencies that enable them to have access to higher education, and others that fall behind on this. Ms. García pointed out that education systems should offer the basic competencies so that the youth can follow careers and jobs without the need for higher-level education.

The Permanent Representative of El Salvador highlighted the investment made by El Salvador in the area of security, and thanked the reference previously made to the fact that this problem is not merely a problem of Central America. The Permanent Representative also noted the importance of the intervention made by the representative of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and the reference made to the study being carried out by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on the matter.

The delegate of El Salvador highlighted the role of the General Secretariat to articulate the actions that are needed to confront the problem, and the need for the Secretariat to articulate and address prevention, treatment, and law enforcement to better address the problem.

6.  Presentation by Oscar Bonilla, President of the National Council of Public Security of El Salvador, Central American Integration System (SICA) on law enforcement

The presentation by Oscar Bonilla, President of the National Council of Public Security of El Salvador, on behalf of the Central American Integration System (SICA) on the law enforcement aspects of the phenomenon has been distributed as document CP/CSH/INF.151/08.

The Permanent Representative of Colombia noted that the gang problem is an important and evolving problem, and that it tends to become more complicated with the evolution of crime in the hemisphere. The representative noted the drug trafficking through land or sea creates the need for trafficking routes in Central America and the Caribbean, and consequently creates an institutional problem in the region, in addition to the problem of gangs. The existence of emerging organizations, in some cases without any criminal activities, is aggravated with the involvement of trafficking and money, leading to criminal gangs involved in illicit activities and organized crime.

The Permanent Representative of Colombia pointed out that the response to this problem needs to be a firm institutional and integral policy, starting with integral social actions to keep the youth away from crime, and in which the law enforcement (police and judges) are the final part of such policy. The delegate also made reference to the concept of shared responsibility in this problem, noting the importance of all countries recognizing the responsibility that each has in this problem and takes measures to address it.

The Permanent Representative of Honduras noted that this is an epidemic phenomenon of which the countries of the Hemisphere need to be aware of, and pointed out the need for both integral preventive actions, as well as firm law enforcement actions.

The delegate of the United States made reference to the outstanding programs in El Salvador, and asked Dr. Bonilla to briefly outline one of the programs on gang prevention in El Salvador. The delegate also recalled that in the spring of 2007 the Committee had a chance to listen to a former gang member who had been rehabilitated and trained in a program in Guatemala, and had been subsequently killed because he had left the gang he belonged to. The delegate of the United States noted the enormous challenge that the Hemisphere faces with this phenomenon.

Dr. Bonilla noted that prevention is the main focus of the government of El Salvador and seeks to match protective factors to risk factors that are present in our countries to prevent the existence of gangs. The government’s prevention programs seek that citizens react and feel the need to modify the community. Based on this public policy, the citizens have the necessary tools to be able to identify the areas of risk, and thus be able to recognize the specific problems in each neighborhood. The state intervenes with integral actions (involving education, health, culture, law enforcement, public works, housing, etc.) to be able to modify all the risk factors that lead the youth to criminal activities. The program is also based on the participation of women, noting the important role that women play in the integration of families.

7.  Comments by member states on their vision and experience regarding the phenomenon of gangs, including comments on those topics mentioned in the Letter from the Chairman of the Committee on Hemispheric Security.

The statements made by member states on their vision and experience regarding the phenomenon of gangs, has been distributed as document CP/CSH-957/08. This document includes interventions by The Bahamas, Canada, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, and the United States.

The delegations of Venezuela, El Salvador, Brazil, Guatemala, Chile, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Costa Rica, Grenada, and Haiti also presented their current situation of the gang problem, and their vision and experience regarding this phenomenon. Delegations emphasized the importance of prevention (primary, secondary, and tertiary), as well as the importance of treatment and rehabilitation. In addition delegations highlighted the important role that law enforcement plays.

Delegations pointed out the need for inter-institutional and hemispheric coordination, as well as the multidimensional approach that needs to be given to this problem. Delegations finally noted the need for creating a mechanism for exchange of information and best practices in the topic, as well as the pivotal role the OAS and the Committee (and the contact group on gangs) play in the follow-up of this meeting and the future actions to take.

8.  Discussion of next steps for the development of a regional strategy on gangs

Given the extensive discussion that was held in the previous agenda item, and noting that delegations integrated this agenda item with the comments by member states on their vision and experience regarding the phenomenon of gangs, this agenda item was not addressed at this meeting.

9.  Other business

The delegate of El Salvador noted the importance of this meeting, and interest of all delegations in this topic. The delegate pointed out that of the most important conclusion from this meeting is that the OAS continues to work with Member States in this topic, especially as it regards the consolidation of best practices in this area.

The delegate of Guatemala echoed the comments made by the delegate of El Salvador, and suggested that a methodology of work should be proposed to facilitate the exchange of experiences. Finally, the delegate noted the topic of today’s session should not be confused with the topic of organized crime, even though there is no doubt that there are existing links between the two problems.