Violence takes toll on Latin American youth - 06 Dec 08

Latin America is becoming one of the deadliest places in the world.

That's according to a new study looking at violence in the region. El Salvador, Venezuela, Guatemala, and Brazil have some of the highest murder rates, especially among young people.

Al Jazeera's Lucia Newman reports from Buenos Aires, where she takes a look at some of the reasons behind the alarming statistics.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• violent
• crime
• aljazeera
• latin
• america
• lucia
• newman

[MelchBurg]

This has little to do with inequality, and should be blamed on a lack of proper public safety policies. That Argentine politician sings the old tune of blaming inequality, which is easy for politicians to do, because inequality cannot be fixed in the short term.

[Frogstomp121]

Then the Monroe Doctrine should be abolished. Written by, for, and enforced by the U.S., it gives itself legal right to control the Latin American continent from everyone else. This includes overthrowing leftist leaders through coups and putting guys in office who they know will be safe for their oversea investments.

The Monroe Doctrine is the first thing that needs to go.

[toQui1983]

you comment on latin americans being thieves? lol

first the natives where robbed by the spaniards of their gold and wealth.

now america/spain own most businesses in the continent, pay workers nothing, take all the natural wealth abroad and pay the dirty politicians bribes to be allowed to rape their own countries. this makes a few well connected people rich and leaves the rest to fight for the scraps. sad world. God save us

[MondoBeno]

Latin America's violence has been going on for over 200 years. When the Spanish Conquistadores arrived, they brought Spain's bad habits: -Aversion to work -Dislike for entrepreneurs -Dislike for education -Combativeness -Settling all disputes by fighting -Putting no value in a man's life -Treating women like property -Emphasis on owning land and forcing peasants to do the labor Latin America has a long history of armed gangs extorting things from people.

[YouSmellLikeACat]

Society needs to stop ignoring these statistics. It's neither racist nor is it ignorant to point these facts out.

[mexiquein]

im sorry you re being ignorant and narrow minded... what do you think? that all latins do these things? its just a video that shows a very small part of what latin america is.. so shut up and grow up.

[mexiquein]

haha not in Argentina! see how many poors there are and how many rich people... in Argentina you have to fool the masses and thats all... see what Cristina Kirchner has done to the farmers.. she didnt care losing their vote (and she lost them for sure)

[mexiquein]

you are totally right.. im from Argentina and i tell you its a sad cycle: the majority of the population is ignorant so they keep voting bad intentioned presidents.. these presidents want to keep them ignorant in order to keep receiving votes... they give them 50 pesos or a new bike or even a hotdog and the'll vote them... SAD (ex: Peron and the magnificent presidencial couple: the Kirchners!)

[mexiquein]

im from Buenos Aires and a man died like that... after that all bridges were secured with bars

sorry for my english, bye.

[AburraHeat]

I think the reporter will find most youth murders in Colombia occur in the cities - not the countryside.

An irritating yet common misconception.