Assessing the Impact of Mano Dura Policies on Democracy in Latin America

October 23, 2024 • 11:00 am – 12:00 pm EDT

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Join the Americas Program for a conversation on the effects of mano dura policies on democracy in Latin America. 

Latin America has witnessed some of the highest homicide rates in the world, driven in large measure by gang violence and transnational criminal groups. Throughout the Hemisphere, there have been different approaches to counter crime, most popular and corrosive of all have hardline policies—the famed mano dura approach. While sometimes successful in the short term, evidence suggests that in the long term, mano dura has had negative effects on democracy, ultimately weakening the rule of law and reducing civil liberties. Effectively assessing these policies can enable governments to develop alternative counter crime strategies, while ensuring transparency, strengthening the rule of law, and building human rights-focused law-enforcement capacity. This event will be hosted in partnership with the USAID-funded LACLEARN initiative. 

*This event will be held in Spanish. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided.*

This event was made possible by the generous support of the United States Agency for International Development.

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USAID

Hosted By

Contact Information

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Mileydi Guilarte

Mileydi Guilarte

Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, USAID
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Lucia Dammert

Lucia Dammert

Professor, Universidad de Santiago de Chile
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Wim Savenije

Wim Savenije

Professor and Senior Researcher, Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas
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Photo: MARVIN RECINOS/AFP/Getty Images

Photo: MARVIN RECINOS/AFP/Getty Images

Democracy Dies under Mano Dura: Anti-crime Strategies in the Northern Triangle

CSIS Americas deputy director and senior fellow Christopher Hernandez-Roy and Rubi Bledsoe examine the effects of mano dura (zero tolerance) in the Northern Triangle. They also outline recommendations to counter crime and support democracy and rule of law in the region.

Report by Christopher Hernandez-Roy and Rubi Bledsoe — April 12, 2023