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Gangs, Central America

Abstract:

The Central American so-called ‘Northern Triangle’ (El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras) is well-known for the widespread presence of gangs (mainly the two rivaling gangs Mara Salvatrucha 13 and Barrio 18). But gangs are also operating in other parts of Latin America, and beyond. Over the past decades, repressive as well as preventive measures were taken to diminish gang violence, with little positive outcomes as a consequence. In El Salvador, for example, after the repressive hard hand laws (Mano Dura and Super Mano Dura), a truce was intended in 2012. Although homicides dropped enormously in the first year, extortions and other types of crime did not, the disappearances raised, and finally after a year or so the homicide rate went back to the same level as before the start of the truce. In Honduras, where the homicide rate has always been at the highest level in the region (and the world when war zones are not taken into account), detained gang members have to live in deteriorated circumstances whereby mutual gang fights in prison are common, and the government is desperately seeking for a way out of this crisis. In Nicaragua, on the other hand, officials deny the presence of gangs and claim they successfully dealt with that problem a couple of years ago, now living in a peaceful country free from gang violence. What can we learn from these and other cases, and how can we move forward? In this roundtable session we intend to openly discuss and reflect upon the situation of gangs in Central and Latin America, the lessons learned, and the possible future of gangs and gang research in the region.