| CARICOM Presents National Crime Prevention Plan to the Region |
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CARICOM Headquarters, Georgetown, Guyana |
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Oct. 23 -- According to news released on Friday (Oct. 21), the CARICOM Secretariat is scheduled to present Phase Two of its Social Development and Crime Prevention Action Plan in four Member States, including St. Kitts and Nevis.
The Secretariat, with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), has organized a series of consultations and training interventions. The other participating States are: Belize, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago.
A crime-focused consultation and sensitization intervention already took place in Guyana during the first week of October,
The news release states, in part:"Phase Two of the Action Plan focuses, among other issues, on youth gangs and gang violence and is aimed at strengthening the capacity of youth and community members to design and implement programs to address gang formation and gang violence among and against youths. In addition, the project aims to increase livelihood opportunities and employability for economically and socially marginalized youth.”
The next intervention, to be held over four days, is slated for Belize on October 25 - 28 at the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centre, Freetown Road. The event will include 50 stakeholders, representing Faith Based Organizations, government ministries and agencies, the private sector and community rehabilitation personnel.
Five primary objectives are targeted:
(1) Present the gang prevention and youth and community development project to be piloted in the selected Member States;
(2) Identify pilot communities and a mechanism for the implementation of Phase II of the project in the communities;
(3) Identify a team to undertake a mapping of the selected communities;
(4) Identify immediate training needs in the areas of gang formation and violence prevention;
(5) Identify schools/ communities for intense prevention education programme
The local media, as well as the Commissioner of Police and other security personnel, will also participate in the Belize consultation.
The foundation for the Action Plan was established during the 12th Special Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) in March 2008, which mandated the CARICOM Secretariat to collaborate with international organizations and Third States in developing a regional crime prevention initiative to complement existent national efforts. The mandate was endorsed by the CARICOM Heads of Government at their Twentieth Inter-Sessional Meeting in March 2009.
The Action Plan was developed by CARICOM and the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to “prevent and reduce levels of violence and crime in Member States, through a cross-sectoral and multi-disciplinary approach.” |
