One Out of 50 Youths in Central America Predicted to be a Homicide Victim

One Out of 50 Youths in Central America Predicted to be a Homicide Victim

El Periodico USA reports that one out of 50 young adults under 20 years of age in Central America will be assassinated because of organized crime activities, particularly that of narco-trafficking. The Central America region has the highest homicide rate in the world at approximately 400 times the rate of countries with lower homicide statistics. According to the United Nations, Guatemala has a rate of 39 homicides per 100,000 people. El Salvador is higher at 72, and Honduras is even higher at 86. Together, these countries have a homicide rate 10 times higher than the world average. Organized crime and narco-trafficking have destabilized society, adding fear, panic, and the worry of other less lethal forms of violence, such as kidnapping, to the stress levels of many residents. The United Nations recommends that Central American governments concentrate on reducing corruption and money laundering, which fuel instability and crime. Read Article