Violence, a growing problem for public health

Washington, DC, September 12, 2002 (PAHO) -- It assumes different forms. It's associated with cultural patterns. It is often disguised as private, and sometimes even taught as a value. The subject is violence.

Every year more than two million people die violently and many more remain disabled for the rest of their lives. Interpersonal violence is the third cause of death among people between 15 and 44 years old, with suicide being the fourth and war the sixth.

Around 300,000 people, the majority of them young men, die every year in the Americas in homicides, suicides and traffic accidents. Studies show that every year between 30 and 60 percent of women in the region suffer physical violence from their partners. Violence against children is prevalent, while juvenile gangs have become a serious social problem in many countries of the region, according to PAHO.

Because of the number of victims and the effects it produces, violence has become endemic and has been converted into a serious health problem in several countries, says PAHO. In addition to the direct effects of wounds and death, violence carries with it a huge number of related health problems: serious repercussions on mental health, sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies, and behavioral problems such as sleep or appetite disorders.

Although statistics seem to leave little hope, PAHO is working on prevention as a means to stop violence in the Americas, with a comprehensive approach that includes all sectors of society. In June 2000 an important step was taken with the creation of the Inter-American Coalition for the Prevention of Violence, made up of PAHO, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), UNESCO, the Organization of American States (OAS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Bank.

Dr. George Alleyne, Director of PAHO, said that the Organization has demonstrated that women and children bear the brunt of domestic violence and many young men die in violent disputes. "Violence is a learned behavior, but it can be unlearned" through health and educational approaches, he said.

The actions of the Coalition concentrate on sensitizing social sectors, national and community leaders, and communications media. It gathers reliable information on violence and is creating a database with the most successful strategies in violence prevention and the lessons that have been learned.

In a declaration, the Coalition noted: "We are convinced that violence can be prevented. This has been demonstrated by many examples and experiences. We know that prevention requires a multisectoral approach that responds to the multiple causes that generate violence."

The work of the coalition, and of PAHO in particular, focuses on a change in perspective, modifying traditional concepts of the fight against crime based only on control and repression to promote more emphasis on prevention.

The Coalition's work aims to support government, civil society, and private sector initiatives in violence prevention and reconstruction of social capital. By mobilizing resources and creating alliances, the Coalition seeks to promote policies that improve the safety and well-being of people in the countries.

PAHO, which also serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization, was established in 1902. PAHO is celebrating 100 years of work with all the countries of the Americas to improve the health and raise the living standards of their peoples.

Related Information:
PAHO BOOKS:
Violence in the Americas : The Social Pandemic of the Twentieth Century
Domestic Violence : Women's Way Out
Violence Publication Set