The first chapter of the Action Plan signed by Central American presidents is called “Democratic Security” and foresees meetings among all the sectors related to security and defense in the region for the second half of 2010, as well as obtaining the necessary human, financial and technological resources to develop a security strategy in Central America.

Such plan also includes speeding up the approval of the Central American Agreement for the protection of witnesses, victims and experts, as well as simplified extradition processes.

Source: Central American Integration System

More on this topic

Businesses say NO to Security Tax

July 2011

Governments should control tax evasion, expand the tax base and combat corruption, increasing revenue to finance the fight against insecurity.

A statement by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Central America (FECAMCO) reads:

THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING AND SOCIAL VIOLENCE DOES NOT SOLEY DEPEND ON MORE TAXES

Escalation of Drug Trafficking in Central America

March 2011

The lack of government capacity and economic power disadvantage compared to the drug industry, has lead to an increase in violence and corruption.

"Using systematic violence and corruption, intimidation and extortion of public officials, the wealthy and powerful criminal groups have been able to weaken police and judicial systems.

International Response To Gang Violence

September 2010

New regulations in El Salvador to tackle gang violence foster the development of regional measures to control and proscribe local gangs.

In order to prevent gang members from fleeing the country to avoid jail, especially to Guatemala and Honduras, these countries has activated extra security measures at their borders.

Insecurity and violence in Central America

October 2009

Cvil insecurity is a big challenge to human development in Central America, but this challenge comes with a solution.

No strong-arm tactics, but no soft touch either. Remedies for the heightened levels of insecurity in the region involve the application of "smart authority" within the context of respect for democracy and adherence to the rule of law, according to the Report on Human Development in Central America 2009-2010, Opening spaces for citizen security and human development. The release of the report was presided over by Mauricio Funes, the president of El Salvador, together with Rebeca Grynspan, Director of UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean; Jessica Faieta, the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Resident Representative of UNDP for El Salvador; Juan Daniel Alemán, the Secretary General of the Central American Integration System (CAIS); and Hernando Gómez Buendía, the general coordinator of the Report.