Project seeks to prevent crime and violence by strengthening security forces and including citizens and communities in the decision making. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a $25 million loan to help the Argentine province of Buenos Aires reduce levels of crime, violence and insecurity over the next five years.
The program seeks to achieve this by strengthening the police emergency response system of the province’s Ministry of Security. It also proposes to expand community participation mechanisms such as the existing “neighborhood security forums” where citizens are included in the decision making. The program includes introducing violence prevention programs.
Similar multidimensional programs for the prevention of crime and violence have been successfully implemented in Colombia, Jamaica and Uruguay, with the IDB participating as financial partner.
Crimes against persons (injury and others) almost doubled nationwide in seven years—in 2000 there were 39 such offenses per 10,000 inhabitants, and in 2006 that rate increased to 68. In the province of Buenos Aires, the rate stood at 77 offenses per 10,000 inhabitants. According to a survey conducted in 2008, more than 80 percent of the population perceived insecurity as their main cause for concern by 2007, ahead of unemployment and inflation. In 2000, only 42 percent thought that way.
In 2008, the crime rate in the province was of 1,843 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Among other results, the program’s target is to reduce this figure by over 10 percent in five years, reaching 1,671 cases by 2013. The community perception of insecurity is expected to drop from 88 percent in 2008 to 72 percent by 2013.
The program has a total cost of $36.6 million and the IDB becomes its financial partner with a $25 million contribution. The remaining $11.6 million will come from local funds.
The $25 million loan will be disbursed in trenches during the five years of execution of the program. It was approved with a 25-year amortization period, five years of grace and a Libor-based interest rate.
