Citizen Security

GOALS

USAID collaborates with the national and local government, private sector, and civil society organizations to create safe neighborhoods and improve services for at-risk populations including youth and women. Programs provide job training, counseling, community service, and recreational activities for youth, and USAID works with municipalities, community organizations, and private businesses to create safe, public spaces, such as parks and other areas.

To protect vulnerable populations and victims, USAID increases access to services for victims, particularly for victims of gender-based violence, and promotes gender-based violence prevention and human rights protection. Programs also provide support to the national child protection system to improve care for vulnerable children through professional development programs for early childhood development staff and caregivers from across the country. USAID also works with youth, who have been in conflict with the law, to reintegrate into their communities and reduce recidivism.

KEY -OR- ANTICIPATED RESULTS

• Improve public perception of security by 20 percent
• Homicide rates in targeted areas decrease to 15/100,000
• Reduce gender-based violence impunity rates to 35 percent

CITIZEN SECURITY ACTIVITIES

Communities in Action ($43 million) --Works with municipalities, community organizations, and private businesses to create safe communities and public spaces. Provides activities and services for vulnerable youth, including after school programs, counseling, and vocational training.

New Path for Social Reintegration ($4.7 million) --Helps reduce criminal recidivism rate in youth through rehabilitation and reinsertion programs, including educational and vocational training.

Protection and Quality of Care for Children Project ($4.9 million) --Works with the national child protection system to address the rights and needs of El Salvador’s most vulnerable children and to improve the quality of care for all children.

Rights and Dignity ($25 million) – Strengthens human rights advocacy and monitoring to prevent discrimination and exclusion of vulnerable groups and improve their access to services.

NIDO: Building Safe Communities ($10 million USAID; $10 million private sector)—The NIDO project is a USAID alliance with Glasswing International to improve citizen security. Activities include job training and entrepreneurship programs for out-of-school youth and after-school programs.

LibrES: Por un El Salvador sin Violencia de Género (Gender-Based Violence Prevention) ($35 million)--Through the LibrES project, USAID promotes gender-based violence prevention, victims’ assistance, and judicial accountability for perpetrators.

USAID Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) Central America Regional Initiative (CARI) ($20 million)--The initiative works in San Salvador, Santa Ana and San Miguel to address community priorities and promote citizen participation and coexistence. It also works on social behavior change to sensitize male passengers and bus drivers about gender-based violence in public transportation.