USAID & World Bank Make Youth Critical Focus of Violence Prevention Conference

Launch of Inter-American Municipal Forum will create network of cities across Americas

For Immediate Release

Monday, November 3, 2014
USAID Press Office
Telephone: +1.202.712.4320 | Email: USAIDPressOfficers@usaid.gov | Twitter: @USAIDPress

WASHINGTON, D.C. – To combat youth violence, gangs, and some of the highest murder rates in the world, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the World Bank, and the Government of Guatemala will bring together public, private, and civil society leaders from across the Americas to examine crime and violence prevention approaches. The conference, held in Guatemala on November 5-6, will explore and debate key prevention efforts, including community-based models; youth in conflict with the law; and the reintegration of former gang members into society.

The conference will also launch the Inter-American Municipal Forum on Violence Prevention – a network between U.S., Latin American, and Caribbean cities to strengthen municipal violence prevention plans and learn from past experiences.

WHAT: Together for Action: Partnerships for Youth Crime and Violence Prevention in the Americas
WHO:

Hosted by USAID, the World Bank, and the Government of Guatemala
WHEN:  

Wednesday, November 5 – Thursday, November 6
9 a.m. – 6 p.m. each day
WHERE:  

Casa Santo Domingo
3a Calle Oriente No. 28 A, Antigua, Guatemala

EVENT DETAILS: All sessions will be streamed live. Please view the agenda for information on panels and speakers.

To follow the conference: http://ow.ly/Dx8U9

To join the conversation: #JovenesSinViolencia

Opening remarks will be on November 5, 9-10:30 a.m. CST

  • President Otto Pérez Molina of the Republic of Guatemala
  • Todd Robinson, U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala
  • Jorge Familiar, Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean, World Bank
  • Mark Feierstein, Associate Administrator, United States Agency for International Development

A press conference will immediately follow the opening session.

A Google Hang-out themed “Can Youth stop Youth Violence in Latin America?” is set for November 5, 12-12:45 p.m. CST.

RSVP: Press credentials will be required at check-in. To register, click here. 

Contacts:

In Washington:

In Guatemala:

USAID released an impact evaluation last week that shows how the Agency’s community-based crime and violence prevention programs in Central America are helping residents feel safer, perceive less crime and murders, and express greater trust in police.  Learn more about it here.