Youth and Violence in Latin America. A priority for public policy and an opportunity for the implementation of integrated and comprehensive approaches

Abstract

Seen from the logic of studies on youth, this text reviews the different dominant expressions in the current Latin American scenario regarding the complex link existing between young people and violence. Assuming that youth is the epicenter of almost all the existing violent episodes (both as victims and victimizers) some simplistic explanations that establish mechanical relationships between violence and poverty are discarded and the need is assumed to find more pertinent and timely answers from public policies, overcoming the purely repressive approaches in force, and incorporating promotional ones —both comprehensive and integrated— that can attack the roots of the phenomenon. In this sense, some recent innovative experiences are explored which, though not free from error and limitations, can provide relevant lessons.