The “Crime and Violence Prevention” initiative in Ecuador is designed to foster crime and violence prevention strategies, alongside community policing methods. This initiative is a collaborative effort between the National Police of Ecuador, local government entities, community organizations, and the public.
In 2023, the initiative saw the creation of a comprehensive toolbox, comprising five guides aimed at supporting community police units across targeted areas. The Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) played a key role, assisting in the implementation of these guides’ methodologies and providing training to police personnel. This training was geared towards ensuring effective community engagement, with a particular focus on vulnerable and priority groups.
The toolbox includes the following guides:
This guide is dedicated to fostering inclusive environments that support social integration for children, adolescents, and other priority demographics, including the elderly, individuals with visual or hearing impairments, and the LGBTIQ+ community. It emphasizes the importance of engaging these groups through interactive and inclusive activities that cover topics like gender, human rights, and intersectionality. The aim is to bolster the relationship between the community and the National Police, transforming them into proactive participants in the creation of secure, inclusive environments free from violence and discrimination.
This document outlines strategies to ensure the safety and well-being of indigenous, Afro-Ecuadorian, and Montubio communities. It delves into the varied socio-economic and political landscapes of these groups, guiding the Police to tailor their interventions to each community’s unique context. The guide encourages actions that respect and uphold the rights of all citizens, promoting an efficient and context-sensitive approach to community policing.
This guide offers insights into various community engagement strategies, emphasizing a human rights-based approach to interacting with priority groups. It aims to dismantle stereotypes and preconceptions about different social segments, fostering a more inclusive and understanding relationship between the police and the communities they serve.
Focusing on creating safer community environments, this guide addresses challenges such as social disorder, interpersonal violence, and substance abuse. It advocates for a collaborative approach between the community and police, facilitating open communication channels that lead to effective crime and violence prevention strategies. The methodology encourages mutual understanding and cooperation, aiming to build a solid foundation for addressing security and coexistence issues.
This model introduces a participatory approach to assessing community perceptions of safety and security. It enables both community police and residents to share their views and experiences, leveraging a holistic perspective that incorporates gender, interculturality, and human rights considerations. This tool is designed to facilitate an initial strategic evaluation of community security perceptions, encouraging active participation and dialogue between the police and the community.
Marcela Bueno
Directora de PADF en Ecuador
Correo: comunicacionecuador@padf.org
