The Regional Leaders Symposium hosted in Trinidad on crime and violence as a public health issue has ended with agreement to strengthen the development of security as a fourth pillar of the Community, so that collectively it can better address extra-territorial threats.
There’s the recommendation of strengthening the capacity of the Community’s Security and Justice agencies to adopt and implement a public health approach.
The Leaders arrived at consensus to undertake a comprehensive overhaul of the criminal justice system to address criminal terrorists with a focus on proactive management of prosecutions, sentencing and the diversion of young people at risk.
This, as well as strengthening regional forensic capabilities and collaboration among national forensic agencies with a view to improving the quality of evidence and speed-up the conduct of trials.
The meeting stipulated the need for public awareness and education campaigns so as to reduce harmful beliefs, attitudes and behaviours that contribute to crime and violence.
Work with all sectors and institutions to improve the equitable access to services and options for rehabilitation and reintegration into society, psychosocial support and parental education, addressing domestic violence, and integrating mental issues to treat with crime and violence is also seen as being necessary.
And, among other things, the symposium declared there’s a need to develop and implement targeted programmes and strategies to address young vulnerable individuals at risk of becoming perpetrators and victims of crime.
It was decided that an eminent person be appointed to lead and advise Heads of Government and the CARICOM Secretariat on further strategies and reforms, and on effectively operationalizing decisions taken.
