Youths to present anti-violence plan to Central American governments

Twenty youths headed for San Salvador on November twenty-eighth to participate in an anti-violence forum at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. One hundred and forty youths represented seven countries in the First Central American Youth Against Violence Forum.  The Belize delegation has returned after listening to regional experts share their views on public policy and violence prevention programs. Andrea Enriquez, the Communications Officer for the Youth Against Violence movement, told News Five that Central American leaders will get to view their position within the next two weeks.

Andrea Enriquez, Communications Officer, YAV

“The goal was for all regional countries was to take one policy and to unify it. And to create one policy and that policy would be the policy that we would use for crime and violence regionally.  And that policy we will then take and submit to our presidents and  Prime Ministers  in Managua this coming month. And  it includes strategies, to prevent crime and violence. And when we went to the forum it  gave us insights on how to create proposals, how to monitor and evaluate programs, that we are going to incorporate later this year and the year to come.”

Andrea Enriquez

Jose Sanchez

“The youth have fresh eyes. What ideas were there that we may not have heard of by the adults?”

Andrea Enriquez

“Well the ideas weren’t new; it’s how they were presented. Everybody knows what is crime and violence and we all have more or less strategic ways how to go about doing it. Our organization basically unifies everything.  Whatever each organization is doing we will put together and we will make one in order to address crime and violence.”

Jose Sanchez

“When would this final paper be put together for presentation to our government?”

Andrea Enriquez

“Well the presentation will be made in Managua in December 13 or 14 thereabout and the presentations will be made to our  Prime Minister and our Ministers there and then.”

Jose Sanchez

“That will be at a SICA Meeting?”

Andrea Enriquez

“At a SICA meeting; SICA/USAID meeting.”