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The Role of Government in Institutionalizing Democratic Governance
Some interesting examples and best practices in citizen participation
and public-private collaboration can be found in the field of public
safety or citizen security, for example. As data from the region
demonstrates, public safety is a growing concern among citizens, more
so than any other issue, a reason why it appears worthwhile to expound
on this theme. Using IRI’s polling data as a reference, countries such
as Honduras, Venezuela, Guatemala and selected Mexican states reveal
that more than 50 percent of citizens describe their environments as
unsafe or very unsafe. In Caracas, the data is more worrisome as more
than nine out of 10 citizens characterize their city as being dangerous.
Interestingly, though perhaps not surprising, survey after survey
conducted across countries demonstrates that 75 percent of crime
victims do not report those crimes. Of those who do report crimes,
less than 25 percent of citizens have ever had their cases addressed or
solved by the relevant authorities.
When citizens are asked what they would like to see done to reduce
crime and increase security, the common and not unexpected response
is to add more police. However, other common responses are to add
more jobs and more opportunities for youth. These responses are
notable given the popular perception that the public defaults in favor
of
mano dura
(strong hand) policies and heavy police action. What the
data points to, however, is that citizens are also asking for social-based
answers to their community’s crime and insecurity problems.
It has been IRI’s experience that this data is often a revelation to elected
and other government officials. Time after time, while a mayor or
city councilmember understands the threat that youth gangs pose in
their municipality, these same officials may not be aware of other issues
contributing to citizen insecurity. These other factors include things
like the lack of street lighting or the absence of community anti-crime
watch groups. This gap in awareness is what IRI addresses in its initial
programming. Whether at the local or national level, the Institute
exposes officials to data on public expectations and opinion and then
helps create institutional mechanisms that can bring government closer
to citizens. Through these direct engagements, government is able to
