Representatives of national, regional and international organizations have come together here today to discuss an issue of great importance for achieving Peace and Security in our region – investing in our youth. Over the course of the day we have shared valuable information on different initiatives and approaches for developing the young citizens of our region and preventing their participation in criminal activities.

The types of violence oftentimes associated with youth and their connections to gangs, drug trafficking, street-level drug dealing, human trafficking, theft, extortion, kidnapping, and other offenses suggest that this topic needs to be addressed in a crosscutting, multisectoral, and comprehensive fashion.

Policy and programmatic responses need to extend across a wide range of professional disciplines, including community policing, public health, education, skills training, and rehabilitation and reintegration in the society.

By participating in this meeting today, you have demonstrated your interest in and commitment to ensuring the well-being of, not only our youth, but all the citizens of this hemisphere. After this enriching debate it is clear that we need to work together to face existing obstacles, identify a common agenda and reach our mutual goal of making our youth a priority in order to ensure security in this region.

Each sector has an important role to play and we must recognize the individual and collective strengths of our organizations to prevent and mitigate this serious problem.

Development agencies and international organizations can work with other partners to design effective public policies and strategies that promote interaction with the children and youth of our communities, and positively influence them over the course of their lives. Our challenge is to view these issues through the lens of youth in order to better focus our efforts and implement preventive approaches that take into account the multidimensional roots of violence. Special attention must be given to engaging young people at the community and local levels, which will provide an effective platform for their contribution to regional security.

The role of the private sector in this regard is undeniable. With the rising tide of crime and violence and the challenges of the public sector to respond, a private security industry has emerged to fill the void. While regulation, oversight and evaluation are the sole responsibility of the State, public-private synergy should be welcomed, facilitated and reinforced, if only to minimize inequities in the distribution of security in the region and to bring much-needed opportunities to our youth.

The media also plays an active role in publicizing crimes, in shaping public fears, and in reinforcing the perception of impunity and institutional corruption. In their editorial approach the media must exhibit social responsibility and ensure that their coverage includes a serious analysis of the problem.

The OAS is pleased to recognize the significant efforts made by member states, governmental agencies, civil society organizations, multilateral agencies, and other international organizations. As chair of the OAS Interdepartmental Group on Youth, I am particularly pleased that this Organization has had the opportunity to share our efforts to redirect youth from a path of crime onto a path of possibility with our Armando Paz project.

The initiatives we have learned about today provide a solid framework for future action to promote Youth Development and Crime Prevention. Yet, it is equally clear that much remains to be done to fully understand the nature of the problem and to identify appropriate intervention mechanisms.

As we leave here today, I challenge you, as individuals and as representatives of your respective organizations, to continue to think creatively and to identify innovative solutions for promoting the development of one of our region’s most important resources: our children and youth. They are counting on all of us to ensure their undeniable right: a future free from fear and insecurity. And we are counting on them to be our future leaders and decision makers. Let us believe in them and do all we can to support them in this process.

Thank you.