Violence and organized crime cost the region 3.5% of its Gross Domestic Product. 50% of homicides are associated with organized crime, compared to 24% in the rest of the world.
The Inter-American Development Bank has invested 1.6 billion dollars in 15 countries since 2009. The portfolio of projects under discussion for Citizen Security and Justice for 2024 and 2025 totals close to 1 billion dollars, says Nathalie Alvarado, coordinator of the IDB's citizen security and justice area.