virtual: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7905645674

Codi: 1984

Abstract

Latin America accounted for just over one-third of all homicides recorded worldwide in 2021, despite representing only 7.7% of the global population. With an average rate of 23.0 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants—significantly higher than the global average—the region exhibits considerable heterogeneity. While countries such as Chile and Peru report rates comparable to those in Europe, others, including El Salvador, Venezuela, Honduras, and Brazil, present alarming figures, revealing a pattern of lethal violence concentrated in specific areas. This high homicide mortality is rooted in structural factors. Studies indicate that the operation of highly organized criminal groups occurs in contexts of institutional fragility, characterized by limited state capacity, chronic impunity, social inequality, and exclusion. This situation is further exacerbated by the widespread circulation of firearms, the adoption of militarized public security policies, and high youth unemployment rates—factors that contribute to the reproduction and persistence of violence in the region. Within this context, Brazil stands out as the largest economy in Latin America, but also as one of the most unequal countries in the world. Despite progress in education and longevity—such as increased average years of schooling and life expectancy at birth—the country has remained among the most violent in the region over the past decades. This study analyzes recent trends in homicide mortality in Brazil and its relationship with key social indicators. The aim is to understand the internal dynamics of lethal violence and its socioeconomic determinants, highlighting how advances in human development coexist with persistently high levels of crime and inequality.