Human rights NGOs, police and citizen security in transitional democracies

Abstract

In Latin America, crime and social violence and both private and state responses threaten fundamental liberties, the rule of law and democratic consolidation. Social violence has an increased political impact in weak democratic cultures. When police or private security or paramilitaries commit abuses, democracy is undermined and further violence is generated. Democratic institutions display little ability to confront growing levels of collective insecurity without resorting to abusive policies. Public discourse reflects socially embedded authoritarianism that encourages repressive lawenforcement. Yet, to focus on accountability only without considering how to improve citizen security ignores the threat crime poses to democracy. It also threatens the public standing of the human rights movement, which is accused of protecting criminals. As a result, human rights organizations are studying the issues and engaging with institutional reforms of the police.