Dear Editor,
With great concern, we have observed the results of the latest report published by the Undersecretary of Crime Prevention, which reveals a 15% increase in homicides of children and adolescents, rising from 66 to 76 cases in one year.
Lethal violence against children is one of the most serious and complex issues facing our society. Therefore, it is essential to analyze this phenomenon in detail and with urgency, for which the State must provide clearer and more accessible information to design solutions that address its prevention and resolution. We are not only facing deaths related to the rise of organized crime; in fact, the latest available data reveal that 21% of child homicides occur in the context of domestic violence.
In Chile, the lack of coordination among actors in the justice, health, education, and child protection systems has hindered effective action. Without coordinated work, investigations do not progress with the necessary speed and effectiveness, nor do they prevent these incidents. In this regard, the creation of the Intersectoral Group for the Prevention and Investigation of Homicides of Children and Adolescents is a positive step. This working group, convened by Fundación Amparo y Justicia, is developing a joint diagnosis aimed at establishing actions to improve the response to these crimes. This effort, involving 12 public agencies, has the potential to lay the groundwork for the necessary changes.
What we lack is a collective commitment: to put children and adolescents at the center of our agenda. Only through a joint strategy, where each institution fulfills its role, can we prevent these cases from continuing to rise.
Loreto Moore Infante
Executive Director
Fundación Amparo y Justicia
