The non-partisan civic movement and Dominican chapter of Transparency International, Participación Ciudadana presented the main findings of a study on how locals perceive violence and crime. The study also analyzed the victimization, the effectiveness of the channels for making complaints, and the effects of insecurity and violence on the attitudes and lifestyles of those polled.
When asked about the country’s main problems, 78.7% reported crime as one of the main problems, followed by unemployment 73.96%, corruption 70.41%, crisis of values 65.09% and violence 61.54%, according to the study.
The executive director of Participación Ciudadana, Fátima Lorenzo pointed out that violence and delinquency have a high economic, social and political cost, and affect fundamental rights such as living in peace, freedom of transit and the emotional stability of the population in general.
Participacion Ciudadana calls for increased prevention and more efforts to break criminal structures. PC favors police reform that puts the police at the service of the population with dignity, a disarmament plan and the combatting drugs and drug trafficking. Employment opportunities for young people and an integral perspective are fundamental steps that must be promoted, said Lorenzo during the presentation of the study findings.
Lorenzo said that eight of ten people polled understand their municipality is not safe. This perception of insecurity is higher among women than among men. According to the study, the data shows the need to promote citizen security policies that take into account the different experiences of men and women in public spaces.
Participación Ciudadana understands that the results are essential to guide the dialogue and agreement with those called to combat crime and unsafety and move towards a comprehensive and rights-based approach.
This study also shows how insecurity, violence, and crime have transformed the lifestyles of those surveyed. For fear of crime, 59.17% report that they have stopped going out at night, 50.3% have decided to stop wearing certain clothes and jewelry, and 39.05% have stopped participating in recreational activities.
Likewise, to avoid home burglaries, strategies such as putting up iron fences (69.23%), reinforcing the security of doors and windows (58.58%) and keeping dogs (49.11%) were reported with greater frequency.
As has been the trend in recent surveys on the local political culture, poll respondents continue to report high levels of distrust with political parties (67.46%), the National Congress (48.52%) and the local governments (46.15%). PC says these findings are a call for attention to the problem of citizen confidence in the traditional institutions of democracy due to the crisis of representation and political legitimacy.
On the other hand, more than half of those consulted expressed high distrust in the National Police (55.62%). PC says this is why the victims of a criminal act usually do not file complaints. The people understand that it is of no use (66.64%).
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Participacion Ciudadana
2 March 2022