PADF youth sports activitities launch and match on november 12 & 19, 2016 at Winti Wai, paramaribo. Foto Ranu Abhelakh

Peace, Justice, and Security

We believe that peace, justice, and security are vital to social development and human progress. We are committed to the promotion of peaceful societies, access to justice for all, strengthening law enforcement, and improving security conditions throughout the hemisphere. We oppose corruption, abuse of power, and illicit economies.

Our Approach

PADF believes that it is possible to improve the safety of our communities. We believe that well-designed, technically sound, data-driven, and evidence-based policies that target the root causes of crime and violence can have a major impact in reducing crime indicators. Through collaboration between state authorities, civil society organizations, and the private sector it is possible to reduce the fear of victimization, ensure respect of human rights, and promote social cohesion and holistic social and human development.

In order to create lasting peace, we need to ensure participation of all stakeholders, particularly women and youth. Local actors—especially those with a high level of local legitimacy—have a pivotal role to play, especially in defining the strategies and goals that should be pursued as well as how to achieve longer-term sustainability. There are many examples in the region that showcase that progress is within our reach and that by mixing the necessary ingredients, we will see authorities, communities, and businesses partners continuously improve the public safety of their surroundings.

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Implementation Strategies

PADF designs and implements projects that are tailored to each of the contexts where citizen security challenges are present. Nonetheless, PADF relies on a set of core working methodologies that are a part of our DNA.

The first element is community engagement. PADF has a track record of collaboration with local stakeholders and grassroots organizations, which allow local voices to inform and shape program implementation and policy making.

We consistently tailor our training and education materials used in workshops and courses to local contexts, we believe that “off the shelf” solutions have limited ability to promote effective organizational and individual change.

We also focus on providing capacity building assistance to national organizations to ensure sustainability upon project completion. All of our projects are results oriented and measurable, have a strong knowledge management component, and include public-private partnerships.

We constantly focus on activities that enhance trust and collaboration among all relevant parties who are involved in citizen security and justice programming at the country and local levels.

Each of our projects has an embedded learning agenda that allows PADF not only to track progress towards desired outcomes and learn from our successes, but also learn from any failure that occurs and refine strategies, allowing the projects to adapt when needed.

Areas of Intervention and Expertise

Violence Prevention

  • Peacebuilding
  • Social crime prevention
  • Culture of lawfulness
  • Strategies to reduce school-based violence
  • Inter-agency collaboration to prevent violence and crime
  • Community engagement, civil society, and private sector involvement in crime prevention strategies
  • Programming to reduce gang involvement
Caribbean boys

At-Risk Youth Programming

  • Positive youth development programming
  • Basic life skills training and technical assistance
  • Workforce development, apprenticeship, employment, and mentorship programs
  • Services integration and case management
  • Alternative sentencing for adolescents in conflict with the law
  • Prevention of recidivism among youth

Restorative Justice

  • Policy and legal frameworks
  • Transitional justice
  • Support and assistance to victims of violence and armed conflict
  • Projects to address the needs of women victims of gender-based violence

Criminal Justice Reform

  • Policy design and advocacy
  • Judicial independence
  • Operational capacity of law enforcement and criminal justice actors
  • Evidence-based policing
  • Crime observatories
  • Training and technical assistance to improve investigations and prosecution of crimes
  • Strengthening forensic capabilities
  • Strategies to rehabilitate and reintegrate offenders and perpetrators

Transnational Organized Crime

  • Cross-border cooperation
  • Financial crimes
  • Drug trafficking
  • Human trafficking
Podcast
A conversation with Organization of American States Assistant Secretary General Ambassador Nestor Mendez
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Podcast Series
A series of conversations with PADF colleagues
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Supporting dreams of youth in colombia
Meet Lisandro
Colombia
Integrated Responses to Rural Security (RISER)
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Haiti, Bahamas, and Central America
Gender and Security
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Bolivia and Guatemala
Trafficking in Persons
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Colombia
Rural Development with Environmental Education (DREAM)
Learn More
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supporting dreams of youth in colombia
Meet Lisandro
Colombia
Integrated Responses to Rural Security (RISER)
Learn More
Haiti, Bahamas, and Central America
Gender and Security
Learn More
Bolivia and Guatemala
Trafficking in Persons
Learn More
COLOMBIA
Rural Development with Environmental Education (DREAM)
Learn More
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Roberto Obando

Roberto Obando

Thematic Director – Peace, Justice, and Security

Email: connect@padf.org

Resources

Citizen Security for All (English)

Seguridad ciudadana para todas las personas (Spanish)

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