From Durán to Mano Dura: Latin America’s Battle Against Violence in the 21st Century

Durán, located in Ecuador, has recently garnered attention as the most dangerous city in the world. In 2023, its murder rate was 148 per 100,000 residents, which is almost double the next most violent place, Mandela Bay in South Africa. Despite having a small population of around 300,000 inhabitants, Durán faces high levels of crime due to its proximity to Guayaquil, a major export hub for cocaine.

This city serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing Latin America. Despite accounting for only 8% of the global population, the region experiences a third of all homicides. In response to this pervasive violence, leaders in Latin America often adopt heavy-handed tactics known as mano dura or iron fist.

Mano dura tactics include imposing states of emergency for indefinite periods, deploying the military on the streets and conducting widespread arrests without discrimination. While these measures have led to a decrease in the murder rate, they come at a steep cost. El Salvador’s president Nayib Bukele is one of many advocates of mano dura who have imprisoned nearly 80,000 individuals—over 1% of the population—in the past two years alone.

However, despite praise and attempts to emulate this “Bukele model” by officials in the region there are concerns about long-term effectiveness and human rights implications. As Latin American countries continue to grapple with high levels of violence finding sustainable and humane solutions remains an urgent challenge that must be addressed with care and consideration