Gangs' legalization in Ecuador caused decrease in murder rates.
Gangs' legalization in Ecuador caused decrease in murder rates.
27.03.2019
Twelve years ago the Ecuadorian government led by Rafael Correa decided for a drastic change in the way gangs were dealt with by the state, and turned from the former fim hand policies to inclusive ones.
The legalization of gangs brought about a significative drop in murder rates in the country, and although membemship is still around the same figures previuos to legalization, gangs have turned into social movements, their members, some of them former violent ones, are now active members of society.
David Brotherton, member of TRANSGANG project's Scientific Advisory Board, conducted an ethnographic research in Ecuador in 2017, ten years after legalization. His conclusions and experieces are explained in the interview of the article.