Medellin and human security: an approach from local policy, 2004 -2011
Abstract
The city of Medellin has been framed by a scene of violence for decades. The local government has resorted to strategies to tackle the problem, through a policy which focuses on human development. According to this perspective, security plays a particular role, since it involves the protection of the vital core of all human freedoms and personal fulfillment. It means protecting people from situations threatening the economic, food, health, environmental, personal, community and political life, in contrast to the traditional state-centered approach enforced through state institutions such as police forces, courts, judges, army, and prisons. The goal of this research is to evaluate the security strategies made by the two most recent city government’s approach to human security through human development.
