La violencia urbana como fenómeno multicausal: un estudio en tres comunas de la ciudad de San Juan de Pasto

Abstract

Objective: Describe and understand the socio-environmental factors of urban violence in three communes of the city of San Juan de Pasto (Colombia). Method: Qualitative research in which participed 47 students, between 11 and 17 years old (26 women and 21 men) from three public educational institutions, 16 teachers from different subjects and 5 key community agents. The study was carried on in three communities with a low socioeconomic status,  from the city of San Juan de Pasto, Colombia. The information was obtained through focus groups and semi-structured interviews. Results: Urban violence is a multi-causal phenomenon conditioned by different factors such as the abandonment of the State to the most vulnerable communities, the inequality in the offer of development opportunities for his inhabitants, the stigma and exclusion fostered by illegal forms of social organization like gangs, which, although they satisfy certain needs in young people, also favor criminal behavior and exercise inadequate territorial control. Finally, dysfunctional family dynamics such as abuse, lack of family support and the absence of parents are risk factors that, when interacting with others, contribute to the consolidation of urban violence. Conclusions: Interventions against urban violence must ensure the presence of the State in the affected communities, through the deployment of public policies and social programs that tend to improve socio-en- vironmental conditions and empowerment. It is necessary to promote strategies to improve security and citizen coexistence, provide better employment opportunities and formal and non-formal education in which families are also included, guaranteeing the integral development of communities, especially the most vulnerable, which have been significantly affected by violence.