Our university along with Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (PUCE), the United Nations Development Programe (UNDP), the European Union and the German Agency for Cooperation, organized the international seminar: “Challenges facing security and democracy: strategies and alternatives”.

“We hope this event marks the beginning of a long term project that makes universities work on a medium and long term project to face violence and insecurity”, said Father Juan Cardenas, UPS president. 

He also spoke about the need to create an agenda that includes research programs to address these issues; as well as design education programs to train professionals who are experts in the design and management of public policies related to these issues.

Topics that will be discussed:

1. Structural causes and scenarios: poverty, inequality and violence, state crisis, political economy of drugs.

2. Strategies and experiences of Latin American countries to confront organized crime and drug trafficking.

3. Non-international armed conflict: legal and institutional implications regarding international humanitarian law.

4. Learning for a comprehensive and sustainable strategy.

Experts from Chile, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico and El Salvador took part in this event.