Tough tactics won't stop Latin American gangs -UN

PANAMA CITY, Feb 13 (Reuters) Getting tough with youth gangs in Central America will not lower crime levels and authorities should do more to provide jobs and a future for young people, the United Nations said.

''The key is not to approach the problem with repressive strategies,'' Louise Arbour, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, yesterday said on a visit to Panama. ''We can't approach the gangs by only creating tougher laws. We must go further to involve education, support.'' Her comments echoed international criticism of zero tolerance policies against the region's violent youth gangs.

A six-nation study published on Feb 8 found that a crackdown on gangs in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, known as ''maras,'' has helped the groups evolve from disorganized local groups into more heavily armed, violent and better organized bands.

The researchers also called for programs to help former gang members find work and to steer young people away from gangs toward educational and sporting activities.

''We're going to work with (the UN Children's Fund) UNICEF and local governments because this is a social problem that we must treat as such,'' Arbour said.

Central America has seen a dramatic surge in gang-related crimes in recent years. El Salvador, with a population of 6.8 million, had an average of 10 homicides a day in 2006, about 70 per cent of which were committed by gang members, according to the FBI.

Reuters AD VP0535