5 Out of 50 World's Most Violent Cities Are In Venezuela

According to a report of the Council of Public Security Justice and Peace in Mexico, five of the 50 most violent cities in the world are in Venezuela, RunRunes reported.

Caracas, capital of Venezuela climbed from third place to second in 2013, according to the report.

Last year, 4,364 homicides occurred in Caracas, with a proportion of 134.3 murders every 100,000 inhabitants, 15 more compared to 2012.

The homicide rate in Caracas was surpassed only by San Pedro Sula and Honduras in 2012.

San Pedro Sula had less homicides in 2013; however, given the fact that there are less inhabitants in the city, the homicide rate is of 187.1 murders per 100,000 inhabitants.

Barquisimeto ranked tenth in the list, Ciudad Guayana 17th; Maracaibo 40th and Valencia 50th.

According to the report, the homicide rate diminished in Barquisimeto with five murders per 100,000 and Ciudad Guayana with only one every 100,000 people.

Maracaibo maintained the same proportion and in Valencia the number of murders diminished by 13 for every 100,000 inhabitants.

Minister of internal relations Miguel Rodríguez Torres announced a reduction in the number of homicides following the application of the Patria Segura Plan (Secure Homeland Plan).

The plan is a response to people's demands that something must be done to tackle the serious crime situation in Venezuela. It involves national guard patrols, communal police, and preventative programs such as workshops and cultural activities, according to Venezuelanalysis.

According to the Venezuelan Politics and Human Rights blog, hosted by the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), the plan aims to militarise citizens.

"[These] plans are good at putting disadvantaged young men in jail, yet ineffective at reducing crime," professor of sociology Veronica and professor of criminology Andres Antillano wrote on the blog.

"And with the rapid and important increase of the incarcerated population, of course, problems such as overcrowding and inhumane living conditions in prisons are exacerbated", the professors continued.

The Latin-American countries with more problems related to violence in 2013 were Honduras, Venezuela, Guatemala, El Salvador, México and Brasil.