Structural Violence and Transnational Business in Latin America. Diagnosis and Intervention against Human Rights Violations.

• In Event: Economic Crimes and Economic Imperatives: Structural Violence and Justice Reinvestment

Abstract

Human rights violations committed in Latin America by economic actors have been a reality for the last five centuries. These damaging activities have been increasingly undertaken by transnational corporations, mainly in extractive, agricultural and energy industries. Administrative and penal regulations and institutions focused on preventing and sanctioning have shown to be inefficient, whereas the intervention of international organisms for the protection of human rights is insufficient. These failures can be explained if specific political, economic and social features of Latin American countries are considered as criminogenic factors; and especially, if Latin American countries geopolitical position with respect to North American, European and Asian countries and economies is considered as regards its criminogenic potential as well. Thus, structural violence is introduced in this paper as a main concept for an integral analysis of the situation and it is also suggested as a double-function instrument. Structural violence is applied for the diagnostic of (i) the socioeconomic situation, (ii) the actors being involved and (ii) the impact of damaging activities; and it is also the basis for designing intervention schemes applicable to (i) strategic support being provided to (potential) victims, (ii) the differentiated attribution of liability to the actors involved, and (iii) reparation.

Author

• María Laura Bohm, University of Buenos Aires