Guatemala security initiative targets 50% reduction in homicide rate by 2036

The Foundation for Development of Guatemala (FUNDESA) has announced that the 2026 National Meeting of Entrepreneurs for Development (ENADE) will focus on integral security as a prerequisite for economic prosperity. The event, scheduled for October 8, aims to address the stagnation of violence rates and their impact on the national economy.

According to FUNDESA, crime and violence cost Guatemala approximately 7% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). While the homicide rate has decreased from 31 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2014 to 16 currently, the figure has remained largely stagnant in recent years.

To combat this, ENADE 2026 proposes a long-term goal to reduce the homicide rate by half, targeting 8 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants by the year 2036. Achieving this objective will require strengthened institutions, effective coordination between responsible entities, and addressing challenges such as extortion, organized crime, and the penitentiary system.