Panama Police and Argentine Public Ministry launch school programs to curb gangs and grooming

In Panama, the National Police have rolled out the GREAT (Education and Training in Resistance to Gangs) program in more than 220 schools, aiming to teach adolescents conflict‑resolution skills and deter gang recruitment. The initiative includes the Impact operation to identify and disrupt recruiters around schools, with a focus on areas such as Panama City and Colón.

In Argentina’s San Juan province, the Ministry of Public, together with the provincial Ministry of Education and the Observatorio de Cibercrimen y Evidencia Digital (OCEDIC) of Universidad Austral, conducted workshops for secondary‑school students on digital‑risk prevention, covering grooming, cyber‑bullying and safe online practices. The sessions provided tools for recognizing threats, preserving digital evidence and reporting suspicious behavior.