NGO estimates over 21,000 murders in Venezuela in 2012

The non-governmental organization indicates that the number of homicides this year escalated 12% with respect to last year

Homicide rate is 73 in every 100,000 inhabitants (File photo)

PEDRO GARCÍA OTERO , MARÍA ISOLIETT IGLESIAS | EL UNIVERSAL

Friday December 28, 2012 10:56 AM

It has been nine years since the last official data release on the number of homicides committed in Venezuela. A report compiled by non-governmental organization Venezuelan Observatory of Violence (OVV) has concluded that opacity is not the right choice; it does not prevent crimes from happening, neither is it encouraging so as to fighting against them. The NGO's estimates show that some 21,692 citizens have been murdered throughout this year, 12.2 % above the figure reported in 2011 by this organization (19,336).

The report consolidates Venezuela as one of the most violent countries worldwide, whose murder rate is 73 in every 100,000 inhabitants.

OVV's data has been compiled straight from the files of the Venezuelan Ministry of the Interior and Justice, Roberto Briceño León, sociologist and director of OVV remarked.

Translated by Jhean Cabrera

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