Cuernavaca FORUM is dedicated to strengthening the social fabric of the city, enhance the relationship between the police and the community and endorse the observance of human rights across the region.

¿How can reforms in the police system can enhance the communitarian structure?

We suggest that the best way to deal with complex problems is by introducing bold public policies proposals endorsed by the civil society. Through lobbying with legislators, authorities and political parties we aim to set in motion reforms at the local and community level in order to enhance public security, police performance and the collective efficacy of communities.

Cuernavaca FORUM aims at improving and developing citizens and civil organizations' capacities to handle security issues assertively. It is by means of constructing innovative instruments and communitarian methodologies that we intend to foster higher levels of collective efficacy and citizenship.  These methodologies involve establishing closer links between the police and the communities, such as communitarian or "barrio" policing. As a surplus, the process brigs about better negotiating capacities among the citizens' organizations, a better understanding of reality that may result in joint ventures to improve the urban environment.

Communitarian police schemes have been internationally explored in which residents' capacities to monitor police activities at the different levels have been enhanced: from neighborhood supervision, to Refining public budgeting and expenditures, to developing daily policing activities for the armed forces.