What is Institutional Violence

When a public servant performs some type of discriminatory, humiliating or prejudicial action, his action is classified as violence institutional.

The violation of human rights It is always a serious issue, but it is especially unacceptable if it comes from a member of the public administration. In this sense, if a member of the police, a prison officer or a member of the armed forces has a conduct contrary to human rights, we are facing a case of institutional violence.

The entities that fight this form of violence affirm that the best way to prevent abuses is to know the rights. Another of the strategies used to reduce institutional violence is the permanent training of police forces.

Remembering some fundamental rights

A person can be detained only if ordered by a judge or if they are found to be committing a crime. When an arrest occurs, the detainee must be adequately informed (why his arrest is being made and who is ordering it). A detainee has right to seek medical assistance or request the presence of a lawyer. Likewise, every citizen has the right not to testify. If a woman is detained, she should be searched by personnel of the same sex as her. In most countries, detained minors under 18 must be taken to specific juvenile centers.

Members of the police can only use firearms when their lives are at stake. danger or when the lives of other people are in danger and, on the other hand, before using your weapon you must identify yourself as a police officer. Obviously, no police officer can force anyone to commit an irregularity.

In recent years they have been functioning information campaigns to combat institutional violence. On the other hand, in the campaigns a telephone is provided for citizens to report cases of abuse carried out by a authority public.

Main victims and the most common abuses

As a general criterion, the victims of this form of violence are minority groups or those who are in a situation of social exclusion, the youth of the suburbs, the LGTB collective, indigenous communities, ethnic minorities, etc.

The police forces are entitled to use violence, but always in a proportionate manner and respecting the rights of citizens. However, in some countries the police forces commit all kinds of irregularities: arrests arbitrary or directly illegal, verbal or degrading abuse, coercion, torture or the use of the so-called "easy trigger".

Fotolia photos: murika / vigold