The Salzburg Statement on Youth Violence Reduction BACKGROUND Bold reforms in different jurisdictions suggest that cross-cutting interventions can be costeffective and foster more humane, inclusive, and healthier societies. Fellows participating in this initiative have looked beyond the classic justice system to identify a “whole systems approach” (under different names in different contexts and jurisdictions) as the innovation with the most potential to influence approaches to youth violence reduction and criminal justice reform. In this approach, policymakers have used scientific evidence and the best available research to identify what causes youth violence and what interventions can stop it from spreading. Different organizations, professions, and sectors come together to support youth and to address the causes of violence holistically. Central to that methodology is the intersection between research, policy, and practice, community-centered dialogue, and multistakeholder engagement. It concretely connects to models already employed in restorative justice, lessons from transitional justice in post-conflict post-authoritarian settings, and overcoming threats from political violence and extremism. As specifics vary among jurisdictions, these different contexts can provide a set of learnings that could influence reform efforts globally. This Salzburg Statement represents general collective outcomes from discussions held during this initiative. The recommendations do not necessarily represent unanimous agreement, nor do Fellows participate in this initiative in their professional capacities as representatives of their respective organizations. This Statement is not attributable to any Fellow individually nor to their organizations.
INTRODUCTION The Global Innovations on Youth Violence, Safety and Justice initiative seeks to tackle youth violence and promote youth safety and criminal justice reform. Launched in January 2021, this major multi-year series has brought together over 100 diverse stakeholders, including young adults, to address the legal, economic, and social weaknesses and inefficiencies of legal systems across multiple jurisdictions. This Salzburg Statement on Youth Violence Reduction sets out key elements for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to consider. Recognizing that across the world there are variations on language used, legal parameters, systems and structures, as well as unforeseen factors that affect a country’s stability, setting out guiding principles can help policymakers build on international evidence. This enables continuous learning and improvements worldwide.
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Protect young people: Young people should grow up in a safe and supportive environment. Address systemic issues: Remedying underlying issues which create inequality or injustice is critical to reducing a key driver of youth violence. Improve public safety: This can lead to increased public trust in law enforcement and other institutions and increase social trust more generally. Reduce human and financial costs: Victims of violence may suffer physical injuries, emotional trauma, and long-term health effects. Violence also imposes significant costs on the healthcare system, criminal justice system, and the economy as a whole. Invest in the future: The next generation should have the tools and resources it needs to succeed.
GUIDELINES FOR A WHOLE SYSTEMS APPROACH •
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Focus on prevention: Research has consistently shown that early intervention is critical in preventing youth violence. A whole systems approach prioritizes the prevention of youth violence through early intervention and targeted prevention strategies. This involves identifying risk factors and addressing them early on to prevent violent behavior. Effective interventions include programs that promote social-emotional learning, parent support in the first 1001 days, attunement and empathy building, play and bonding, and home visit programs for at-risk families. Trauma treatment and recovery (for both children and parents) results in the prevention or reduction of adverse childhood experiences. Address underlying causes: It is important to address the underlying
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