Eleonora Soledad Rojas Cabrera

Deaths from violent causes among adolescents and young adults in two cities of the Southern Cone: Córdoba (Argentina) and Porto Alegre (Brazil), 1990-2010

The scope of this paper is to analyze and compare the evolution of deaths from violent causes among adolescents and young adults in the cities of Cordoba (Argentina) and Porto Alegre (Brazil). It also seeks to establish if the results are consistent with those reported in previous national and local research. Based on official data, specific mortality rates (by sex, age and cause) are calculated for the 1990-92 and 2008-10 periods. In general, violent causes play a significant part in the total number of deaths especially among young men and as they get older. In line with the reality of the country, in Córdoba both non-traffic-related and also traffic-related deaths are most frequent. On the other hand, in Porto Alegre (where the level of deaths from violent causes is higher), homicides and traffic accidents are the most common cause of death. Beyond the actions taken so far, it is necessary to redouble efforts to counter the problem in question, both in the recording of information for decision-making and in regard to the decisions when they are put into practice.Este trabajo se propone analizar, comparativamente por sexo y grupo de edad, la evolucion de la mortalidad por causas violentas en los adolescentes y jovenes de las ciudades de Cordoba (Argentina) y Porto Alegre (Brasil). Interesa indagar si los resultados alcanzados estan en consonancia los obtenidos en estudios nacionales e investigaciones locales previas. Con base en datos oficiales, se calculan tasas especificas de mortalidad (por sexo, edad y causa) para los trienios 1990-92 y 2008-10. En general, las causas violentas inciden considerablemente en el total de muertes relevadas, sobre todo entre varones y conforme aumenta la edad. De acuerdo a la realidad del pais, en la ciudad de Cordoba, predominan las muertes por accidentes no ligados al transporte y las relacionadas con estos ultimos. Por su parte, en Porto Alegre (donde el nivel de muertes por causas violentas es mayor) son mas frecuentes los homicidios y los accidentes de transporte. Mas alla de las acciones desplegadas hasta el momento, resulta necesario redoblar los esfuerzos dirigidos a contrarrestar la problematica en cuestion, tanto en el registro de la informacion para la toma de decisiones como en lo referente a estas ultimas cuando son llevadas a la practica.The scope of this paper is to analyze and compare the evolution of deaths from violent causes among adolescents and young adults in the cities of Cordoba (Argentina) and Porto Alegre (Brazil). It also seeks to establish if the results are consistent with those reported in previous national and local research. Based on official data, specific mortality rates (by sex, age and cause) are calculated for the 1990-92 and 2008-10 periods. In general, violent causes play a significant part in the total number of deaths especially among young men and as they get older. In line with the reality of the country, in Cordoba both non-traffic-related and also traffic-related deaths are most frequent. On the other hand, in Porto Alegre (where the level of deaths from violent causes is higher), homicides and traffic accidents are the most common cause of death. Beyond the actions taken so far, it is necessary to redouble efforts to counter the problem in question, both in the recording of information for decision-making and in regard to the decisions when they are put into practice. Language: es

Infant Mortality Measurement and the Rate of Progress on International Commitments: A Matter of Methods or of Guarantees of Rights? Some Evidence from Argentina

Infant mortality is considered to be one of the greatest expressions of social injustice. Thus, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1989 urged adhering states to take the necessary steps to reduce it progressively and as a guarantee of equal opportunities. This objective was further supported by a series of subsequent international conferences, in which specific goals of reduction, both in the level as well as in the differences between social sectors, were laid down. Among them: The World Summit for Children in 1990, the International Conference on Population and Development in 1994, the Millennium Summit in 2000 and the Special Session on Children in 2002.

A redução da mortalidade infantil a partir da ótica dos direitos: uma comparação entre Argentina e Brasil

The present article aims to investigate the progress reached in reducing infant mortality in Argentina and in Brazil, beginning in the 1990s, using human rights as the analytical approach. Based on this perspective, the authors emphasize some fundamental principles on which they are based and that are present in all the instruments: “Governments are the main duty barriers”, “progress and non-retreat” and “equality and non-discrimination” to exercise rights. Therefore, in addition to seeking to reduce the general level of infant mortality– as is the aim of any development policy – the human rights perspective proposes a systematic advance in exercising rights that reach the entire population, in this way, making it a priority to reduce the existing gap among social strata. The article is based on data published by national statistics institutes and by the Centro Latino-Americano e Caribenho de Demografia – Latin American and Caribbean Demography Center (Celade – Cepal Population Division). Among the main results, the trends in infant mortality, in the countries studied, were observed to have had major reductions, which may be explained by applying the principle of “progress and non-retreat”. However, the progress attained is insufficient to reach the objectives made at international conferences. More concerning is not following the principle “equality and non-discrimination”. The limited information available allows the evaluation that, in some cases, the reduction in discrepancies among social strata is minimum, or even null.

La reducción de la mortalidad infantil desde un enfoque de derechos: una comparación entre Argentina y Brasil

The present article aims to investigate the progress reached in reducing infant mortality in Argentina and in Brazil, beginning in the 1990s, using human rights as the analytical approach. Based on this perspective, the authors emphasize some fundamental principles on which they are based and that are present in all the instruments: “Governments are the main duty barriers”, “progress and non-retreat” and “equality and non-discrimination” to exercise rights. Therefore, in addition to seeking to reduce the general level of infant mortality– as is the aim of any development policy – the human rights perspective proposes a systematic advance in exercising rights that reach the entire population, in this way, making it a priority to reduce the existing gap among social strata. The article is based on data published by national statistics institutes and by the Centro Latino-Americano e Caribenho de Demografia – Latin American and Caribbean Demography Center (Celade – Cepal Population Division). Among the main results, the trends in infant mortality, in the countries studied, were observed to have had major reductions, which may be explained by applying the principle of “progress and non-retreat”. However, the progress attained is insufficient to reach the objectives made at international conferences. More concerning is not following the principle “equality and non-discrimination”. The limited information available allows the evaluation that, in some cases, the reduction in discrepancies among social strata is minimum, or even null.

Reduction in infant mortality from the rights perspective: a comparison between Argentina and Brazil

The present article aims to investigate the progress reached in reducing infant mortality in Argentina and in Brazil, beginning in the 1990s, using human rights as the analytical approach. Based on this perspective, the authors emphasize some fundamental principles on which they are based and that are present in all the instruments: “Governments are the main duty barriers”, “progress and non-retreat” and “equality and non-discrimination” to exercise rights. Therefore, in addition to seeking to reduce the general level of infant mortality– as is the aim of any development policy – the human rights perspective proposes a systematic advance in exercising rights that reach the entire population, in this way, making it a priority to reduce the existing gap among social strata. The article is based on data published by national statistics institutes and by the Centro Latino-Americano e Caribenho de Demografia – Latin American and Caribbean Demography Center (Celade – Cepal Population Division). Among the main results, the trends in infant mortality, in the countries studied, were observed to have had major reductions, which may be explained by applying the principle of “progress and non-retreat”. However, the progress attained is insufficient to reach the objectives made at international conferences. More concerning is not following the principle “equality and non-discrimination”. The limited information available allows the evaluation that, in some cases, the reduction in discrepancies among social strata is minimum, or even null.