Costa Rica Zarella Villanueva Education 11. The Media's Role 13. Forging Partnerships with the Media to Prevent Domestic Violence Patricia Poppe 15. The most dangerous place for a woman in Latin America and the Caribbean may be her own home. One of the world's most violent regions, at home and on the streets, is Latin America.
Domestic violence is also widespread.
According to surveys in the region, almost half of all women suffer from psychological abuse, while one to two women in five experiences physical violence. In several countries, violence has discouraged foreign investment and reduced savings, thus reducing long-term growth prospects. Domestic violence also affects the region's growth possibilities. Children who witness their mothers being abused perform poorly in school, limiting both their future labor market possibilities and their ability to contribute to the region's socioeconomic development. While the problems of domestic and social violence are difficult to solve, there are policies and programs that can reduce their incidence.