Youth for Labour: Preventing Youth Violence in 5 Simple Steps

Written by Julien D. Kentish, ABLP Youth, Rural South President
Youth violence can manifest in various forms, ranging from verbal abuse to physical
aggression, bullying, and gang activity, which result in injuries, death, and destroy
community cohesion. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
homicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for African American youths between the ages of
10 and 24 years globally, and the leading cause of death overall among this minority
community. Violence also has physiological, psychological, and economic implications for
the individual, community, and a nation at large. As such, the Central Youth for Labour
(Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party’s Youth Arm) believes it is imperative to develop
prevention strategies and implement measures aimed at reducing youth violence especially as
it has been on a drastic rise.