Brazil has nearly 1 million victims of homicide since 1979, according to an official survey published Sunday.
At the beginning of the new millennium, the homicide rate rose to 28.5 people per 100,000. In 2002, 49,500 people were victims of homicide and the rate has dropped since 2003, reported the survey conducted by the Brazilian Ministry of Health.
"The social problems are not the only target of blame. We also need a penal system that works," said Daniel Cerqueira, an economist at the Institute of Applied Economic Research (IPEA) who is in charge of the investigation.
However, Cerqueira believes that the 1 million mark of homicide in Brazil will be reached at the end of 2008.
Cerqueira emphasized some worrying trends in the area of public security, one of which is related to the lack of interest of politicians in the medium and long term.
Another worrisome aspect is the delay in the criminal courts, a problem that has been around since the 1960's.
Source: Xinhua
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