Latin America & the Caribbean

Coding decisions on gangs, colectivos, Colombian rebel groups, and more Published on: | Last updated:  Background Venezuela has experienced political crisis and disorder since the late 2000s. In 1999, Hugo Chávez assumed Venezuela’s presidency and remained in power until his death in March 2013.…

Coding decisions on gangs, unidentified armed groups, state forces, and more Published on: | Last updated:  Background on Violence in Brazil The origins of criminal violence in Brazil are often attributed to the country’s rapid urbanization and the social inequalities brought with it.…

Coding decisions on gangs, unidentified armed groups, self-defense groups, and more Published on: | Last updated:  Background on Violence in Mexico The current conflict in Mexico stems from the mergence of drug trafficking and organized crime groups in the 1980s, and to this date remains fueled by demands from neighboring United States.…

Coding decisions on FARC dissident groups and unidentified armed actors Published on: | Last updated:  Background  The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)’s coverage of armed actors in Colombia presents a number of unique methodological challenges.…

Published on: On 2 June 2025, ACLED expanded its Ecuador dataset to include gang violence. This expansion improves its coverage of the country in a way that reflects evolving security dynamics.…