Report on Gang Violence in Baltimore and its Intersection with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Case Summary and SDG Framework

A federal racketeering trial in Baltimore has brought to light extreme violence perpetrated by alleged members of the MS-13 gang. The case involves young men who migrated from Central America as minors and subsequently became involved in criminal activities. This report analyzes the events and underlying factors of the case through the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting significant challenges to achieving peace, justice, equality, and sustainable communities.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The case represents a profound failure to achieve peaceful and inclusive societies as outlined in SDG 16. The gang’s activities directly undermine the rule of law and public access to justice, creating a parallel system of violent enforcement.

• Erosion of Peace and Security: Testimony detailed a 2020 spree of violence that resulted in the murder of two teenage girls and the attempted murder of three other individuals. These acts demonstrate a severe breakdown of community safety.
• Failure of Justice Systems: The gang members acted as “judge, jury and executioner,” usurping the role of formal justice institutions. The trial itself represents an effort by state institutions to re-establish the rule of law.
• Institutional Challenges: Law enforcement officials report difficulties in identifying gang members and engaging with the local Hispanic population, partly due to a climate of intensified immigration enforcement. This hampers the ability of institutions to protect communities.
• Transnational Instability: One witness expressed fear of being killed if returned to Honduras, indicating that the lack of peace, justice, and strong institutions in his country of origin is a primary driver of migration and a barrier to resolving his legal status.

SDG 10 & SDG 1: Reduced Inequalities and No Poverty

The socioeconomic backgrounds of the individuals involved underscore the link between inequality, poverty, and vulnerability to recruitment by criminal organizations. Their status as unauthorized young migrants placed them in a marginalized position, failing the objective of SDG 10 to reduce inequality within and among countries.

1. Vulnerable Populations: The young men involved were described by a defense attorney as “homeless, aimless, troubled and misguided,” indicating a lack of social and economic support systems.
2. Poverty as a Driver: A cooperating witness testified that he was lured back into the gang upon arriving in Baltimore because, “With them, I had a house, money and drugs.” This highlights how criminal groups exploit poverty (SDG 1) by offering illicit economic and social capital where legitimate opportunities are absent.
3. Migration and Inequality: The migration journey of one member, who left Honduras at 14 and passed through a U.S. detention center for minors before ending up in Baltimore, illustrates the perilous path faced by unaccompanied minors, a group subject to extreme inequalities.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

The case includes severe instances of gender-based violence, a direct contravention of SDG 5, which aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.

• Targeted Violence Against Women and Girls: The primary victims of the violence detailed in court were teenage girls.
• Case Details:
  • Michelle Elizabeth Tenezaca was murdered based on a gang’s misinterpretation of her tattoo as a sign of allegiance to a rival group.
  • Gabriela Alejandra Gonzalez-Ardon, age 16, was stabbed to death at the Loch Raven Reservoir.
  • Ms. Tenezaca’s sister was repeatedly stabbed and survived only by feigning death.

SDG 4 & SDG 8: Quality Education and Decent Work

The narrative suggests a failure of social systems to provide viable pathways through education and employment, which are critical for preventing youth involvement in violence.

• Inadequate Educational Integration: One perpetrator was a student at Parkville High School while participating in the gang, indicating that mere enrollment in the education system (SDG 4) was insufficient to prevent his descent into violent crime.
• Lack of Decent Work: The characterization of the young men as “aimless” points to a lack of meaningful opportunities for decent work and economic growth (SDG 8). The gang provided a perverse alternative to legitimate employment.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The presence and expansion of MS-13 activity in Baltimore directly threaten the goal of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable (SDG 11).

• Community Safety: The brutal crimes committed by the gang create an environment of fear and insecurity, undermining the well-being of the community.
• Geographic Expansion of Threat: Baltimore Police report that the gang’s presence, once contained to specific neighborhoods, has more recently “been popping up everywhere,” indicating a growing threat to the safety and sustainability of the wider urban area.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • The article’s core subject is violent crime, specifically a series of murders and attacks committed by the MS-13 gang. It details the failure of peace and security within a community and describes the judicial process (a racketeering trial) intended to deliver justice. The gang’s actions, where they act as “judge, jury and executioner,” are a direct assault on the rule of law.
2. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The article explicitly focuses on extreme violence directed at young women and girls. The victims of the murders described were “two teenage girls,” and the testimony includes a detailed account of their brutal killings. This highlights the vulnerability of girls to extreme forms of gender-based violence.
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • The article discusses issues related to migration and the vulnerability of migrants. The gang members are described as young men who “had all fled Central America as teens or younger, crossing the United States’ southern border.” Their status as unauthorized immigrants, coupled with being “homeless, aimless, troubled and misguided,” points to inequalities and vulnerabilities that can lead to involvement in crime. The article also touches on immigration enforcement and its impact on police-community relations.
4. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The socioeconomic conditions that make gang life attractive are implied. One former member explains he was lured back into the gang because, “With them, I had a house, money and drugs.” This suggests a lack of viable economic opportunities and social support for these young men, connecting to the broader issue of youth employment and economic inclusion.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 16:
   • Target 16.1: “Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.” The article is a direct account of a “spree of violence” that resulted in multiple deaths and attempted murders, including stabbings and executions.
   • Target 16.2: “End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.” The victims included a 16-year-old girl, Gabriela Alejandra Gonzalez-Ardon, and another teenage girl, Michelle Elizabeth Tenezaca. The perpetrators themselves were young, having entered the U.S. “as teens or younger.”
   • Target 16.3: “Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.” The article describes the gang members acting as “judge, jury and executioner,” which is the antithesis of the rule of law. The ongoing “racketeering trial” represents the state’s effort to enforce the rule of law and provide justice.
2. Under SDG 5:
   • Target 5.2: “Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres.” The article provides graphic details of the murder of two teenage girls, which is a clear and extreme example of violence against girls.
3. Under SDG 10:
   • Target 10.7: “Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people.” The article illustrates the consequences of unsafe and irregular migration. The young men “fled Central America,” crossed the border without authorization, and ended up in vulnerable situations in the U.S., which ultimately led to their involvement in a violent gang.
4. Under SDG 8:
   • Target 8.6: “By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training.” The description of the young men as “homeless, aimless, troubled and misguided” and the testimony that the gang provided a “house, money and drugs” imply that they were not integrated into the formal economy or society, representing a failure to provide them with legitimate opportunities.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For SDG 16:
   • Indicator 16.1.1 (Number of victims of intentional homicide): The article provides specific numbers that can be used as indicators. It states the violence “left two teenage girls dead” and mentions a separate indictment that tied together “three murder cases.” It also notes, “There were no reported killings in Baltimore tied to MS-13 until 2020,” providing a baseline for measuring the increase in this specific type of homicide.
   • Indicator related to justice (16.3.1): The article mentions the “racketeering trial of three alleged gang members” and that another member “took the stand after pleading guilty.” The number of prosecutions, indictments, and convictions for violent crimes serves as an indicator of the justice system’s response.
2. For SDG 5:
   • Indicator related to violence against women (5.2.1/5.2.2): The specific mention of “two teenage girls dead” serves as a direct indicator of lethal violence against females. The detailed testimony about the stabbings and murders provides qualitative data on the severity and nature of this violence.
3. For SDG 10:
   • Indicator related to migration status: The article implies indicators related to irregular migration. It mentions that the perpetrators “fled Central America,” crossed the border, and were “present without authorization.” The story of Anuar Dubon Artiaga, who “was taken to a detention center for minors,” points to data on unaccompanied migrant children as a relevant indicator.
4. For SDG 8:
   • Indicator related to youth vulnerability: While not providing hard numbers, the article implies indicators for youth not in employment, education, or training (NEET). The description of the gang members as “homeless, aimless, troubled and misguided” and the fact that they were drawn to the gang for “a house, money and drugs” points to a population of vulnerable youth lacking stable economic and social integration.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: thebanner.com