World becomes less peaceful in 2013 (Global Peace Index) - A sharp increase in the number of homicides and in the number of countries (59) that have increased their military spending as a percentage of their GDP are the main reasons why the world has become less peaceful in 2013, according to the Institute for Economics & Peace. This year's conclusions confirm the trend noted over the past six years that has seen the world has 5% less peaceful since 2008. The Institute points out that, over this period, the number of international armed conflicts has constantly decreased but there has been an increase in the number of more organised internal conflicts. 110 countries saw their Global Peace Index (GPI) scores fall, whereas only 48 countries actually became more peaceful. The economic impact of this cost the global economy US $473 billion last year, the equivalent of almost 4 times the amount of public development aid in 2012. The sharp increase in homicides (+8%, bringing the total number of homicides to around 524,000) can largely be laid at the door of Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa. The country with the highest rate of homicides is Honduras, a rate that increased tenfold last year and which now stands at the rate of 92 homicides per 100,000 people. Another observation made by the Institute for Economic & Peace is that Syria has experienced the sharpest fall ever recorded since the GPI was introduced, due to the violent civil war raging in the country. Many countries in the Middle East and Africa continue to suffer the fallout from the Arab Spring, with violent demonstrations and further political instability (Egypt, Bahrain and Tunisia). At the other end of the GPI, Libya has achieved the sharpest rise in becoming more peaceful. In North Africa, Sudan and Chad are in second and third positions respectively in becoming more peaceful. The Institute notes, however, Libya's uncertain prospects and a worsening situation in Afghanistan, which is once again at the bottom of the GPI due to rising political instability and an increase in terrorism. Regional: Europe is still the most peaceful region in the world and includes 13 of the 20 best-ranked countries (including Iceland). Nonetheless, several countries are heavily in debt, such as Spain, Greece, France and Portugal and have had to face less peaceful situations, given the difficult economic context in 2013. This also reflects trend data for the past six years, according to which the countries most affected by the recession will see their GPI falling more rapidly than in the rest of the world. North America slightly increased its score compared to 2012 but the US is, however, in 99th position in the GPI ratings and the country is continuing to register a lower score compared to its peers in the OECD, particularly because of the high percentage of the prison population (the highest in the world), its participation in many conflicts abroad, its homicide rate and its nuclear and heavy weapons capacity. In South America, Uruguay and Chile are the most peaceful countries. The situation has got worse in Argentina, which is now in third position due to its bad relations with its neighbours and a deterioration in a number of areas domestically. In Central America, Costa Rica once again appears to be the most peaceful country. Improvements, however, were recorded for Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador. Russia and Eurasia are still among the least peaceful regions in the world, beating only Southern Asia and MENA (Middle East/ North Africa). During the past year, scores have got substantially worse in Ukraine, Tajikistan and Russia. The Asian Pacific region is experiencing a situation of generalised peace and security and Japan, Australia and Singapore join New Zealand among the 20 most peaceful countries in the world. The GPI is the major international indicator of peace in the world. It evaluates current international and national conflicts, levels of safety and security in society, as well as militarisation in 162 countries (covering 99% of the world's population) according to 22 different indicators. (IL/transl.fl)