[kvgr]

It must be historical and also how cities are settled. South America has huge influx of uneducated, poor people into the cities. It is easy for them to get entangled in bad activities in the slums. Like Rio. Beautiful city and some government reforms pushed ex slaves into city with no prospect for life. and government forgot about them until there was a problem. And maybe there is different social net in Asia. Culture based on shame, more than power/status(?).

[dakiol]

I think it’s the whole American continent (north and south) that’s way behind Europe/Asia regarding safety in the streets.

[bregma]

Honestly I felt more unsafe in certain touristy parts of Paris than anywhere I went in Lima. But not because of violence but because of pickpockets and scammers. I would chalk that up to the fact that most foreigners visiting the Plaza des Armas in Lima are probably an order of magnitude less wealthy than the busloads middle-class tourist crowding Montmartre in Paris.