“For peace and social justice in Uruguay.”

As representatives from diverse nations, we have witnessed a troubling pattern repeated across our own countries: reactionary governments, through misguided policies, create the social, economic, and political conditions that allow violent crime to flourish. Then, in response to the predictable outbreak of violence, these same governments resort to state repression as a supposed solution. This vicious cycle, which the Uruguay plebiscite now proposes to enshrine in law, has consistently failed to address the root causes of crime and social unrest.

We must emphasize that the formula of increased police powers and night raids has never succeeded in creating safer, more just societies. Rather than addressing the underlying issues that lead to crime, these repressive measures invariably target the most vulnerable and marginalized sectors of the population. The result is a climate of fear and insecurity that paradoxically feeds the very criminal activities it claims to combat.

Four stark examples from different parts of the world illustrate the failure of this approach:

1. In the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte's "war on drugs" launched in 2016 authorized extrajudicial killings and violent police raids. This policy resulted in thousands of deaths, predominantly among the poor, while failing to significantly reduce drug trafficking or use. Instead, it led to widespread human rights abuses and a breakdown of the rule of law.
2. In the United States, the "tough on crime" policies and militarization of police forces, particularly evident in the 1980s and 1990s, disproportionately affected minority communities. These measures, including aggressive night raids and stop-and-frisk tactics, not only failed to reduce crime rates significantly but also eroded trust between communities and law enforcement, exacerbating social tensions and inequalities.
3. In Brazil, the implementation of militarized policing in favelas, particularly in Rio de Janeiro, has led to numerous human rights violations and civilian deaths. Operations like the "pacification" program, which involved aggressive police raids, failed to provide long-term security and instead intensified violence, especially against Black and poor communities, while doing little to address the root causes of crime and gang activity.
4. In Kenya, the implementation of aggressive policing tactics to combat crime in the 1990s, including night raids, special forces like the deadly “Flying Squad,” led to extrajudicial killings, particularly in low-income areas and informal settlements. Over time, it turned the police from a security institution into the source of insecurity. This impunity extended to anti-terrorism squads with little oversight, which led to a huge crackdown on minority Somali and Muslim communities, making those most in need of protection, conversely vulnerable.

Promoters of night raids in Uruguay claim this reform is "the silver bullet to combat drug dealing." Yet the experience of our respective countries has demonstrated that there is no silver bullet to the problem of organized crime. Only by addressing the underlying causes of crime – poverty, inequality, lack of opportunity, and social marginalization – can Uruguay hope to secure enduring peace and harmonious coexistence across the country.

We stand with you in this critical moment in your country’s democracy, as a new path opens to compassion, equity, and true security – a path that upholds the dignity and rights of all Uruguayans, and once again sets an example to the world.

Observatory of the Progressive International