Come October 27th this year, the people of Uruguay will not only be casting their vote for president and members of the General Assembly, but they will also be participating in a referendum on security as well.
Why?
Security is a top concern in the South American country, with 414 homicides recorded in the previous year, a 45.8% increase from 2017. In a survey published by the country’s Ministry of Interior, the homicide rate reached a historic peak last year, at 11.8% per 100,000 inhabitants.
How?
The ‘Live Without Fear’ campaign led by Senator Jorge Larranaga began in May 2018. The target was a constitutional reform on security. It garnered more than 400,000 signatures (it needed a minimum of 270,000), thus allowing a referendum to be held.
What?
The proposed reforms, as summarised by the Council of the Americas (ASCOA) include:
- Lifetime prison terms for those convicted of serious crimes without early release
- Solitary confinement for 30 years for serious crimes
- Legal night raids by police where deemed fit
- Formation of a national guard
The proposal is not without detractors, as none of the presidential candidates in support of it. According to reports, Amnesty International has also criticised the reform, claiming that “a national guard and legal night raid would pose a risk to civilians.”
In a recent poll conducted by Cifra Consultancy, the proposal may fail to reach the needed 50% “yes” vote. The pollsuggests that only 45% of Uruguayans will vote in support of the reform.
When?
If 50% or more of the eligible voters in Uruguay vote “yes” in the referendum, then it becomes law.
Other South American countries have taken similar stricter stances on increasing crime rate and improving security, it is left to Uruguay citizens to decide if they will toe this path.
