meeting in the city, mayors from 12 Latin American countries sign a letter containing guidelines to combat violence

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At the end of the meeting, the city formalized the Niterói Charter, a political document that strengthens the commitment of Latin American cities to citizen security, democracy, social inclusion and sustainable development. Mayor Rodrigo Neves assumed the presidency of Rede Mercocidades for a term that extends until the end of 2026.

On receiving command of South America’s main articulation of local governments, Rodrigo said the role of cities has become even more strategic in a situation marked by political instability, organized crime and growing economic inequality.

— We have chosen fundamental themes for the inclusive, democratic and sustainable development of our cities. The topic of security must be a priority. Nine of the ten most violent countries in the world, with the highest homicide rates, are in Latin America. We must approach this debate with firmness, but also with humanity. We must fight against organized crime. It is essential to combat youth organized crime in Latin American cities, Rodrigo said.

The Niterói Charter, approved at the end of the summit, defends human-centered solutions, based on data and with the direct participation of communities in the formulation and evaluation of public policies. The text emphasizes that urban violence has roots that go beyond crime and are linked to worsening inequalities and the weakening of democratic institutions in the region. According to the document, Latin America is experiencing a cycle in which wealth concentration increases while average income declines, fueling social frustrations and extremist rhetoric.

— In this context, we propose more dialogue, greater cohesion between our municipalities and the expansion of decentralized cooperation and solidarity to strengthen our capacities and stimulate cooperation and financing opportunities that allow us to find effective solutions for the sustainable and healthy development of our region — said the Mayor of Niterói.

The document defends the formal recognition of local governments in international organizations such as the UN, the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), in addition to the right to political representation in regional blocs and financing mechanisms that strengthen municipal autonomy. It also rejects hate speech and attacks on democratically elected governments, defending the peaceful resolution of conflicts and the protection of the rule of law.

During the opening, Rodrigo Neves predicted that the Mercocidades Network would strengthen urban violence prevention programs and create a Latin American school for public security managers. He also highlighted recent advances in urban mobility, tackling inequality, integrated public safety, and investments in education and technology in the city he leads.

— Niterói has shown that it is possible to build a city that takes care of its inhabitants, values ​​popular participation and looks to the future with hope and responsibility. Our challenge now is to continue to innovate and guarantee the quality of life for all. The Niterói we want is an inclusive and innovative city that values ​​its diversity and invests in sustainable development — said Rodrigo, also addressing demographic challenges, such as the aging of the population and the need for a sustainable economic transition based on knowledge and green economies.

In Niterói, this policy is materialized in the Pact against Violence, which combines actions by public security forces, technological monitoring and social investments. In six years, according to the town hall, homicides have fallen by 70%, a faster performance than internationally recognized experiences, such as those of Medellín (Colombia) and New York.

The Mercocidades agenda went beyond discussions in the rooms. The organizers of the event made a point of including guided tours of municipal initiatives during the meeting.

At the Integrated Public Security Center (Cisp), representatives discovered the surveillance system which brings together the Municipal Guard, the Civil and Military Police, the Federal Police and operational organizations, using artificial intelligence and intelligent cameras. The delegation also visited the City of Public Order, where the operational base of municipal forces is located.

— I was impressed by how Niterói combines surveillance technology with social policies and professional training. This is an example for any city in the world — said Luísa Portugal, project manager at the Center for International Cooperation at New York University and member of the Peace in Our Cities network.

Another delegation visited the high-precision weather radar, at Parque da Cidade, which helps prevent climate disasters. Over the past 13 years, the municipality has invested more than 1.7 billion reais in urban resilience, including slope control, drainage and technological modernization works.

Culture has also integrated programming. Delegations from different countries visited the Unidos do Viradouro court, champion of the Rio Carnival, in Barreto. The school presented its community work, which brings together children, young people and families from the region in cultural activities.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira, originally from Niteroi, also highlighted the role of municipal diplomacy:

— Cities constitute the basic unit of integration. It is in them that progress is translated into services, rights and quality of life. Brazil will remain committed to deep integration, oriented towards people and territory.

The mayor of Rio and president of the National Front of Mayors and Mayors (FNP), Eduardo Paes, highlighted the practical nature of town halls in the implementation of public policies.

— In cities, there is no room for abstractions. You have to produce results. And it is in town halls that we better know the terrain where policies will be implemented, he said.

Niterói’s letter unites 12 countries

Representatives of cities from 12 Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Panama and Uruguay) signed on the 5th, in Niterói, the Declaration of the 30th Mercocities Summit, a document that establishes commitments for the construction of more resilient, peaceful and sustainable territories in the region.

The declaration highlights the challenges facing Latin American municipalities, such as the concentration of wealth, increasing urban violence and the increasingly intense consequences of climate change. The document highlights that Latin America is responsible for 50% of all intentional homicides worldwide.

Among the commitments made, the priority given to preventive action in matters of public security stands out, with the aim of breaking intergenerational cycles of violence. The letter calls for data-driven solutions to diagnose the root causes of violence, ensuring meaningful community participation and incorporating a gender perspective.

The document also establishes three fundamental perspectives for thinking about cities: that they are ecologically sustainable, people-centered and care-oriented. The declaration also proposes the creation of a local social coalition that advances political commitments to defend rights such as housing, food and culture.