Mercosur and its associated states will create a monitoring center for crime and violence to standardize measurements of criminal offenses, with data validated by universities and made available online, Paraguay’s Interior Minister Enrique Riera announced Friday at the close of a ministerial meeting in Asunción.

Riera said that all security agencies of Mercosur countries and associated states would have consolidated and reliable data. The initiative aims to have institutions such as the Public Prosecutor’s Office, Police, and Judiciary make their data coincide in order to standardize measurements, with a “university of great prestige” validating official figures. Everything will be published on the web and be fully verifiable.

RELATED: EU-Mercosur Trade Deal Provisionally To Active

Uruguay’s Interior Minister Carlos Negro committed to trying to complete the project during the next six months, when Uruguay will hold Mercosur’s pro tempore presidency starting June 30. The only currently standardized crime figure in the region is intentional homicides per 100,000 inhabitants.

The project will allow countries to respond with technical criteria to publications created by unknown persons that circulate crime figures online without disclosing their information sources. Riera said it is a way to improve performance, certify data internally, internationally, and academically, and defend against those who discredit the region.

The 55th meeting of Mercosur Interior and Security Ministers was held simultaneously with the 63rd meeting of Justice Ministers, organized by Paraguay, which holds the six‑month presidency of the South American bloc. Mercosur is composed of Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, with Bolivia in the process of full accession. Associated states include Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Panama, Peru, and Suriname.

IN THIS ARTICLE