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💣 Rethinking Militarized Budgets in Latin America

Ágora is a dedicated contributor to the international dialogue on the relationship between military expenditure and sustainable development, prominently featured within the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) Military Expenditure (Milex) Initiative.

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Our research and advocacy, which emphasizes the disproportionate impact of militarized budgets on social justice and development in Latin America, was specifically included in the inputs for the Secretary-General’s analysis, “The Security We Need: Rebalancing Military Spending for a Sustainable and Peaceful Future.”

📄 Research

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Our flagship publication, “When Butter Builds Bullets: Increased International Cooperation for Development, Rising Military Expenditure, and Human Rights Violations in Latin America’s War on Drugs” (March 2025), was launched alongside UNODA's Milex Reporting Initiative, to further nurture the discussion on militarized budgets.

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This paper explores the historical and structural consequences of militarized drug control in the region. Key findings include:

  • Development Trade-offs: The redirection of development budgets toward armed forces, often disguised as peacebuilding and foreign aid, leads to severe socioeconomic setbacks.

  • Impact on Human Rights: Increased military presence frequently results in human rights violations, including suppression of civil liberties and forced displacement.

  • Reframing Security: The research underscores the need to reassess military spending through the lens of human security, development, and justice.

Keywords: war on drugs, militarization, militarism, Latin America, human rights, development, peacebuilding, military expenditure

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📖 Read the full paper →

🎤 CCPCJ Side Event: May 22, 2025

We carried out a virtual panel during the 34th UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, gathering academics, human rights defenders, former military officers, youth activists, and policy experts to discuss the impact of militarized public budgets in Latin America.

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Key panels and speakers included:

  • Félix Madariaga – Journalist and democracy advocate, highlighting the costs of militarization and authoritarianism.

  • Julio Yao – Panamanian internationalist, reflecting on U.S. interventionism and military bases in the region.

  • Dr. Gustavo Flores Macías – Cornell University, analyzing punitive populism and institutional erosion caused by military deployment.

  • Dr. William Marcy – U.S. independent researcher, historical perspective on the war on drugs and regional militarization.

  • Daira Aguilar – Global Thought (Mexico), proposing feminist and community-centered alternatives.

  • Per Ortega – Justícia i Pau (Spain), calling for stronger civilian oversight and peace education.

  • Pablo Ruiz Espinosa – SOAWatch-Chile, framing military budgets as repression against Indigenous peoples.

  • Juliana Villano – Federal University of Santa Catarina (Brazil), advocating for demilitarization and social justice.

  • Carmen Capriles – Reacción Climática (Bolivia), linking extractivism, energy transition, and militarization.

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This event provided a platform for dialogue between researchers, communities, and policymakers, emphasizing the need to redirect public resources from militarization toward peace, human rights, and sustainable development.

🌐 Key Takeaways

  • Transparency matters: Sharing information on national military expenditures builds trust among states and strengthens confidence-building mechanisms.

  • Military spending impacts the SDGs: Excessive military budgets undermine public health, education, social equity, and sustainable development.

  • Youth and civil society must be heard: Engagement in discussions about militarization ensures policies reflect human needs, not only strategic or geopolitical interests.

  • Policy recommendations: Redirect budgets from arms to social programs, strengthen civilian oversight, and prioritize human security over militarized security.

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We are pleased to share that the report summarizing our CCPCJ side event, alongside all other Civil Society Organization contributions, can be found directly on the UNODA Milex Initiative website.

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The inclusion of our work in this official UN platform highlights the vital role civil society plays in informing evidence-based proposals for global decision-makers.

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🎥 Explore the Event

🤝 Join the Effort

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Support Ágora’s advocacy for peaceful, human-centered budgets in Latin America.

Collaborate with us to:

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  • Strengthen transparency in military expenditures

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  • Promote policies that prioritize human security

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  • Build networks for sustainable development and peace

🔎  Explore UNODA’s Resources and Data​

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​​We encourage policymakers, researchers, and civil society partners to engage directly with the primary resources supporting this global initiative:​

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  • Consult the Secretary-General’s Report: Read the full analysis, “The Security We Need,” which utilizes the contributions from Ágora and other stakeholders to frame global policy recommendations​

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  • View Military Expenditure Data: Access the United Nations Military Expenditure Database to consult the official data submitted by countries on their annual military spending, promoting transparency and accountability worldwide.

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