The Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center’s work on gender equality and diversity advances the implementation of policies that accelerate women’s full economic participation and increase women’s representation in political and corporate leadership positions.
In celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day, follow our #MujeresAtTheTable month-long campaign, highlighting women’s leadership and efforts toward gender equality, while also promoting constructive dialogue for some of the most pressing challenges women face daily in the Americas.
The 110th International Women’s Day, celebrated this year, hailed the achievements of women. It encouraged people to raise awareness about gender-based issues and call for further action toward gender parity in a post-COVID-19 world. There is one group of women, however, that has been left behind in these conversations: trans women.
The economic crisis triggered by the pandemic has had unequal consequences across Latin America and the Caribbean, with women disproportionately affected. But the pandemic is an opportunity for the region to reshape women’s roles in the economy, politics, and society.
Including women and women’s civil-society groups in peacebuilding efforts is essential to strengthening and advancing a more inclusive and diverse—and, ultimately, successful—approach to rebuilding Venezuela’s democratic institutions.
Only with gender equality can we unleash the full potential of the Americas.”
Jason Marczak, Director, Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, Atlantic Council
Watch our latest Experts of the Americas episode with Ambassador Martha Bárcena, former Ambassador of Mexico to the United States, on women in diplomacy.
In episode 7, Ambassador Martha Bárcena, former Ambassador of Mexico to the United States, sits down for a virtual conversation with Ambassador Capricia Marshall, ambassador-in-residence and vice chair of the Latin America Center’s Advisory Council. They discuss women’s leadership, work-life balance, and the importance of women at the negotiation and decision-making table for strengthening the global order.
On Twitter? Follow the campaign @ACLatAm using #MujeresAtTheTable
Empowering women leaders
Modest, yet visible progress is seen in women’s participation in boards of top companies and inclusion in the policymaking process at the highest echelons of government. That progress must be sustained and expanded.
Ground-breaking analysis and concrete recommendations for the public and private sectors – as well as the international community – to empower women across sectors in the region and beyond.
We women must continue encouraging collective action; that will be the key to speed up the progress in achieving a more just and equitable world for women and girls.”
Laura Chinchilla, former president of Costa Rica; member, Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center Advisory Council
#RedDeApoyo: Promoting Women’s Participation and Leadership in Venezuela’s Peacebuilding Efforts
Corporations owe it to their shareholders to achieve gender parity on their boards.”
Mary Ann Walker, managing partner, WH Legal Group; member, Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center Advisory Council
Advancing women’s socioeconomic development
Equipping women and girls with the skills, resources, and opportunities for socioeconomic prosperity is essential for economic growth in Latin America.
Significant lags in women’s economic and political empowerment remain in countries like Colombia. Having closed educational attainment and health and survival gaps almost entirely, the country still faces important gender gaps in economic participation and opportunity (a gap of 26.5 percent) and in political empowerment (a gap of 68.2 percent). If Colombia doubles-down on its efforts to close these gaps, numerous economic and social benefits will follow.
Diversity, Equity, and InclusionbyCamila Hernandez
Aún cuando estoy orgullosa de los avances de la mujer en mi región del mundo, no podemos simplement celebrar ese progreso, sino debemos ver hacia el horizonte y ver cuanto más debemos esforzarnos para cimentar nuestra complementariedad y lograr equidad total.”
María Eugenia Brizuela de Avila, former minister of foreign affairs, El Salvador; nonresident senior fellow, Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, Atlantic Council
Including women and women’s civil-society groups in peacebuilding efforts is essential to strengthening and advancing a more inclusive and diverse—and, ultimately, successful—approach to rebuilding Venezuela’s democratic institutions.
The economic crisis triggered by the pandemic has had unequal consequences across Latin America and the Caribbean, with women disproportionately affected. But the pandemic is an opportunity for the region to reshape women’s roles in the economy, politics, and society.
There is one group of women that has been left behind in conversations about gender-based issues: trans women. Global leaders must change the narrative to advance a trans-inclusive agenda
While a bill introduced in the US Congress calls upon the secretary of state to implement a new US Strategy for Engagement in Central America that prevents and responds to “endemic levels of sexual, gender-based, and domestic violence” in the region, solutions to gender-based violence must arrive faster than the US legislative process can help advance them.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, this year’s Human Rights Day marks a grim trend as COVID-19 sets back decades of progress for women and girls. And without enlisting everyone, including men, in the fight for women’s empowerment, society’s ability to achieve gender equality is limited.
On Twitter? Follow the campaign @ACLatAm using #MujeresAtTheTable