Latin America and the Caribbean

Promoting equal rights and opportunities

Throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, critical problems of discrimination and inequality affect a large percentage of the region's population, including close to 40 million indigenous peoples (from some 400 different ethnic groups) and 150 million blacks and “mulattos” (“mixed races”).

Widespread discrimination also affects women and girls, who lack equal access to food and education while relegated to the ranks of ‘second-class” citizens within male-dominated class and social structures.

This situation calls for the establishment of equal rights and commensurate opportunities under the law for all citizens -- with special attention given to children, youth, women, indigenous, black and mixed-race groups. Such efforts should recognize the equality of all people within the diversity of humanity, as an essential goal of community, social and economic development.

World Vision promotes equal opportunities for women and other groups that face extreme poverty and discrimination. In Haiti, close to 2,500 women are engaged in profitable cooperative enterprises started with the help of World Vision. In Peru, some 120 women who have faced terrorist violence have received training and support to manage poultry farms, greenhouses and cattle. In Chile, nearly 3,000 women heading low-income households have been trained in various trades from which they would otherwise be excluded.