Launch and Public Panel: Social Inclusion in the Americas

(Video starts at 40:00)
 

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Americas Society and Council of the Americas and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs will launch the Americas Quarterly (AQ) Social Inclusion Index 2015.* The opening remarks and panel discussion will observe the beginning of the International Decade for People of African Descent, a 10-year observance declared by the United Nations to raise awareness on issues of racial discrimination, as well as examine the rankings of 17 countries across 22 variables in the AQ Index.

The AQ Index is a nuanced description of the region that seeks to address the most pressing needs under current economic conditions, looking at social inclusion as more than the reduction of poverty and inequality. Notable findings include: Uruguay ranks on top for the second year in a row and two of the countries in Central America’s Northern Triangle—Honduras and Guatemala—rank at the bottom of the pack. But there is much more to the story, which will be discussed during the panel.

The U.S. Department of State engages with historically marginalized populations in the region, including indigenous peoples, people of African descent, women and girls, LGBTI persons, and persons with disabilities, and collaborates with governments, civil society, and the private sector to address the underlying causes of social exclusion.  

*Copies of the report will be available in English and Spanish.

Speakers:

• Roberta Jacobson, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Department of State
• Judith Morrison, Senior Advisor for the Gender and Diversity Division, Inter-American Development Bank
• Carlos Quesada, Executive Director, International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights
• Susan Segal, President and CEO, Americas Society/Council of the Americas
• Mauricio Vivero, CEO, Seattle International Foundation
• Elizabeth Zechmeister, Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOP), Vanderbilt University
• Alana Tummino, Senior Editor, Americas Quarterly and Director of Policy, Americas Society/Council of the Americas (Moderator)

Note: This event is free of charge. Prior registration is required.

The Social Inclusion Index is generously supported by the Seattle International Foundation.

This event is sponsored by HSBC.

Event Information: Beckie Bintrim | bbintrim@as-coa.org | 212-277-8372
Press Inquiries: Adriana La Rotta | alarotta@as-coa.org | 212-277-8384
Cancellation: Contact Juan Serrano-Badrena at jserrano@counciloftheamericas.org before 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 9.

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