Video: Social Inclusion in the Americas
Video: Social Inclusion in the Americas
(Video starts at 40:00)
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 (IDB)
- 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)
Experts collecting data in Latin America discussed Americas Quarterly's Social Inclusion Index, which features a new "ethno-racial inclusion" variable in its latest edition. The U.S. State Department's Roberta Jacobson opened the event saying that none of the United States' efforts to boost growth in the region will be sustainable "unless they are socially and economically inclusive." Regarding inclusion of African-descent populations across the hemisphere, Jacobson talked about Washington's work with other countries in the region to improve dialogue, education, and opportunities that address the inclusion of minorities.
Panelists explored the challenges of collecting race and ethnicity data in Latin America and agreed governments have to strenghen their efforts to address gaps in numbers as well as policy. "Data unlocks discussion on policy," explained the IDB's Judith Morrison. "And being able to visualize the data...it's really transforming the discussion."
