Central America & Caribbean

On the fiftieth anniversary of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, former President of Peru Alejandro Toledo discusses the role the Commission has played in helping reconcile the region's complex past and safeguard its democratic institutions. Adapted from an article originally published in Americas Quarterly.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega marked the thirtieth anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution with a call for constitutional reform to pave the way for sequential presidential reelection. The move comes even as neighboring Honduras finds itself in political chaos over similar moves by a deposed leader.

Leaders from Central America met Friday to discuss how to mitigate the effects of the global financial crisis. Calling for deeper integration, leaders proposed creating a common currency and passport.

Building on a previous AQ article, Admiral James Stavridis outlines some of the Southern Command's key initiatives in Latin America, including traveling hospital ships to provide training and medical services.

Today, Central America is a region of peace, with democratically elected governments who respect individual freedoms and human rights. It is difficult for anyone who visits us now to imagine that just two decades ago most of our countries were suffering the horrors of civil war. Read the full article in the Fall 2008 issue of Americas Quarterly.

En un artículo de opinión para El Diario, Christopher Sabatini explica por qué América Latina se mantiene en un nivel secundario en los radares de política exterior de los Estados Unidos en este año electoral. También analiza los puntos de vista de los presuntos candidatos presidenciales en torno al comercio regional, Cuba, y la reforma migratoria.

WTO trade talks froze in Geneva, where booming Brazil played a central role, further strengthening its position as global player and setting the stage for a battle over U.S. ethanol tariffs. As Doha flounders, countries such as Chile and Peru step up bilateral agreements to boost international trade ties.