VOICES FROM LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Peru, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay2
People in Latin America and the Caribbean ask ‘Why do some people not enjoy a good living?’
“Why do some people in this country not enjoy a ‘good living’ [buen vivir in Spanish]?” This is the question asked by a participant in Ecuador, highlighting a major recurrent theme in the consultations in Latin America and the Caribbean — namely, the entrenched inequalities experienced by most participants in accessing political, economic and social rights. They do not always use the word ‘inequality’, but they all talk about experiencing barriers when it comes to fulfilling their rights as citizens and human beings. Discrimination, exclusion and violence are all topics that cut across the various consultations. The national consultations in the region included the voices of those not usually heard and more likely to be discriminated against (refugees, internally displaced persons, disabled persons, indigenous peoples, Afro-descendant, migrants, LGBT, people living on the streets etc.); therefore, the call for greater equality is perhaps not particularly surprising. However, the need to tackle discrimination, exclusion and inequalities is also seen as a priority by other groups, including the private sector and members of the political and/or economic elites. There is an increasing realization that inequalities are harmful to society as a whole, not just to those directly experiencing them. The call for greater equality was heard in all countries, regardless
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All things which are written in the Constitution should be met, but the truth is they are not and, if met, it is for just more or less the same chosen ones.
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Young participant, national consultation, El Salvador
I imagine a future full of rights where there is no gender discrimination, where law is enforced regardless of preferences, where life is truly equal.
Young indigenous woman, Ecuador
The laws are there, but they are not upheld. We continue to be discriminated by the colour of our skin. to Enforce the laws will take time... it takes education and guidance for our children not to discriminate.
Afro-descendant male, Bolivia
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Consultation with South Region Communities with UNDP NGO partner Movimento Nós Podemos in Curitiba, February 2013 (Photo: Flavio Lopes UNV/UNDP Brazil)
A Million Voices: The World We Want | A Sus tain able Fu t ure with Digni t y f o r A l l 59