Issues
Latin America is one of the world’s most diverse regions, in terms of its society, culture, politics – and its social issues. This diversity has led LASC to take a multidimensional approach in its work, in order to best effect change in the lives of those who need it most. LASC is very proud to have collaborated closely on these issues with social movements and individuals both here in Ireland, and in Latin America.
Although this list is not intended to be exhaustive, it provides an overview of our work, as well as brief summaries of the issues we deal with.
The human rights situation across Latin America varies hugely, from the relative stability of the recent democracies in the Southern Cone, to the disappearances, gang violence, and extra-judicial killings that have tragically become part of everyday life in the “Northern Triangle” of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras.
Latin America is home to the world’s most bio-diverse areas, and exhibits an astounding diversity in its landscapes and environment. However, much of this incredible natural heritage is at risk, in a development that is likely to spell disaster for the communities that depend on it. LASC believes that these natural resources form part of our global heritage, and deserve to be protected for the benefit of all.
Latin America is the world’s most unequal region, home to some of the world’s wealthiest people, yet still plagued by poverty. For almost all of its history, Latin America’s wealth has flowed out of the region – whether on Spanish and Portuguese galleons, into the coffers of foreign corporations and industrialists, or routed into tax havens scattered around the globe. At LASC, we believe that understanding these issues, and how they relate, compare, and contrast with our own experiences, is the first step in making meaningful change to the millions of people affected by this injustice.
