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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Santiago, Chile)
For Immediate Release
April 18, 1998
FACT SHEET
ERADICATION OF POVERTY AND DISCRIMINATION AND THE SANTIAGO SUMMIT
The Summit leaders reaffirmed their Miami Summit commitment that all
citizens must participate in the opportunities and prosperity created
by free market democracy. The Summit agreed to intensify efforts to
show working men and women that democracy is responsive to basic human
needs and creates economic and social mobility. In addressing these
concerns, the governments agree to focus on creating stakeholders,
enabling all citizens to participate and seeking to improve the
quality of life for all.
Building Stakeholders
Summit leaders pledged to ensure access to financial services for a
significant number of the 50 million micro, small and medium size
enterprises in the hemisphere by the year 2000;
Summit leaders pledged to work with multilateral institutions and
regional organizations to invest in the range of $400-500 million
over the next three years; combined, donor efforts should provide
new financial resources to over 1 million new microentrepreneurs;
Governments will streamline and decentralize property registration
and titling procedures and assure access for the poor; USAID will
work with other donors and governments to introduce new mapping
technologies and find ways to ensure that the rural and urban poor
secure title to their property;
USAID will provide $120 million over the next three years to support
microenterprise; since Miami, the IDB have adopted a five year $600
million strategy to promote microenterprise and microlending
institutions have increased coverage by over 250,000 new borrowers
annually, creating over 175,000 new jobs.
Participation of All Citizens
Summit leaders pledge to strengthen mechanisms for gender equity and
to support follow-up of international conferences on women;
2
Governments will cooperate to promote core labor standards
recognized by the ILO starting with an exchange of information
at a Labor Ministerial in 1998; IDB and World Bank will devote
$307 million over the next three years and USAID $15 million
to programs designed to strengthen respect for core labor
standards and modernize the capacities of labor ministries;
Governments will work to eliminate exploitative child labor;
USAID and the Department of Labor will work in Central America
to eliminate child labor in areas that are most hazardous,
including quarries and fireworks factories;
Governments will negotiate a new Declaration of Principles on
Fundamental Rights of Workers;
Governments believe that trade liberalization contributes to
the promotion of labor standards and should lead to higher
levels of employment;
Governments will promote education and training for indigenous
populations.
Quality of Life
Summit leaders pledge to support regional initiatives that by
the year 2002 will reduce the incidence of diseases such as
pneumonia, meningitis, rubella and mumps and continue to
pursue the elimination of measles by the year 2000; USAID will
devote $60 million over the next three years to health care
initiatives focusing on reducing the incidence of communicable
diseases, improving access to safe water, and make increased
use of low-cost telecommunications technologies to spread
these benefits as widely as possible;
Summit leaders pledge to strengthen regional networks of
health information such as through telemedicine;
Summit leaders pledge to give highest priority to reducing
infant malnutrition; USAID will spend $375 million over the
next three years, including $340 million in food assistance;
Summit leaders pledge to strengthen cooperation to implement
Santa Cruz Sustainable Development Plan of Action.
# # #
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Santiago, Chile)
For Immediate Release
April 18, 1998
FACT SHEET
EDUCATION AND THE SANTIAGO SUMMIT
The leaders of the democracies of the Western Hemisphere are
making education a central focus of the Second Summit of the
Americas. At the opening session of the Summit, the leaders
agreed that education is the centerpiece of the "second
generation" reforms -- reforms aimed at making democracy work
for all the people of the Americas -- that they will strenghten
and advance in the Summit's wake.
The Summit Action Plan adopted at Santiago will build on the
achievements of the 1994 Miami Summit. It will launch and
advance numerous cooperative efforts, based on four guiding
principles: (1) equity -- providing opportunity for all; (2)
quality -- achieving high levels of skills and achievement;
(3) relevance -- making sure the education system takes into
account social, ethnic and linguistic diversity; and (4)
efficiency -- providing adequate resources and optimizing their
use.
The Summit Plan reaffirms the Miami Plan's targets of ensuring,
by the year 2010 universal access to, and completion of, quality
primary education for 100% of children; and access to quality
secondary education for at least 75% of young people. The
Santiago Summit leaders also agreed to use technology to link
schools across national boundaries and to increase international
exchanges of students.
The Santiago Plan includes solid commitments to carry out the
education initiatives of the Summit by financing schools,
textbooks, teacher training, and technology for education -- and
creating education partnerships between the public and private
sectors:
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has pledged to
double new lending - to over $3 billion over the next three
2
years -- as compared with the previous three years, for
primary and secondary education;
The IDB is also working to establish a Special Regional Fund
for education, to make additional loans;
The World Bank will make more than $3 billion available for
education lending over the next three years and will host a
major conference in June to discuss financing options for
education;
Overall, the IDB and World Bank will provide over three years
a total of $45 billion in loans, on favorable terms, for
development: education, poverty reduction, health,
microenterprise and other programs;
The US Agency for International Development will commit
approximately $130 million in grant funding for education
between 1998-2000 -- out of a total of $1.2 billion in USAID
grants for development in the Americas in this period;
With the assistance of multilateral banks and the private
sector, a new web-site -- Americas.edu -- has been launched
to use the Internet to link schools around the hemisphere, and
to operate as a clearinghouse for the public and private
sectors as they work together to deliver educational services,
such as bilingual electronic content, to all the hemisphere's
citizens;
Brazil has announced it will host an OAS conference on
education in July 1998 to develop an implementation strategy
for the Santiago Action Plan. The conference will focus on
key objectives of the Plan, such as early childhood
strategies, criteria and methodology for assessing quality,
enhancing training for teachers and administrators, and
helping prepare adults for changes in labor markets.
###
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Santiago, Chile)
For Immediate Release
April 18, 1998
FACT SHEET
PROMOTING DEMOCRACY, JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS AT THE SANTIAGO
SUMMIT
The Summit leaders reaffirmed their Miami Summit commitment that
strengthening democracy, justice and human rights is a vital
hemispheric priority. The Summit leaders agreed to intensify
efforts to promote the "second generation" of reforms including
democratic reforms at the regional and local level, protecting
the rights of migrant workers and their families, improving the
capabilities and competence of justice systems, and encouraging
a strong and active civil society.
Strengthening Local Government and Civil Society
The Summit leaders pledged to strengthen the participation of
civil society groups like NGOs, academia, think tanks,
advocacy groups, interest groups etc. in local and national
decision making;
The Summit leaders, to strengthen the integrity of
governmental institutions, pledged to promptly ratify the
Inter-American Convention Against Corruption. To this end,
President Clinton has submitted the Convention to the U.S.
Senate for advice and consent to ratification;
The Summit leaders will continue strengthening the OAS's Unit
for the Promotion of Democracy;
The Summit leaders also pledged to work together in finding
ways to prevent financial contributions to electoral campaigns
from organized crime and drug traffickers.
Freedom of the Press and Freedom of Expression
Since 1994, approximately 200 journalists have been killed in
investigating threats to democracy such as corruption and
narcotrafficking. Democracy needs an open and robust
2
dialogue. To protect freedom of expression, the Summit
leaders support the creation of a Special Rapporteur for
Freedom of Expression as part of the Inter-American Commission
for Human Rights. The Rapporteur will help resolve specific
human rights cases involving the press and focus international
attention on attacks against the hemisphere's emerging Fourth
Estate, as their investigative reporting provokes increasing
threats from narcotrafficking and other criminal elements.
Protecting Human Rights
In celebrating the 50th anniversary the OAS Charter, the Summit
leaders renew their commitments to improve the status of
indigenous populations, migrant workers, women and children, and
the disabled. The Summit leaders pledged:
1. That governments will seek to attain legal equality between
men and women by the year 2002;
2. To define and develop comprehensive policies aimed at
promoting and protecting human rights at the national level;
3. To guarantee that all individuals have the right to due
process of law, including the presumption of innocence and the
right to trial within a reasonable period of time;
4. That governments will implement national information systems
to address child abuse, especially the exploitation of
children through prostitution, pornography and trafficking;
5. To support the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
through the establishment of a Special Rapporteur for Migrant
orkers;
6. That governments will strengthen the capacities of labor
ministries to protect worker rights.
Rule of Law
Effective, credible and transparent justice systems throughout
Latin America and the Caribbean are vital to sustaining
democratic progress and the trust of citizens in their
governments. Governments are being openly challenged by their
electorates to end impunity, combat corruption, provide
protection from rising domestic and international crime, and to
create a secure legal environment for trade and investment. In
response to this challenge, the Summit leaders pledge:
To establish a justice studies center for the hemisphere,
whose purpose will be to facilitate training of personnel,
exchange of information and other forms of technical
cooperation to improve justice systems. The justice studies
3
center would serve as a central repository for information on
best practices and stand ready to assist with technical tasks,
such as development of curricula for judges or prosecutors, as
may be requested by different countries or institutions. The
center promises to become an important link to a better future
for the Americas.
In addition, the Summit leaders also agreed on the following
to promote the rule of law:
1. Develop mechanisms that permit easy and timely access to
justice by all persons, with particular reference to persons
with low income, by adopting measures to enhance the
transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness of the courts;
2. Adapt legislation and proceed with necessary institutional
reforms and measures to guarantee the comprehensive protection
of the rights of children and youths to meet the obligations
established under the United Nations Convention on Rights of
the Child;
3. Foster the establishment and strengthening of specialized
tribunals or courts for family matters and in accordance with
their respective legal systems;
# # #
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Santiago, Chile)
For Immediate Release
April 18, 1998
FACT SHEET
ADVANCING OUR COMMON SECURITY AT THE SANTIAGO SUMMIT
The Summit leaders discussed the importance of strengthening
their partnership to combat the new transnational threats facing
the region including the production, distribution, and abuse of
narcotics, illegal arms trafficking and terrorism. To combat
these threats and to strengthen the hemisphere's common
security, the leaders agreed to the following:
Narcotics
The Summit leaders launched a Multilateral Counterdrug
Alliance to better organize and coordinate efforts in the
hemisphere to stem the production and distribution of drugs.
The centerpiece of this alliance will be a mechanism to
evaluate each member country's progress in achieving their
agreed counternarcotics goals negotiations for which will
begin next month in Washington. The Summit leaders also
agreed to:
1. Increase cooperation in areas such as the collection and
analysis of data, standardization of systems that measure
illicit consumption;
2. Encourage the developments of campaigns to foster greater
social awareness of the dangers of drug abuse for individuals,
the family and society as well as community participation
plans;
3. Improve and update cooperative mechanisms to prosecute and
extradite individuals charged with the traffic in narcotics
and other related crimes;
4. Establish or strengthen existing, duly trained specialized
units responsible for requesting, analyzing and exchanging
information on money laundering and assets used in criminal
activity;
5. Reinforce international and national control mechanisms to
impede the illicit traffic and diversion of chemical
precursors;
2
6. Continue to develop their national and multilateral efforts in
order to achieve full application of the Hemispheric Anti-Drug
Strategy;
7. Enhance their national policies to prevent illicit drug
consumption at the community level, in schools and by the most
vulnerable groups, such as children and young people;
8. Develop appropriate treatment, rehabilitation and
reintegration programs with a view to alleviating the social
effects, human suffering and other adverse effects associated
with drug abuse;
9. Eliminate illicit crops through the increased support of
national alternative development programs as well as
eradication and interdiction.
Arms Trafficking
Illegal traffic in firearms and explosives also poses a common
threat to the hemisphere's public safety and democratic
institutions. To meet this threat, the Summit leaders called
for the rapid ratification and entry into force of the Inter-
American Convention to Combat the Illicit Manufacturing of and
Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition Explosives and Related
material which President Clinton will send to the Senate for
ratification upon his return. This Convention will help
ensure effective international cooperation to prevent and
combat illicit transnational traffic in firearms and
ammunition, while establishing or strengthening systems to
enhance the tracing of firearms used in criminal activity.
The US will complete implementation within 60 days of the OAS
model regulations on commercial arms transfers.
Terrorism
To prevent, combat and eliminate the common threat of
terrorism, the Summit leaders agreed to encourage states that
have not yet done so to sign, ratify or accede to, the
international conventions related to terrorism and convene,
under the auspices of the OAS, the Second Specialized Inter-
American Conference to evaluate the progress attained and to
define future courses of action for the prevention, combat and
elimination of terrorism.
Building Confidence and Security Among States
To continue to promote regional dialogue, transparency in
defense policy and mutual confidence, the Summit leaders
charged the OAS to follow up on and expand topics relating to
3
confidence and security building measures with the goal of a
Special Conference on Security within the framework of the OAS
to be held, at the latest, at the beginning of the next
decade.
# # #
Page
10
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Apr 07 Tue 18:17 1998
REPUBLICA DE CHILE
REVISED VERSION
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
03.04.1998, 11:45 AM
Coordinación General
II Cumbre de las Américas
CONFIDENTIAL
the ongoing work of the ILO with regard to exchanges of information
and the negotiation of a new Declaration of Principles on Fundamental
Rights of Workers and appropriate follow-up; believe that economic
growth and development fostered by increased trade and further trade
liberalization contribute to the promotion of these standards and should
lead to higher levels of employment; similarly reject the use of labor
standards for protectionist purposes, and, in this regard, note that the
WTO and ILO Secretariats shall continue their collaboration.
Indigenous Populations
To promote greater participation of indigenous populations in society through
adequate access to education, health care, and occupational training, with the
aim of improving their standard of living, governments will:
Support activities in the field of education aimed at improving the
participation of indigenous populations and communities in society.
Such activities would seek to strengthen the identity of indigenous
populations and promote respectful coexistence among different social
groups in communities and states.
Promote the widening of basic and secondary education services with
training orientation, mainly in regions with high percentages of
indigenous populations, through greater support from governments and
international cooperation, at the request of interested governments, so
that indigenous and non-indigenous populations have the opportunity to
receive technical training and contribute to the development of their
countries. To the extent possible, the training areas which are
implemented parallel to educational processes should respond to the
needs of the region and to productive strategies.
43
Page
11
Job 211
Apr 07 Tue 18:17 1998
REPUBLICA DE CHILE
REVISED VERSION
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
03.04.1998, 11:45 AM
Coordinación General
II Cumbre de las Américas
CONFIDENTIAL
In cooperation with regional organizations, development institutions and
NGOs, actively support and promote capacity building activities and
productive projects, including agriculture, handicrafts, small trade and
industry and marketing. To the extent possible, these should be guided
and administered by indigenous populations.
Facilitate the organization of round-tables at the national and
hemispheric level, in partnership with indigenous populations, with a
view to promoting greater understanding of and cooperation in the areas
of education and health, with a particular emphasis on women and
children. Governments will also promote research initiatives on the
relationship between indigenous population, poverty and development.
Proceed with inter-governmental examination within the OAS
framework of the "Proposed American Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples" prepared by the Inter-American Commission on
Human Rights, with a view toward the possible adoption of a
declaration.
Hunger and Malnutrition
Governments will:
Give the highest priority to reducing infant malnutrition, concentrating
efforts on health, nutrition and education programs for the nutrition of
infants, particularly those less than three, as those are the years of
greatest vulnerability. To that end, emphasis shall be given to adequate
nutrition and the correction of specific nutritional deficiencies,
specifically with vitamin and mineral supplements combined with
greater use of vaccinations and immunizations and monitoring during
the growth of the child.
44
The Santiago Summit
PREPARING THE AMERICAS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
Channels more funds into primary and secondary education as a foundation
for democracy, prosperity, and equal opportunity
Enhances teacher training, standards, textbook availability, and distance
Education:
learning programs
Investing in People,
Reforms curricula for a changing global marketplace
Defining our Shared
Increases international student and teacher exchanges
Future
Promotes teaching of democratic values and environmental stewardship
Promotes lifelong learning, including women and displaced workers
Resources from IDB, World Bank, and AID of $8.3 billion over three years
Bolsters fundamental democratic freedoms and establishes a rapporteur for a
free press
Establishes a regional justice studies center to train judges and improve
justice for all
Strengthens local governmental institutions through decentralization
Attacks the global scourges of corruption, terrorism and crime
Launches an Alliance Against Drugs to evaluate and improve performance
Stops conflicts before they start by building trust and openness in arms
regimes and security budgets
Strengthens labor ministries to enhance worker rights and working
conditions, including the elimination of exploitative forms of child labor
Resources from IDB, World Bank, and AID of $5.8 billion over three years
Meets Miami commitment for the Free Trade Area of the Americas by 2005
by launching negotiations
Creates healthier, more stable financial markets
Building Our
Wealth Through
Protects the environment for future generations by addressing climate
change and clean energy development
Economic Integration
and Trade
Builds a hemispheric neighborhood for safer and more efficient air, sea, and
land transportation networks
Stimulates development of the Internet and other technologies
Resources from IDB, World Bank, and AID of $18.7 billion over three years
Opens new credit lines. training, and technologies for the microentrepreneur
Rejecting
Streamlines property registration for the poor
Poverty Amid
Enhances the role of women and vulnerable groups in society
Growing
Reduces illness by expanding immunization and improves the quality of
Prosperity
drinking water
Attacks hunger and malnutrition, especially of mothers and infants, the aged.
and the physically disabled
Denotes environmental
Resources from IDB, World Bank, and AID of $12.4 billion over three years
component
Page
13
Job
211
Apr 07 Tue 18:18 1998
REPUBLIC OF CHILE
Ministry of Foreign Relations
General Coordination
Second Summit of the Americas
CONFIDENTIAL
DECLARATION OF SANTIAGO
DRAFT
1.
We, the democratically-elected Heads of State and Government of the
countries of the Americas, have met in Santiago, Chile, in order to
continue the dialogue and strengthen the cooperation we began in
Miami in December 1994. Since that time, significant progress has
been made in the formulation and execution of joint plans and programs
in order to take advantage of the great opportunities that stand before us.
We reaffirm our intent to continue this most important undertaking,
which requires sustained national efforts and dynamic international
cooperation.
2.
The strengthening of democracy, political dialogue, economic stability,
and progress towards social justice, the extent to which our trade
liberalization policies coincide, and the will to expedite a process of
ongoing Hemispheric integration have made our relations more mature.
We will redouble our efforts to continue reforms aimed at improving the
living conditions of the peoples of the Americas and to achieve a
mutually supportive community. For this reason, we have decided that
education is a key topic and is of particular importance in our
deliberations. We approve the attached Plan of Action, and undertake to
carry out its initiatives.
3.
In this context, since our meeting in Miami, we have seen real
economic benefits in the Americas resulting from more open trade,
transparency in economic regulations, market-based and sound
economic policies, and efforts by the private sector to increase its
competitiveness. Even as countries in our region have been tested by
financial and other economic pressures, and as countries in other
regions have experienced serious economic setbacks, the overall course
in the Americas has been one of faster economic growth, lower
inflation, expanded opportunities, and confidence in facing the global
marketplace. A major reason for this positive record has been our
Page
14
Job
211
Apr 07 Tue 18:19 1998
countries' steadfast and cooperative efforts to promote prosperity
through increased economic integration and more open economies.
New partnerships have been formed and existing ones strengthened and
expanded. A positive role is being played by sub-regional and bilateral
integration and free trade agreements. We are confident that the Free
Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) will improve the well-being of all
our people, including economically disadvantaged populations within
our respective countries.
4.
Hemispheric integration is a necessary complement to national policies
aimed at overcoming lingering problems and obtaining a higher level of
development. In its broadest sense, a process of integration that is
based on respect for cultural identities will make it possible to shape a
common, interwoven set of values and interests that helps us in these
objectives.
5.
Globalization offers great opportunities for the progress of our countries
and opens up new areas of cooperation for the hemispheric community.
However, it can also heighten the differences among countries and
within our societies. With steadfast determination to reap its benefits
and to face its challenges, we will give special attention to the most
vulnerable countries and social groups in the Hemisphere.
6.
Education is the determining factor for the political, social, cultural, and
economic development of our peoples. We undertake to facilitate
access for all inhabitants of the Americas to preschool, primary,
secondary, and higher education, and we will make learning an ongoing
process. We will put science and technology at the service of
education, in order to assure growing levels of knowledge, and so that
educators may develop their skills to the highest level. The Plan of
Action that accompanies this Declaration defines the objectives and
goals we intend to achieve and the actions that will make them a reality.
In order to meet our goals within the agreed timeframes, we reaffirm
our commitment to invest greater resources in this important area, and
to encourage civil society to participate in developing education.
7.
The decisions adopted by our Ministers of Education at the Conference
held in Mérida, Mexico, last February, reflect our desire to promote
specific joint initiatives designed to improve access to education, with
faimess, quality, relevancy, and effectiveness. In order to strengthen
Page 15 Job 211
Apr 07 Tue 18:20 1998
and lend continuity to our decisions, we have instructed that another
Conference be held, to take place in Brasília, Brazil, in July of this year.
8.
Today, we direct our Ministers Responsible for Trade to initiate the
negotiations for the FTAA, as set out in the Minsterial Declaration of
San José of March 1998. We reaffirm our determination to conclude
the negotiation of the FTAA no later than 2005, and to make concrete
progress by the end of the century. The FTAA agreement will be
balanced, comprehensive, WTO-consistent and constitute a single
undertaking.
9.
We note with satisfaction the preparatory work by the Ministers
Responsible for Trade over the past three years which has strengthened
our trade policies, fostered understanding of our economic objectives
and facilitated the dialogue among all the participating countries. We
appreciate the significant contribution of the Inter-American
Development Bank (IDB), the Organization of American States (OAS),
and the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and
the Caribbean (ECLAC), acting as the Tripartite Committee.
10. The FTAA negotiating process will be transparent, and take into account
the differences in the levels of development and size of the economies in
the Americas, in order to create the opportunities for the full participation
of all countries. We encourage all segments of civil society to participate
in and contribute to the process in a constructive manner, through our
respective mechanisms of dialogue and consultation and by presenting
their views through the mechanism created in the FTAA negotiating
process. We believe that economic integration, investment, and free
trade are key factors for raising standards of living, improving the
working conditions of the people of the Americas and better protecting
the environment. These issues will be taken into account as we proceed
with the economic integration process in the Americas.
11. The force and meaning of representative democracy lies in the active
participation of individuals in all levels of civic life. The democratic
culture must encompass our entire population. We will strengthen
education for democracy and carry out the necessary reforms for
government institutions to become more participatory structures. We
undertake to strengthen the capabilities of regional and local
Page 16 Job 211
Apr 0.7 Tue 18:20 1998
governments, when appropriate, and to foster more active participation in
civil society.
12. Respect for and promotion of the human rights and fundamental
freedoms of all individuals is a primary concern of our governments. In
commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the American Declaration of
the Rights and Duties of Man and the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, we agree on the need to promote the ratification and
implementation of the international agreements aimed at preserving them
and to continue strengthening the pertinent national and international
institutions. We agree that a free press plays a fundamental role in this
area and we reaffirm the importance of guaranteeing freedom of
expression, information, and opinion. We commend the recent
appointment of a Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, within
the framework of the Organization of American States.
13. Confident that an independent, efficient, and effective administration of
justice plays an essential role in the process of consolidating democracy,
strengthens its institution, guarantees the equality of all its citizens, and
contributes to economic development, we will enhance our policies
relating to justice and encourage the reforms necessary to promote legal
and judicial cooperation. To that end, we will strengthen national entities
involved in the study of the administration of justice and encourage the
establishment of a hemispheric center for studies on this subject.
14. We will combat all forms of discrimination in the Hemisphere. Equal
rights and opportunities between men and women and the objective of
ensuring active participation of women in all areas of endeavor of our
countries are priority tasks. We will continue to promote the full
integration of indigenous populations and other vulnerable groups, with
due respect for the characteristics and expressions that affirm their
cultural identity. We will make a special effort to guarantee the human
rights of all migrants, including migrant workers and their families.
15. Overcoming poverty continues to be the greatest challenge confronted by
our Hemisphere. We are conscious that the positive growth shown in the
Americas in past years has yet to resolve the problems of inequity and
social exclusion. We are determined to remove the barriers that deny the
poor access to proper nutrition, social services, a healthy environment,
credit, and legal title to their property. We will provide increased support
Page 17 Job 211
Apr 07 Tue 18:21 1998
(relognized bytheILO
to micro and small enterprises, promoting core labor standards, and us &
C
new health technologies to improve the health conditions of every family
in the Americas, achieving greater levels of equity and sustainable
development.
16. With profound satisfaction, we note that peace, an essential value for
human coexistence, is a reality in the Hemisphere. We note the efforts
and commitments of the Central American nations to promote peace,
democracy, and development. We will continue to foster confidence and
security among our countries through such measures as those indicated in
the Santiago and San Salvador Declarations on Confidence- and
Security-Building Measures. We encourage the settlement of disputes
that may threaten peace and efforts aimed at the elimination of anti-
personnel mines and the rehabilitation of their victims.
17. We will persist in the struggle against corruption, money laundering,
terrorism, weapons trafficking, and the drug problem, including illicit
drug use, and work together to ensure that criminals do not find safe
haven anywhere in the Hemisphere. We are determined to persevere on
this path.
Page
18
Job 211
Apr 07 Tue 18:21 1998
18. In forging an alliance against drugs and applying the Hemispheric Anti-
Drug Strategy, we welcome the start of formal negotiations at the May 4
meeting of CICAD to be held in Washington to develop an objective
procedure for the multilateral evaluation of actions and cooperation to
prevent and combat all aspects of the drug problem and related crimes,
based on the principles of the sovereignty, territorial integrity of States,
shared responsibility, and with an integrated and balanced approach.
19. The Region has made significant advances in both the monetary and
fiscal areas and in the stability of prices and the liberalization of our
economies. The volatility of capital markets vindicates our decision to
strengthen banking supervision in the Hemisphere and to establish
regulations relating to the disclosure and revealing of banking
information that permits us to confront such episodes with confidence,
and go hand in hand with the process of globalization of the economy.
20. We will strengthen national, hemispheric, and international efforts aimed
at environmental protection as a basis for sustainable development that
provides humans beings a healthy and productive life in harmony with
nature. The commitments undertaken at the Miami Summit and the
Summit on Sustainable Development held in Santa Cruz de la Sierra,
Bolivia, provide a solid basis for strengthening our actions. As parties to
the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, we
underscore the importance of working together to further fulfillment of
the agreements reached at the Conference in Kyoto, Japan, and to
promote its ratification in our countries. Moreover, we will work closely
to make preparations for a follow-up meeting to be held in November of
this year in Buenos Aires, Argentina. At the same time, we undertake to
promote the use of clean energy.
21. Recognizing the importance of, and positive role played by hemispheric
institutions, particularly the Organization of American States (OAS), we
instruct the Foreign Ministers to examine, through the appropriate
mechanism that would include the participation of representatives of the
OAS and other inter-American institutions, the new tasks, the
modernization, and strengthening of these institutions, and in particular,
to identify how the OAS can mobilize additional external resources for
technical cooperation and development programs. In regard to the OAS
recommendations, the General Assembly should set a date for the prompt
SATURDAY AFTERNOON SESSION:
ERADICATION OF POVERTY AND DISCRIMINATION
Key Objectives
Highlight success of Chile in engineering growth with equity,
and reducing poverty using free market policies.
Urge leaders to take worker rights and core labor standards
beyond the modest language Summit negotiators settled on.
Background
As with Education, this Summit basket has significant resources
attached. Most countries in the hemisphere suffer from
dramatically skewed income distributions, many of which have
worsened in recent years. Although income distribution remains
a problem, Chile's success in reducing poverty nonetheless
provides a successful model for broad-based growth accompanied
by improving social equity.
The Summit Plan of Action lays out measures to promote micro,
small and medium enterprises; expand property registration for
the poor; improve health care; strengthen the rights of women
and indigenous populations; promote worker rights; and attack
hunger and malnutrition. All these initiatives are designed to
encourage growth with equity.
To promote microenterprise, USAID will provide $120 million over
the next two years, closely linked to the IDB's $500 million
Micro 2001 program. Since Miami, hemispheric microlending
institutions have increased coverage by over 250,000 new
borrowers annually, creating over 175,000 new jobs. Combined,
donor efforts should provide new financial resources to over 1
million new microentrepreneurs.
USAID will also provide $10 million toward property registration
improvements in the hemisphere, so that smallholders can receive
clear title to lands they are working through modern mapping
techniques (GPS), streamlined bureaucratic procedures, and
reduced titling fees.
USAID health care initiatives will focus on reducing the
incidence of communicable diseases, improving access to safe
water, and make increased use of low-cost technologies to spread
these benefits as widely as possible, including to remote rural
2
areas. Telecommunications systems and the internet offer new
avenues for providing health care information and advice. USAID
will devote $20 million to these efforts over the next two
years; multilateral lenders are also heavily involved in the
health sector.
Summit documents reaffirm commitments to promote the rights of
women, through various international conventions, and call for a
reexamination of existing national laws that have the effect of
limiting the full participation of women in political life. The
role of indigenous populations in national life is a question of
great political significance for a number of Summit countries --
witness Mexico's current wrestling with indigenous rights in the
context of Chiapas -- and the Summit commits governments to
expand training and economic opportunities, strengthen the
identity, and improve the participation of indigenous groups in
society.
Promoting respect for core labor standards and worker rights has
proven very contentious, with Mexico and others resisting
language that we proposed to address this topic. In the end, a
consensus was reached on language that acknowledges the role of
government in promoting workers' rights but stops short of
forcefully committing countries to specific steps. The Vice
President raised these issues with President Zedillo in the
final days of negotiations on the Summit documents, but with
only partial success. USAID will devote $12 million over the
next two years to programs designed to strengthen respect for
core labor standards.
The Summit is also taking specific steps to address child labor.
Secretary Herman and her Central American counterparts met last
year to map common strategies and action against this problem,
among other labor challenges, and your FY99 ten-fold increase
(to $30 million) of the ILO's International Program Against
Child Labor will allow us to devote more resources to this area
here and around the world.
To address hunger and malnutrition, particularly among children,
women and the disadvantaged, USAID will spend $375 million over
the next two years, including $340 million in food assistance.
Vaccinations, immunizations, breast feeding, and civic
engagement on hunger issues are all elements of the approach the
Santiago documents lay out.
TALKING POINTS FOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON SESSION:
ERADICATION OF POVERTY AND DISCRIMINATION
Chilean Market Model
Our economies are performing strongly, having generally
weathered Asian shocks and vagaries of the international
market. This is testimony to the reforms you have introduced
and stuck to.
But not all our citizens benefiting enough. Equity must be
the companion of growth if we are to have real economic
development.
Salute the Chilean experience, which has demonstrated to us
that reductions in poverty can be achieved in conjunction with
market reform. Chile now a nation of stakeholders,
participating and sharing in economic growth.
U.S. Contribution
United States pleased to be a strong contributor to many of
the initiatives we have identified to eradicate poverty and
discrimination.
Over $500 million in U.S. programs in these areas over the
next two years. Many times more than that in multilateral
lending.
With microlending, we can provide the tools for the smallest
of businesses to succeed. This experience has been richly
rewarding in South Asia, Africa. The smallest entrepreneurs
are often the most capable of responding to economic
opportunity, creating jobs. We must continue to find
innovative ways to support their activities.
New technologies can be an important way to leverage our
expenditures on health care. With the internet, a telephone
system can become a means of providing basic medical care, or
diagnosis, or epidemiology.
Critical that the role of women be stressed. No society can
afford to undervalue the labor, energy and talent of half its
population. And yet we all do, in varying degrees. We must
be committed to the eradication of discrimination against
2
women, and to ensuring that they are compensated equally for
their equal work. Anything less is self-limiting.
Also need to better integrate indigenous populations and other
minorities in our economies and societies. Our future will
continue to be limited so long as we do not tap into all our
potentials.
Labor
Promoting respect for core labor standards and worker rights
is an important feature of this Summit basket. Believe we can
do even more in this sector than we have agreed. Our
prosperity is fragile if we choose to construct it on a
foundation that lacks full respect for the contributions of
workers.
Our delegates at the ILO now discussing a range of issues
dealing with improving respect for worker rights, examining
linkages between trade and labor. We should seize this as an
opportunity to strengthen our economic foundation.
Child labor is an area where there is no excuse for
complacency. Every one of our societies suffers from this
problem. Some because of agricultural sector needs and
traditions; others because of indecent exploitation of the
youngest by manufacturers.
Child labor robs our future. Leads to generations of
undereducated, under-equipped workers. Nothing less than an
egregious human rights abuse.
We are working with ILO, Central American leaders, and others
to attack this problem. Hope we can keep this on the
hemispheric agenda.
SATURDAY MORNING SESSION:
EDUCATION: THE KEY FOR PROGRESS
Key Objectives
Underscore the central place of education in preparing the
people of the Americas for the 21st century.
Urge leaders to support efforts by the IDB and World Bank to
make financial and technical resources available for
implementing Summit initiatives, especially for IDB's Special
Regional Fund to make loans with easier terms available from
existing resources.
Highlight forward-looking approach of using information
technology for distance learning and enhancing education.
Background. Education is the centerpiece of the Summit. Your
colleagues want to demonstrate a significant commitment to
education. On February 26-27, a special meeting of the
hemisphere's ministers of education was convened in Mexico by
Zedillo. The intent was to highlight education in the Summit's
Political Declaration. Major conferences, scheduled by the
World Bank in June and the OAS in July, are meant to demonstrate
a commitment to implementation.
Reforming the hemisphere's education systems goes to the heart
of the Summit's message on "Second Generation Reforms." The
Political Declaration clearly indicates the hemisphere's
commitment to reform: "Education is the determining factor to
reach social, cultural, political and economic development."
Summit Initiatives. The Action Plan on education is based on
four principles: "equity," "quality," "relevance" and
"efficiency." The Plan reaffirms Miami Summit commitments: to
ensure by the year 2010 universal access to, and completion of,
quality primary education for 100 percent of children; access
for at least 75 percent of young people to quality secondary
education with increasing percentages for completion over time;
and opportunities for adult education.
The Action Plan identifies key objectives to which the leaders'
and multilateral financial institutions are pledging to commit
the necessary resources. These include:
2
targeted programs for disadvantaged groups that focus on
functional illiteracy and conditions such as health and
nutrition, especially in early childhood (highlighting
"equity" principle) ;
developing indicators to permit assessment of quality and
increasing the professionalism of teachers and administrators;
reading and writing, mathematics and science will receive
special attention (highlighting "quality" principle). ;
strengthening education and training for working people
(highlighting "relevance" principle);
promoting the use of information technology to provide for
distance learning and the linkage of schools and communities
(highlighting "efficiency" principle);
Deliverables. As highlighted in the Action Plan, the Inter-
American Development Bank has pledged to double new lending over
the next three years, as compared to the previous three years,
to $3 billion. The IDB is also attempting to establish a
Special Regional Fund for hemispheric initiatives utilizing
existing resources of the bank to make "soft" loans (i.e. lower
interest, longer grace periods). The World Bank has about $3
billion available for education lending and will be hosting a
major Conference in June that will bring together Education
Ministers, Finance Ministers and the private sector to discuss
ways of financing education reform. USAID is committing
approximately $80 million in grant funding between 1998 - 2000.
Finally, as is likely to be highlighted in the communications of
the IDB and World Bank, education and technology programs that
set targets for developing electronic content and wiring schools
to the internet will be featured. Technology initiatives will
be illustrated with the establishment by TRW and Sun
Microsystems of a website - Americas - that will be a
clearinghouse for strategy recommendations by multilateral
institutions, needs expressed by governments and technology
available from the private sector.
TALKING POINTS FOR SATURDAY MORNING SESSION:
EDUCATION: THE KEY FOR PROGRESS
So many of us have been educators and have devoted our
administrations to advancing education reform to prepare our
citizens for the 21st century.
Applaud Summit commitment to quality education, especially the
need for all citizens to have educational opportunities
throughout their lives.
As Hillary and I have stressed in our own country, early
childhood strategies are key.
Important to reaffirm the Miami Summit targets for universal
access to and completion of primary and secondary education.
Education and training for adults are critical for sustaining
economic growth.
Harnessing new information technologies also critical. The
Hemisphere cannot afford to be left behind in the information
age. Look forward to the unveiling of Americas.ed
Focus on a partnership among public and private sectors,
multilateral institutions and civil society is fundamental for
achieving change.
The IDB commitment to double new lending to $3 billion for
primary and secondary is impressive. It will be a challenge
to use these precious resources effectively.
Look forward to the World Bank Conference in June and its
focus on finding ways to finance education reform in the
hemisphere.
Let us try to make a concrete "downpayment" on implementing
these initiatives in time for the July ministerial in Brazil.
Page 1 Job 211
Apr 07 Tue 18:13 1998
AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20523
FACSIMILE COVER SHEET
DATE: 4/7/98
TO: Melanne Verveer
FAX: 456-6244
SUBJECT:
FROM: Mark Schneider
OFFICE: AA/LAC
FAX: 202-216-3012
PHONE: 202-712-4800
NUMBER OF PAGES INCLUDING THIS COVER SHEET: 19
MESSAGE:
See paragraph 14, this is the final version. Some modifications in
paragraphs 18-22 and typoes being corrected. Attached is the Plan of
Action an poverty including the initiative on women. I will send over
the full Plan of Action asap. Check out the microenterprise initiative.
Page 2 Job 211
Apr 07 Tue 18:13 1998
REPUBLICA DE CHILE
Coordinación General
II Cumbre de las Américas
Thrahoney
REVISED VERSION
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
03.04.1998, 11:45 AM
CONFIDENTIAL
II SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS
DRAFT
PLAN OF ACTION
SANTIAGO, CHILE, APRIL 1-3, 1998
Proposal of PAHO to be included in the
Political Declaration of the II SOA
Health Initiative
Serious health problems persist in the hemisphere. Unacceptable differences remain
common in the health status of individuals, both within and between countries. Too
many children do not reach their first birthday. Women die during childbirth due to
preventable causes. The gaps in health status between rich and poor, and between urban
and rural communities are unjust and avoidable.
Improved health for our people is a powerful instrument in the effort to eradicate poverty.
Today there is wide recognition that health is a central element in human development.
Healthy and productive populations are needed to compete in the global markets. With a
Panamerican perspective, governments can achieve, through collaboration, what they can
not achieve by themselves. The Initiative of Health Technologies Linking the Americas
will provide an opportunity for this enhanced collaboration.
Today, it is necessary to promote the development and use of effective low-cost health
technologies in the Region in order to reduce the time between the development of
technologies and their concrete application to solve health problems. These technologies
will help achieve sustainable development and greater equity.
Health Technologies Linking the Americas
Governments will:
- Seek, through public and private efforts, or partnerships between the two, to increase the
availability and access, and to ensure the quality of drugs and vaccines, especially for the
most needy, by promoting efforts to safeguard the quality, rational selection and use, safety,
and efficacy of pharmaceutical products, with special emphasis on essential drugs; and by
supporting regional initiatives that by the year 2002 will have addressed research,
development, production and utilization of vaccines, which will reduce the incidence of
diseases, such as pneumonia, meningitis, measles rubella and mumps.
- Strengthen and improve existing national and regional networks of health information and
surveillance systems, so that stakeholders have access to data to address critical health
issues in the Region, in order to make appropriate clinical and managerial decisions. They
will address the development, implementation and evaluation of needs-based health
information systems and technology, including telecommunications, to support
epidemiological surveillance, the operation and management of health services and programs,
health education and promotion, telemedicine, computer networks, and investment in new
health technologies.
- Develop initiatives directed to reduce deficits in access to and quality of drinking water, basic
sanitation and solid waste management, with special emphasis in rural and poor urban areas,
by applying existing or developing new, appropriate and effective low-cost technologies.
- The Governments of the Region will make every effort to ensure that the necessary resources
are allocated for the development of these three lines of action, with the technical support of
the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO). They also will promote bilateral and
multilateral collaboration, and will request the Inter-American Development Bank and the
World Bank, and other financial and technical cooperation institutions, to support the
programs and activities included in this initiative, according to their own specific priorities
and fields of action.
- Develop mechanisms for evaluating the relevance, cost and efficacy of the technologies
introduced to deal with these and other priority health problems (1)
2
According to proposal of Chile.
George A. O. Alleyne
Director, PAHO *
6 March 1997
HEALTH TECHNOLOGY LINKING THE AMERICAS:
A THEME FOR THE SANTIAGO SUMMIT**
(Washington, D.C.)
Let me repeat the welcome I gave yesterday and say how pleased I am to have
Mr. Iglesias, Mr. Gaviria and Mr. Rosenthal with us today. It is always gratifying to see
the institutions of the Inter-American system working in concert. Like my colleagues, I
wish to give some of our ideas of what the agenda for the Santiago Summit might be
and what might be the focus of attention of the Heads of State and Government when
they meet next year. It is a tribute to the SIRG process that we are able to have these
discussions and hopefully this process will allow us to participate in refining the agenda
and program as we go along.
We have to consider the thematic possibilities in the light of the degree of
completion of the Plan of Action, and we, like others, will be helping our Member
Governments to report on their progress in the specific areas. But I believe that the
main areas of emphasis will develop in very much the same open and transparent way
as occurred in 1994. The agenda will deal with some major areas of concern for all the
countries -- some real and burning problems of our societies. The issues that flow from
this concern must be politically viable and give the possibility of genuine intersectoral
action, and this does not only refer to the public sector; we refer to many of those
actors of civil society that are increasingly vocal in the governance of our countries.
The final criterion I see as important is that the theme should have operational
principles and plans of action should favor a Pan American approach. There should be
some specific attention given to the possibility, nay, the necessity of the countries of the
Americas working together.
But even as we look at these criteria for establishing some kind of agenda, we
will have to indicate what level of progress, if any, there has been. I was pleased to
hear yesterday of the significant advances and accomplishments in the various areas.
I believe that the considerations of the Heads of State should not have a backdrop of
negatives, because, at least in the field of which we have some knowledge, the
*
Pan American Health Organization, Pan American Sanitary Bureau, Regional Office for
the Americas of the World Health Organization.
Eighth Summit Implementation Review Group, Summit of the Americas, Washington,
D.C. 5-6 March 1997.
2
countries of the Americas can show progress.
Let me refer to some of the standard indicators of health and the way they have
changed for the better. All of our countries show a steady reduction of their infant
mortality rates, and life expectancy of their citizens is increasing. The maintenance of
our Hemisphere free of poliomyelitis has to be one of the triumphs of public health of
this century. To have rid our children of the scourge of paralysis from polio through
eradicating the virus from our Hemisphere is a monument to the commitment of our
governments and the dedication of numerous health workers. I am pleased to be able
to acknowledge the support of the IDB and President Iglesias' personal interest in this
effort, as well as from USAID. However, until the rest of the world has caught up with
the Americas, we must maintain our vigilance and continue to insist on vaccination of
our children.
On the occasion of the Miami Summit, I was privileged to address the First
Ladies and could persuade them to focus their attention on another major enterprise -
the elimination of measles from our Hemisphere. The First Ladies responded
magnificently and as a result of concerted effort at the country level, the results have
been impressive indeed. In 1994, there were 23,583 cases of measles reported and
confirmed in the Region; in 1996, this figure had fallen to 1,464 and for the last 12
months, as far as we know, there has been not a single case of measles imported into
the United States of America from Latin America and the Caribbean. This has been
another fine example of the Pan American approach to problems.
Almost every one of our countries is involved in the reform of their health
services and I believe that the process will accelerate during the coming years. I
believe that there is a growing confluence of concepts and practices between
ourselves, ECLAC and the Inter-American Development Bank in this area.
The situation for some other specific diseases is also heartening. The countries
of the Southern Cone have made tremendous stride in eliminating Chagas' Disease
that had plagued them for decades if not centuries. I would also point to advances in
such areas as oral health and the public health approach to violence, particularly the
domestic violence that is almost always directed against women. The improvement in
environmental health has been slow but I believe that the Santa Cruz Declaration has
given us more assurance of what is the proper course. What has been done and the
progress made is a stimulus for doing even more.
But the truth is that there are still major problems in health that cry out for
attention. There are too many unacceptable differences in health status between and
within countries. Too many children still never live to see their first birthday and will
never be able to profit from the proposed educational reforms. Women still die
needlessly in childbirth and the health differentials between the rich and the poor, the
urban and rural communities are unacceptable. Cholera is still with us as an indication
3
of our environmental deficiencies. We estimate that about 300 million people of the
countries of Latin America and the Caribbean are threatened by diseases transmitted
through drinking water. These are diseases such as typhoid fever, and a myriad of
gastrointestinal infections. We can find many specific aetiological agents for these
problems but for us, the overarching concerns that impede progress in improving the
public's health are poverty and its sister inequity. These will be as dominant in 1998 as
they were in 1994.
To address the health consequences of poverty and the inequities in health, we
will have to continue to work to secure equitable access to services as the 1994
Summit Plan instructed us to do, but in addition there has to be an appreciation at the
highest level as to what are the true determinants of health. All must appreciate that it
is the social and physical environment, the behavior patterns of groups and individuals
as well as health services that impact on health. That appreciation is as critical as the
understanding that concern for health is not only a moral imperative, but it is absolutely
necessary if the investments made to increase economic growth are going to bear fruit.
In this forum I need not explain the relationship between health and a country's
economic development, or between health and the possibility of domestic stability and
even democracy. I need not strengthen the arguments made yesterday for an
emphasis on education by emphasizing how intimately health and education are linked
and mutually supportive.
But it is not enough to suggest that we continue more of the same. There have
been advances in the last few years that lead us to propose a major health theme for
the Santiago Summit that builds on the agreements reached in Miami. It is a theme of
the future that has the seeds of success in achievements of the past. I wish to see us
explore the theme of "Health Technology Linking the Americas."
Why am I certain of success? It is because the history of health conditions of the
Americas has shown the impact of health technologies in reducing the burden of
disease, increasing life expectancy and decreasing the number of children and mothers
who die. In addition, we now have the possibility of making even more health
technology available to our countries and shortening the interval between generation of
knowledge and development of the appropriate technology. I wish to cite a few
examples of specific initiatives that could be developed under this rubric.
We would propose a Regional initiative for vaccines that will address research,
development, production and utilization of vaccines. This initiative builds on the
success of national immunization programs in the Region such as polio eradication and
elimination of measles and neonatal tetanus. This initiative would incorporate the thrust
in our Region for increased application of biotechnology. It could stimulate even more
collaboration among some of the larger developing countries and would provide a
concrete area of common interest to agencies like ours and the multilateral lending
institutions. It is 100 years since the first vaccine was given, but the speed of
4
development in the last few years and the real possibilities of the wide application of
these agents make it clear to us that this is the technology of the future. If there is one
thing on which all health workers agree is that vaccines represent the most cost-
effective health technology yet devised.
We could have, in a relatively short time, millions of children and adults in the
Americas protected against vaccine preventable diseases through the wide availability
of quality vaccines. We could have a critical mass of scientists trained to participate in
the new advances in biotechnology and we could envisage a genuine public-private
partnership in which there is benefit to all. There are already some countries in Latin
America that have made significant investment in constructing or modernizing their
facilities. Such an initiative would strengthen them and make it possible to widen the
net of those involved.
Health technology would embrace communications, because there is no doubt
that the rapid development of information technology will revolutionize our approach to
health. But the information to be managed by the new technology is in many ways
restricted by the reliability of the basic data. Thus, we envisage a major effort to
improve the capacity of all our countries of the Americas to capture health information,
and perhaps restore some prestige and emphasis to the critical area of vital statistics.
We will never be able to measure need and speak intelligently of inequities in health
unless we have basic data on health.
The information technology will see other uses. The Region is moving towards
the use of telemedicine as a mechanism for increasing access to some services. There
are discussions on the development of simple devices that can capture data at the
point of collection, thus facilitating analysis and use. The world of information
technology also envisages the democratization of health information such that more
persons have access to the data, information and knowledge to make decisions. There
could be strengthening of existing regional networks of health science information
through use of better technology such that all health care workers have access to
material to help them make correct decisions.
We would envisage better communication to support the harmonization efforts in
the area of essential drugs. There is much to be done in order to standardize and
define better the common regulations and requirements to register and produce
essential drugs in the countries of the Americas. PAHO has some experience in this
area through its joint work with some of the subregional commissions on drugs.
A focus on health technology linking the Americas would include our capacity to
monitor the emergence of new diseases and the resurgence or reemergence of old
ones that we had ignored. AIDS will not be the last epidemic. The Ebola epidemic of
Zaire frightened the world with the realization that diseases can be rapidly transmitted
through our modern means of communication. We are now appreciating the magnitude
5
of the problem of tuberculosis- an estimated 60,000 to 75,000 of our citizens in the
Americas died from this disease in 1995 and over 400,000 new cases occurred. We
cannot allow this to continue.
The foundation for any logical approach to these diseases is a good surveillance
system, good research and laboratory infrastructure and perhaps strengthening of the
International Sanitary Regulations. The possibility of a good surveillance system will
depend in large measure on the use of suitable information technology.
We must not forget the possibility of new technologies improving our
environmental health. We know that the water can be protected at various places - we
can ensure the safety of the water sources, we can apply physichochemical means and
try to make safe water available in conventional distribution systems. In some countries
the systems that are proposed are no doubt efficient, but they are costly. Capital
investment for piped water systems reach over $100 per person served. We can
demonstrate technologies for use at the household level that cost no more than $1.00
to $4.00 per family per year. Once the water is available, there is no excuse for a
family not to have it as a benefit rather than a risk to health. There are similar newer
developments in the field of solid waste disposal and promising ideas for returning
waste to agricultural areas, thereby in the medium term, enhancing food production. I
believe that these approaches will allow us to give form and substance to some of the
items of the Plan of Action for the Sustainable Development of the Americas that
accompanied the Declaration of Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
An initiative for Health Technology Linking the Americas will have enormous
potential for public-private partnerships in areas beside vaccine development.
Telecommunications is one example that comes to mind immediately.
I said initially that any sectoral issues put before the Santiago Summit should be
within the context of the overriding theme of reducing poverty and inequity, be politically
viable, give possibility of intersectoral and interagency collaboration and foster the Pan
American approach. I believe that the initiative of Health Technology Linking the
Americas could fulfill these criteria. The basic thesis is that this would enhance health
and reduce inequities. The wide application of the health technologies I have
mentioned will improve health and thereby reduce poverty and particularly the health
information technologies will help to define the inequities more clearly as well as giving
the possibilities of reducing them.
I could show the political viability of this approach in a more detailed proposal
pointing out the advantage of Presidents and Heads of State being able to inform their
people of specific actions that affect their daily life and their living. And there is no doubt
that all I have mentioned would facilitate collaborative work among the American
countries.
6
Mr. Chairman, the Pan American Health Organization, by its very name, speaks
to its purpose of improving the health of the Americas. We hope that the mandates of
the Santiago Summit will, as did the Miami Summit, provide space for those actions that
have health as a major concern.
We in PAHO will be ready to support a process of consultation with governments
and civil society that will lead to a Pan American agreement in Santiago on improving
Health for All in the Americas. Our mission is
to cooperate technically with the Member Countries and to stimulate cooperation
among them in order that, while maintaining a healthy environment and charting
a course to sustainable human development, the peoples of the Americas may
achieve Health for All and by All.
We will continue to work, as President Clinton proclaimed in his closing speech
at the Plenary Session of the I Summit, to ensure that dichos become hechos that
"words are turned into deeds."
R:\SPEECHES\006-sirg
05/20/97 1:40 PM
PRO
STATE
*****
NOV
MUNDI
II SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS: DECLARATION
OF PRINCIPLES AND PLAN OF ACTION
Item proposal: Health Technology Linking the Americas
Declaration of Principles
The Declaration of Principles of the Summit of the Americas held in Miami in 1994,
clearly states that it is politically and morally unacceptable that some segments of the population
do not share fully in the benefits of democratic stability and economic growth. These must be
accessible to all, without discrimination by race, gender, age, national origin or religious
affiliation. The heads of government pledged to work individually and collectively to eradicate
poverty and discrimination in our hemisphere, and to guarantee sustainable development
conserving a natural environment for future generations.
The specific goals in these fields are to improve access to quality education and health
care as a mean to alleviate extreme poverty and illiteracy; to strengthen the role of women in all
aspects of political, social and economic life; and to expand the capacity to prevent and control
pollution, to protect ecosystems and the use of biological resources on sustainable basis, and to
encourage clean, efficient and sustainable energy production and use.
To address the consequences of poverty on health and the resulting inequities,
governments will continue to work to secure equitable access to health services as agreed upon in
the Miami Summit Plan of Action. In addition, the true determinants of health must be
appreciated, understood, and acted upon at the highest level. It is the social and physical
environment, the behavior patterns of groups and individuals, the genetic make up and the health
services that impact on health. This appreciation is as critical as the understanding that a concern
for health is not only a moral imperative, but it is absolutely necessary if the investments made to
increase economic growth are going to bear fruit. Moreover, there is still a need to further
improve the understanding of the relationship between health and a country's socioeconomic
development, between health, democracy and political stability.
There are still major health problems that need attention. There are too many
unacceptable differences in health status between and within countries. Not enough children still
never live to see their first birthday. Women die needlessly in childbirth and the health
differentials between the rich and the poor, the urban and rural communities are unjust and
avoidable.
II Summit of the Americas 1998
2
Health Technology Linking the Americas
Cholera and dengue persist as an indication of deficiencies in our environment and habits.
Approximately 300 million people in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean are
threatened by diseases transmitted through drinking water, such as typhoid fever, and a myriad of
gastrointestinal infections. Many specific aetiological agents cause these problems but, the
overarching concerns that impede progress in improving the public's health are poverty and its
sister inequity.
Governments in the Americas need to find ways to meet old and new challenges. We
must be able to link the old with what is new, engaging all to a specific megatheme: the
alleviation of Poverty. Seeking health is a powerful means to surmount the obstacles, within a
Panamerican perspective where Governments can achieve by working together what they can not
achieve by themselves, considering concrete and measurable goals to be met. The effort of
prioritizing and streamlining those actions can be accomplished.
It is envisioned that by making effective health technologies available to the countries of
the Region, and reducing the time frame between the production of technology and its
application will help to solve in a more effective fashion some health problems in the Region.
These include the further development of vaccines, information and communication
technologies, including telemedicine, as well as simple environmental and improved surveillance
technologies. An increased capacity to manage information technologies broadens the access to
data. It also democratizes the use of the knowledge and evidence based policies allowing policy
makers to better legislate on health sector reform and achieve increased equity.
The development, availability, and assessment of health technologies will contribute
substantially to improving health conditions and will also provide an opportunity for sustainable
development and increased private-public sector partnerships in the 21st Century.
Plan of Action: Initiative
Open and competitive economies and democratic governments are the hallmarks of the
new Americas. Democracy empowers more and more people to take charge of their own destiny,
to become actors on the local, national and international scenes. Nevertheless, the political
support of Governments remains to be a key element to succeed on achieving the goals included
in the Summit. We must persevere on building a closer and more robust partnership in that
direction.
The proposed 1998 Summit of the Americas Initiative "Health Technology Linking the
Americas", a single proposal with 3 well linked components, will foster the wide application of
these health technologies to improve health conditions and contribute to human development,
helping to define the inequities more clearly as well as providing the possibilities of reducing
them.
II Summit of the Americas 1998
3
Health Technology Linking the Americas
The governments will:
1.
Endorse a Regional Initiative for Vaccines that will address research, development,
production and utilization of vaccines, and support the harmonization efforts in the
area of pharmaceutical products, with special emphasis on essential drugs
This initiative builds on the success of national immunization programs and regional
efforts that resulted in the polio eradication and a new initiative to eliminate measles and
neonatal tetanus, maintenance of high immunization coverage, and would help move the
countries into the technological developments that will bring new and improved vaccines into
their immunization programs.
This initiative will foster the technology exchange within the Region and with
industrialized countries. Special attention will be given to the development of the following
vaccines: triple viral vaccine (measles, mumps, rubeola), and polysaccharide vaccines against
typhoid (S. Typhi), meningitis hemophilus (N. Meningitides), and pneumonia (S. Pneumonia),
by means of promoting multinational projects for research and technological development. In a
relatively short time, millions of children and adults in the Americas would be protected against
vaccine preventable diseases through the wide availability of quality vaccines and drugs.
Together with the above, and taking into consideration the ongoing processes of
economic integration, will be the support to countries in their efforts to harmonize regulatory
requirements and procedures for the approval, registration and marketing of pharmaceutical
products, with special emphasis on essential drugs. Regulatory harmonization will improve the
availability of quality drugs and prevent the marketing of ineffective or dangerous products.
Finally, this initiative will stimulate collaboration among the countries, providing a
concrete area of common interest to the private sector, international agencies and the multilateral
lending institutions.
2.
Strengthen and improving the existing regional networks of health information
technologies and surveillance systems, such that all stakeholders have access to data to
help them make correct decisions
Countries must address existing and emerging issues through increased use of health
communication technology and surveillance. It is necessary to take advantage of this opportunity
in order to improve the collection, analysis and dissemination of the data that countries can
produce about their own health situation. Countries will support all the efforts towards
developing more effective health information, epidemiological surveillance, networks of
laboratory, and vital statistics systems which, among other objectives, are essential in reducing
maternal mortality in adolescence and throughout the reproductive years.
II Summit of the Americas 1998
4
Health Technology Linking the Americas
There is no doubt that the rapid development of information technology will
revolutionize our approach to health. Partnership in the area of telecommunications will generate
networks which will allow for the exchange of information among countries and the use of
telemedicine for increasing access to some services.
In addition, it will contribute to build institutional capacity for undertaking health care
technology assessment. This constitute the basis for the rational adoption of, and investment in,
new health care technologies. It is an area of increasing importance in the field of health systems
development, and an instrumental piece for advancing the agendas of health sector reforms
processes in the countries of the Region. It is aimed at assessing the safety, efficacy and cost of
procedures and interventions, and bears direct implications for improving quality of care, for
resource allocation practices, and for the definition of investment priorities in the health sector.
3.
Develop and utilization of effective low-cost technologies to provide Basic Sanitation
Services, ensuring safe water supply, sanitation and solid waste management
Governments can ensure the safety of the water sources in the conventional distribution
systems. In some countries the systems that are proposed are no doubt efficient, but are costly.
Development and utilization of proven effective low-cost technologies in this field, will expand
the provision of basic sanitation services, will diminish the health risks associated to this
problem, and it would have a positive impact in the poor population segments of the countries,
especially in the rural areas. It would reinforce as well the goals of the 1990 World Summit for
Children by fostering declines in infant and child mortality. There are also newer developments
in the field of solid waste disposal, sanitary disposal of garbage, and promising ideas for
returning waste to agricultural areas, thereby in the medium term, enhancing food production.
Several of these technologies already exist, requiring further dissemination and
application. This effort would be complemented with an intense program of technical
cooperation for the application of these technologies.
This approach will also allow to support the items of the Plan of Action for the
Sustainable Development of the Americas that accompanied the Declaration of Santa Cruz de la
Sierra, in terms of identifying and adapting these technologies to the concrete realities of our
countries.
MEMO
To:
Melanne Verveer
From:
Wendy Arends
Subject:
Chile Issues
Date:
April 3, 1998
Melanne -
Welcome back! I realize you have mountains of paper to deal with right now, but I
just wanted to highlight some issues regarding the upcoming trip to Chile:
1) Mrs. Frei's office asked that HRC attend the official arrival ceremony at La
Moneda on 4/16 from 10:20am-10:30am. They also asked about her attendance at
a one-on-one meeting w/Mrs. Frei, as well as a luncheon (both on 4/16). We were
already planning on visiting her interactive museum in the morning, as well as
doing a potential PRODEMU roundtable in the afternoon.
2) The PAHO speech is scheduled for 11:00am (this was before Mrs. Frei's office
brought the 10:20am arrival ceremony to our attention). The President is probably
doing his message event at 1:00-1:30pm which would give the press enough time to
cover our speech and his event.
3) Our control officer went back down to Temuco last week and looked at the
PAHO/Mapuche clinic. I have attached the information she faxed to me about the
clinic. It looks like the best possibility for a colorful, meaningful event in Temuco.
4) Because we are now coming back to Santiago on Saturday evening, we probably
need to attend the Summit Gala. Apparently, the other spouses are attending. It is
scheduled from 8:45pm-11:00pm.
That's all I have for right now...please let me know your thoughts.
Thanks
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Apr 14 Tue 08:19 1998
AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20523
FACSIMILE COVER SHEET
DATE:
April 13, 1998
TO:
Mr. Antony J. Blinken
FAX:
456-9370
CC: Melaum 456-6244
SUBJECT:
FROM:
Mark Schneider
77
OFFICE: AA/LAC
FAX: 202-216-3012
PHONE: 202-712- 4800
NUMBER OF PAGES INCLUDING THIS COVER SHEET:
MESSAGE:
Tony,
Attached are the two paragraphs Melanne mentioned. We are double-
checking on mentioning the IDB joint sponsorship of the fall conference.
I also included a few quotes I like, as well as some background papers
on Chile that might be helpful.
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Apr 14 Tue 08:19 1998
REPUBLICA DE CHILE
REVISED VERSION
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
03.04.1998, 11:45 AM
Coordinación General
II Cumbre de las Américas
CONFIDENTIAL
Women
Governments will:
Strengthen and establish, where they do not exist, national mechanisms
and governmental organs, as well as the respective regional and
subregional networks in charge of promoting legal equality and equality
of opportunities between women and men, focused on gender equity,
and provide them with adequate and timely financial resources to enable
these entities to promote, coordinate and carry out the commitments
undertaken by the States at the World Conference on Human Rights, the
International Conference on Population and Development, the World
Summit on Social Development, the Summit of the Americas, the
Fourth World Conference on Women, and the recent "Santiago
Consensus" of the VII Regional Conference on Beijing Follow-up
(ECLAC/UN).
Examine the existing laws and their implementation in order to identify
obstacles limiting the full participation of women in the political,
economic, social and cultural life of our countries. Whenever necessary,
promote reforms or create new laws to eliminate all forms of
discrimination and violence against women and to guarantee the
protection of children's rights.
Implement and follow up on the commitments regarding the status of
women as agreed to at the Summit of the Americas, with the support of
the Inter-American Commission on Women, in collaboration with civil
society, with the Inter-american Development Bank, the World Bank,
ECLAC, and other entities of international cooperation, using when
appropiate the System of Indicators adopted by the countries at
Montelimar, Nicaragua.
41
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Apr 14 Tue 08:20 1998
What did Chile Do Right?
Alone among the countries of LAC in the 1990s, Chile has been able to make
significant progress in reducing poverty. From a poverty ratio of 44.6 percent in
1987, poverty declined to 40.1 percent in 1990, 32.7 percent by 1992, and 23 percent
today.
This decline coincided with a period of very strong economic growth. GDP growth
accelerated from an average rate of 4.5 percent per year in the period 1985-86 to 9.1
percent in 1991-92, and 7.3 percent average for the period 1995-1997. Given Chile's
low rate of population growth (averaging 1.7 percent per year ), economic growth
translated into very rapid rates of growth per capita (5.6 percent in the most recent
three year period). Open unemployment rates dropped by half in this period from
10.5 percent of the labor force in 1985-86 to 5.1 percent by 1993-94.
Chile's success is based on a combination of a strong export oriented economic
policy, and policies which develop the economic potential of the poor and which
expand the participation of the poor in the broader economy. Chile's landmark
pension reform law has vastly expanded the level of domestic saving (currently 26
percent of GDP). This has enabled Chile to realize high levels of gross fixed
investment (currently 29 percent of GDP) with minimal dependence on volatile
international capital markets.
The democratically-elected government of Chile has carried out a broad-based
program of improved provision of social services. Although Chile's overall levels of
spending on education and health are in line with regional averages, Chile's are
targeted better on primary education and primary health care. Similarly, Chile has
given high priority to improving infrastructure in poor areas.
The Chilean government carried out a broad-based tax reform designed not only to
improve the efficiency of tax collection but explicitly to generate increased revenue
for social spending. The Government of Chile increased social spending by 10
percent per year in real terms between 1990 and 1994.
The democratic governments extended decentralization and gave local municipalities
responsibility for schools and primary health posts.
A Fund for Solidarity and Social Investment funded infrastructure projects requested
by local communities, targeting them on poorer communities. The Fund also
financed microenterprise lending by NGOs and credit unions.
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Apr 14 Tue 08:21 1998
Summit and Poverty Reduction
Q. The regional focus on trade and increased growth apparently
has not helped reduce poverty or reduce inequity in the Americas.
What does the Summit propose?
A. Accellerated economic growth is an absolutely essential
foundation for poverty reduction. But it is not sufficient. The
Summit document emphasizes the priority that the countries of the
hemisphere place on insuring that the macroeconomic reforms mean
more jobs, reduced poverty and increased equity. The key
policies are:
--Maintain economic reforms and expanded free trade, which
brought economic growth last year to 5.3%, well above the 3.5%
average GDP growth of the 1990s. That is the only way to generate
additional jobs.
-Increase access and quality of education in the
hemisphere. In the medium run, closing the education deficit is
essential to producing a labor force that will permit countries
to compete in the global market. The Summit Plan of Action calls
for targeting education spending to increase quality of education
(40% of children repeat first grade, barely half of the children
who enter the first grade finish elementary school) It also
calls for using new information technologies to boost learning in
all grades.
--Remove the barriers to the poor participating in the
mainstream economy today. The Summit plan of actions calls for
access to credit for microenterprises, legal title to land and
property, improved health services, and better water, sanitation
and other community infrastructure.
--Remove discriminatory laws, regulations and practices
which deny women equal protection and full participation in
national life.
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Apr - 14 Tue 08:21 1998
Chile: A leader in Improving the Quality and Equity of Education
Background
Although a number of countries in the region are committed to
comprehensive reassessment and change of their educational
systems, Chile is a leader in educational reform in the
hemisphere. Quality and equity form the axis for reform in Chile.
with a 95 per cent literacy rate, nearly 97 per cent of its'
children between the ages of 6 and 14 enrolled in school, and the
mean number of years of schooling more than 8 years, Chile enjoys
an enviable position in the hemisphere. Despite these
accomplishments, there are deficiencies in academic performance,
particularly in poorer areas. Chile has made serious efforts to
improve the quality of education in poor performing schools.
Talking Points
From the beginning of Chile's transition to democratic
government in 1990 until the present, government education
policies have encompassed actions of a magnitude not seen in the
previous quarter century.
The changes in policies have come about within a structure
in which the role of the State in Chilean education has changed
from that of a central bureaucratic administration to that of a
partner, policymaker and evaluator in a decentralized operation.
The main administrative and technical responsibility has been
transferred to individual schools, the teachers, and parents.
Within the context of a decentralized administrative
structure, consistent government policies aimed at improving the
quality of education by improving basic physical conditions,
enhancing pedagogical resources and inputs, enriching teacher
training, and providing special help to poorer schools, have made
the Chilean education system one of the best in the hemisphere.
Rural school, poor educational institutions, and low-
achieving schools are receiving priority treatment. For example,
the "900 Schools program" targets primary schools in poverty
areas where the quality of teaching and learning has been low and
focuses resources on: 1) improving the infrastructure of schools;
2) contracting weekly in-service training workshops for teachers;
3) providing didactic materials for mathematics, reading and
writing; 4) distributing textbooks; and 5) holding learning
workshops after school for children with learning difficulties.
Chilean education reform is an exceptional case study for
improving education in the hemisphere.
In 1970 only 4 of 10 school-age children had access to
secondary school in Chile; today, 8 of 10, have that opportunity.
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261
Apr 14 Tue 08:22 1998
Chilean quotes:
Years ago, Pablo Neruda the Chilean poet said, (on receiving the
Joliet-Curie prize in Santiago April 8, 1968) "This is a moment
of crisis in which Latin American nations, who must call on
justice in their own defense, must support the cause of justice
before all the world.
"We believe in peace, and we will knock at every door to
achieve its sovereignty. We thirst for peace among men, as
pilgrims thirst for water to sustain their strength along the
way. I have entered every house that would open its door to
me
I believe that friends from neighboring and distant
countries have gathered here on this occasion to give testimony
to their burning faith in man, in life, in truth and liberty:
that, is in peace."
The Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, on accepting the nobel prize,
said, "I come from a dark province, from a country separated from
others by a severe geography. I was the most abandoned of poets,
and my poetry was regional, sorrowful, steeped in rain. But I
always had confidence in man. I never lost hope. That may be why
I am here with poetry, and with my flag.
"In conclusion, I say to all men of good will, to workers,
to poets, that the future of man is expressed in Rimbaud's
phrase: only with fiery patience will we conquer the splendid
city that will shed light, justice, and dignity on all men.
"Thus, poetry shall not have sung in vain."
Pablo Neruda: Arrabales (sad song)
The children of silence, looking
out of black eyes saw me go by,
as if from the depths of a well
and the water's stagnation.
A breeze suddenly entered the street
as if asking the way home.
Dead papers fluttered,
the dust dangerously
shifted position, rattled
a rag in the rubbish of windows,
and all went on as before:
the motionless street, the eyes
looking for me from their well,
the house seeming to expect
nobody at all, the doors
still domolished and naked:
all was dusty and obdurate,
dead, but alive,
all wanted to die or be born.
The wood of the poor
was preparing itself for the fire.
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Apr - 14 Tue 08:22 1998
Pablo Neruda "Ode to Bolivar"
I met Bolivar one long morning,
in Madrid, at the gates of the Fifth Regiment,
Father, I said to him, are you what you seem or are you not, or
who are you?
and looking at the Barracks on the Mountain, he said:
'I awaken every 100 years when the people awaken'.
ICRW
Inter-American
International Center for
Dialogue
Research on Women
WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE OF THE AMERICAS
March 31, 1998
Ms. Melanne Verveer
Office of the First Lady
Old Executive Office Building
Room 102
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Ms Verveer: Melanne
On behalf of the Women's Leadership Conference of the Americas (WLCA), we are pleased to
present the enclosed Communiqué, directed to the hemisphere's heads of state who will meet at the
second Summit of the Americas in Santiago, Chile, on April 18 and 19, 1998. The WLCA is a network
of 90 top women leaders from the United States, Canada, and seventeen countries of Latin America
and the Caribbean-including former presidents, prime ministers, business executives, women's rights
activists, and other non-governmental leaders-dedicated to promoting policy and institutional changes
that will improve opportunities for all women. This group is urging the region's governments to adhere
to the commitments made four years ago at the first Summit in Miami, and at other international
forums. They are demanding that governments focus important attention on increasing women's
opportunities in the workforce by strengthening education; advancing women to positions of power and
influence; and stopping the brutality of violence against women.
On releasing the Communiqué in Managua, former Nicaraguan President Violeta Chamorro
declared, "The lack of opportunities for women in our society weakens the legitimacy of democracy.
No country can exclude the talent and creativity of the female population without affecting the essential
values of democracy." According to WLCA Co-Chair and Costa Rican Congresswoman Sonia Picado,
"The Summit of the Americas is going to be a meeting of powerful, political men with an amazingly
small representation of women. For that reason it is imperative that women's voices be heard at the
Summit."
We have published the Communiqué with a report on the proceedings of the first meeting of
the network, convened in July 1997 by the WLCA's sponsoring organizations-the Inter-American
Dialogue and International Center for Research on Women (ICRW). We hope you will find that this
Communiqué is a constructive contribution to the Summit process, and we urge you to join us in
promoting a place on the agenda for investing in women.
Sincerely,
Geeta geet Rao Gupta NÃO guyta
leter
Peter Hakim
President
President
International Center for
Inter-American Dialogue
Research on Women
WLCA: Inter-American Dialogue, 1211 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 510, Washington, DC 20036
(202) 822-9002, FAX (202)822-9553
ICRI
W
Inter-American
International Center for
Dialogue
Research on Women
WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE OF THE AMERICAS
- PRESS ADVISORY -
EMBARGOED UNTIL: April 2, 1998 9:00 a.m.
Contact: Joan Caivano
PRESS CONFERENCE: National Press Club, April 2, 1998 - 9:00 a.m.
Telephone: 202-463-2563
WOMEN LEADERS DEMAND ACTION ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS
AT SECOND SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS IN SANTIAGO, CHILE
Washington, DC: Ninety prominent women leaders from throughout the Americas criticized the
hemisphere's governments for failing to get off the mark and carry out the promises they made
four years ago at the first Summit of the Americas in Miami. Today members of the blue ribbon
Women's Leadership Conference of the Americas (WLCA) called on the heads of state of the
hemisphere to focus vital attention on "increasing women's opportunities in the workforce by
strengthening education; advancing women to positions of power and influence; and stopping the
brutality of violence against women." WLCA members insisted "it is vital that governments
monitor, measure, record and report on their successes and failures in these areas."
These demands were made in a Communiqué released today in Washington by the Women's
Leadership Conference and directed to the second Summit of the Americas, which will take place
in Santiago, Chile, on April 17 to 19. The WLCA is a network of top women leaders from the
United States, Canada, and seventeen countries of Latin America and the Caribbean-including
former presidents, prime ministers, business executives, women's rights activists, and other non-
governmental leaders-dedicated to promoting policy and institutional changes that will improve
opportunities for all women.
On releasing the Communiqué in Managua, former Nicaraguan President Violeta Chamorro
declared "The lack of opportunities for women in our society weakens the legitimacy of
democracy. No country can exclude the talent and creativity of the female population without
affecting the essential values of democracy." According to WLCA Co-Chair and congresswoman
from Costa Rica Sonia Picado, "The Summit of the Americas is going to be a meeting of
powerful, political men with an amazingly small representation of women. For that reason it is
imperative that women's voices be heard at the Summit."
The assembled women noted the progress of the past decade, but lamented that women's
opportunities are still limited, and they are blocked by poverty, violence, and inadequate
education. Women remain mostly excluded from the top rungs of power. In Latin America and
the Caribbean women make up over half of the electorate, but they hold only 11% of cabinet
posts and seats in national legislatures. Women comprise one-third of the official work force, but
are virtually absent from senior management and clustered in lower paid occupations. Forty
percent of women in the hemisphere suffer domestic violence at some point in their lives.
WLCA: Inter-American Dialogue, 1211 Connecticut Ave, NW, Suite 510, Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 822-9002-Fax: (202) 822-9553-E-mail: [email protected]
Co-Chairs of the WLCA, Costa Rican Congresswoman Sonia Picado and Jan Meyers, former
Republican U.S. Representative from Kansas, publicly presented the Communiqué today in
Washington along with other signers of the document, including Paula Stern, former
chairwoman of the U.S. International Trade Commission. Other WLCA signatories include
former Nicaraguan President Violeta Barrios de Chamorro; former Canadian Prime Minister
Kim Campbell; Argentine National Deputy Graciela Fernández Meijide; Secretary of
Education, Health and Social Development for Mexico City Clara Jusidman; former Central
Bank President of Venezuela Ruth de Krivoy; Chairperson of AT&T Canada and former
Canadian Secretary of State Barbara McDougall; Peruvian National Deputy Lourdes Flores
Nano; Chilean corporate lawyer and President of the Board of Participa Laura Novoa; Senior
Vice President of the Cisneros Group Beatrice Rangel of Venezuela; legal advisor to the
Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAI) Nina Pacari; Brazilian
Congresswoman Marta Suplicy; FDNC Vice President of the Guatemalan Congress Rosalina
Tuyue; Executive Vice President of Fertilizantes de Santo Domingo Elena Viyella de Paliza;
former Haitian Minister of Foreign Affairs and current President of the Women's Power League
Claudette Werleigh; Managing Director at J.P. Morgan Susana de la Puente Wiesse of Peru.
The Women's Leadership Conference of the Americas is co-sponsored by the Inter-American
Dialogue and the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW). The Inter-American
Dialogue is the premier center for policy analysis and exchange on Western Hemisphere affairs.
The Dialogue's select membership of 100 distinguished private citizens from throughout the
Americas includes political, business, academic, media, and other nongovernmental leaders.
ICRW is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting social and economic
development with women's full participation. ICRW generates quality, empirical information,
and provides technical assistance on women's productive activity, their reproductive and sexual
health and rights, their status in the family, their leadership in society, and their management of
environmental resources.
###
the Second e S Summit O of the A H cas Santiago, San HID: thile
Communiqu
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