U.S. State Department Advisor Charged With Advising

¶ … U.S. State Department advisor charged with advising the President on Latin American policy, what are the major issues you would point to as critical for U.S. interests in the region? The major issues that I would point to as critical for U.S. interest in the region are the economy and human rights. Lets take time to explore these issues in detail and explain why they are critical. The Economy The economic plight in Latin America is a complex situation.

Even though Latin America's major economies increased annually at an average rate of 3.8% between 1900 and 1987, this rate of growth is actually 30% more rapid than the industrial countries and is 20% faster than the United States. But the problem in Latin America is heavily influenced by the rapid growth of its population because despite all of the economic growth the per capita income growth was only 1.7%, which is lower than that of industrialized nations.

(Latin America in the 21st Century) For the last four years Argentina's economy, the third largest in Latin America, has been in recession and there is no sign of recovering. The real GDP estimate for Argentina year ending 2002 is -8.5 and the consumer price index (inflation) year ending 2002 is 40%. (Latin Watch) In recent months the economic situation in Argentina has been devastating to the region.

On April 22, 2002 the government in Argentina ordered all of the banks closed in an attempt to thwart off a complete disintegration of the Country's financial system. This bank closure was a way to ensure that the country will get the economic aid that it needs from the International Monetary Fund. (Argentine Economy Brought to Standstill) A day later the economy minister Jorge Remes Lenicov resigned. The Venezuelan economy is also under great distress. The real GDP year ending 2002 is -3.5 and the consumer price index is 32.3%.

(Latin Watch) The economic situation in this part of Latin America has to do with the resignation and return to power of President Hugo Chavez. As is true throughout Latin America the gap between the rich and poor is great. Estimates state that 70% of Venezuelans live in poverty. One of the major problems that face the Venezuelan Economy is lack of diversification. The dominant force in this economy is oil 80% of the total exports in Venezuela come from oil.

When oil prices are high the country's economy is stable when they are low the economy becomes stagnated.(Uncertainty in Venezuela) Diversification would bring about balance, all their eggs wouldn't be in one basket. The economic conditions in Latin America are critical to U.S. interest in the region because the U.S. has provided billions of dollars, this includes military aid, to Latin America over the past ten years. Much of this has been provided because of the instability of the economies in that region.

Ensuring that these economies gain some stability would benefit not only the U.S. economy but also the World economy. Human Rights One of the major human rights issues in the region is Street Children. These children in Latin America are extremely poor and do not have access to schooling and other resources that would be of benefit to them. They survive on the streets by begging, prostitution and abusing drugs. The areas where these children reside make them susceptible to poverty, sexual abuse and disease.

The economic problems that were detailed earlier contribute greatly to the amount of street children that live in Latin America. When the unemployment rate increases the number of street children also increase. This is because economic conditions force children who may be in school to drop out and seek employment to help support their families. Unfortunately the types of employment that they fall victim to often include prostitution and drug trafficking. In addition, the alternative types of employment that some of these children are exposed to involve forced child labor.

These children are forced to work long hour in unhealthy conditions. It is estimated that 20 million children in Latin America between the ages of five and fourteen work illegally in full time jobs. The opinions about the number of street kids that exist vary. The United Nations estimates that there are between 30 and 170 million worldwide. The average age for street children living in Latin America is nine.

In certain Latin American countries including Guatemala and Brazil Street Children are rounded up and then tortured beaten and killed, this is referred to as death squads.(Street Children In Latin America) In 1996 Guatemalan police were convicted of murdering street kids, they were fourteen and ten. It took two years and international pressure to bring the case to trial. It is a very rare occurrence for police to be convicted of these crimes in Latin America.(Child Labor) This issue is crucial for U.S.

interests in the region because the education and nurturing of children is the best investment that a government can make if that government wants to insure that there is health and prosperity in the future. If America is interested in the long-term success of the Latin American region it would be persuaded to address all of the human rights issues that exist in Latin America.

What policies would you recommend to protect these interests and further the development of the region? To protect the economic interests in this region I would policies should be created that would ultimately encourage Latin America's financial independence. I would make sure that the policies introduced are not just policies that American politicians create for the region. I would have a summit involving all the leaders in that region and a selected group of citizens from the region.

These citizens would come from every socio-economic level that exists within the country. The summit would encourage Latin America to make their own economic policies that would benefit their citizens and ultimately their economies. Of course there would be American advisors and economists there to aid the region and to make suggestions. But ultimately Latin America would have to create its own policy that fits the needs of its citizens and the culture.

America should not try to dictate what Latin America does relative to its economy because what works here.