In the last two decades, countries in Latin America have surmounted challenges ranging from political turmoil and economic recession to natural disasters. These accomplishments have strengthened democracy in the region. But there are still serious problems to be addressed. Poverty remains a way of life for roughly one-third of the people in Latin America.
Corruption blocks social and economic progress and undermines faith in government.
Political violence and terrorism exact a staggering cost. Perhaps no problem poses a graver threat than the illicit drug trade. Drug trafficking distorts national economies, increases corruption, and weakens political institutions. In Colombia, drug traffickers supply about ninety percent of the cocaine and over fifty percent of the heroin used in the U-S. Heavily armed insurgents and paramilitary groups thrive on the narcotics trade, which they carry out along with kidnapping, murder, and insurrection. President Andres Pastrana's Plan Colombia is designed to counter the narcotraffickers, revive the economy, and strengthen the country s democratic institutions.