For more than 30 of them, real per capita incomes have fallen over the past 35 years. And where there is growth, it needs to be spread more equally. So, the goals can be met. But it will take hard work. Success will require, above all, stronger voices for the poor, economic stability and growth that favours the poor, basic social services for all, open markets for trade and technology and enough resources for development, used well.
Income inequality is a barrier to progress in Latin America.
Although enrolment rates continue to rise, they have not risen fast enough. On current trends, more than 100 million school-age children will not be in school in 2015. Make progress towards gender equality and empowering women by eliminating gender disparities in primary and secondary education by 2005 Getting more girls through school is essential but not enough. The gender gap may be narrowing, but girls' enrolments remain persistently behind those of boys. Reduce maternal mortality ratios by three-quarters between 1990 and 2015 Skilled care during pregnancy and delivery can do much to avoid many of the half million maternal deaths each year.