Progress has been made in improving the human condition in many countries. Standards of living are significantly higher than they were following the Second World War. The result is that, increasingly, governments are democratically elected, the rule of law has been strengthened and human rights are protected by constitutional guarantees. The new economic stability that has been achieved as a result of the adjustment process is reflected in positive economic growth rates, a more dynamic export sector, significantly reduced inflation, rising foreign investment and new impetus towards economic integration. In spite of the achievements, however, progress on the social front has been advancing at a notably slower pace.
Poverty keeps increasing in spite of our efforts.
In absolute terms, it is calculated that a record two hundred and ten million people within the region are poor. What is even more unfortunate is that a significant proportion of poverty in the region is the consequence of the uneven distribution of wealth. In some countries, the richest ten percent of the population receives more than fifty per cent of national income while the poorest forty per cent receives less than ten percent. Among the most dramatic manifestations of poverty is the precarious employment situation of vast segments of the population. The most perverse effects of the situation fall upon the groups most at risk, in particular, women and children.