On July 25, 1992 representatives from 32 countries met in the Dominican Republic to celebrate the contributions of African descendant women in Latin America and the Caribbean, marking the first International Day of African Descendent Women. Now, almost 30 years later, what do we know about black women? In many ways African descendant women in Latin America and the … [Read more...] about Hidden figures
5 ways to make sure that the most vulnerable citizens are considered
October 20th - World Statistics Day. In development policy if something cannot be measured it doesn’t count. As a development professional I am frequently asked how many indigenous peoples and African descendants live in the region. A short answer, based on recent estimates, is that they represent up to 40% of the population. However, the issue is more complex, and shows how … [Read more...] about 5 ways to make sure that the most vulnerable citizens are considered
Use it or Lose it: Tough Decisions for Indigenous Peoples
August 9th- International Day of Indigenous Peoples For the second time just this year I have worked with indigenous peoples who have been forced to move and change their lifestyle due to land pressures. These tough choices are often driven by external actors and concepts of land use that marginalize conservation and instead are based on “use it or lose it” policies My first … [Read more...] about Use it or Lose it: Tough Decisions for Indigenous Peoples
Indigenous peoples, biodiversity and “buen vivir”
How do indigenous peoples work with governments to develop public policies that promote biodiversity as a tool for sustainable development? This question is fundamental for our reflections this week as we celebrate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, established by the United Nations in 1994 to support indigenous peoples and their solutions to problems, and … [Read more...] about Indigenous peoples, biodiversity and “buen vivir”
Cultural diversity and color: persistent pigmentocracies
The world celebrates the International Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development on May 21st in many different ways, but with a common goal of deepening our understanding of the values of cultural diversity through dialogue and efforts to combat polarization and stereotypes. My way of contributing to this dialogue is recommending a reading and the photographic … [Read more...] about Cultural diversity and color: persistent pigmentocracies