Afrodescendant Population of Latin America II Afrodescendant Population of Latin America II Who We Are Submit PAAL2 We are working to change this The afrodescendants who represent between 20% and 30% of the population of Latin America, experience disproportionate levels of poverty and social exclusion and continue facing a severe discrimination on all levels. Despite the existence of national legal frameworks and the creation of diverse institutions to ensure that the afrodescendent population of Latin American is exercising its rights, the application of the laws and dispositions is weak and leaves us with much to do in the region. Particulary, the need to foster political and cultural recognition of their values, their aspirations and their way of life, is still lacking as this decreases cultural invisibility and enhances socioeconomic exclusion. ThIs creates more inequality, social segmentation and incomplete citizenship. And we are not alone The “Afrodescendant Population of Latin America II” regional project comes within the framework of the RBLAC/UNDP 2008-2013 Regional Programme, particularly in the democratic governance practice area, which among its objectives promotes inclusive participation and dialogue, especially of women and children, youth, people with disabilities, afrodescendants and indigenous peoples of Latin America. The project receives economic and technical support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway. Submit What is our purpose? To foster widened citizenship through the inclusive participation of afrodescendent populations and promote the recognition of their economic, political and social rights. To whom we address? Primarily to the afrodescendant populations from the countries of Latin America and their base organizations. The countries of the region will also benefit as their government officials will be invited to participate in project activities. With this proposal, social cohesion, equal development, human rights, and the fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are recognized as essential factors for the achievement of a social life that enables the strengthening of the democracy of citizenship, aimed at moving toward the effective fulfillment of everyone’s rights, especially those disregarded sectors, while propelling the society’s welfare. Our goals To assess the degree of realization of political, civil, economic and social human rights of afrodescendant women and men of of Latin America taking also into account the gender perspective in order to contribute to the expansion of citizenship through inclusive participation of afrodescendant populations and the effective recognition of their human rights. To help to strengthen the organizations and the leadership of afrodescendant women and man contributing to the attainment of public policies destined to materialize the full citizenship of the afrodescendant population from a rights perspective that is also sensitive to gender. It will be taken into account that women and young afrodescendants, as long as their organizations, are present in all the activities. Expected outcomes To generate a new understanding about the reality of the afrodescendant in Latin America that may impact on the public policies that will be implemented by the countries of the region. To contribute to the strengthening of organizations and the consolidation of its leaderships in the knowledge of the rights of the afrodescendant population, the management of organizations and the formation of micro-entrepreneurs to achieve extended citizenship. Silvia Beatriz García Savino Project Coordinator