Social dialogue central to tackling Latin America\u2019s & Caribbean triple crisis<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n\nRegional CESISALC Summit in Guatemala calls for bold, data-driven action<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nWillemstad \/ Guatemala, April 11, 2025\u00a0\u2014 Representatives from the\u00a0Latin American and Caribbean Network of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions<\/em> (CESISALC) gathered on March 31 in La Antigua, Guatemala, for their annual summit. The event, chaired by the Social and Economic Council of Cura\u00e7ao (SER) since September 2023, underscored the urgent need for regional innovation in policy, governance, and institutional cooperation amid mounting global and domestic challenges.<\/p>\nIn a pointed opening address, Mr. Raul Henriquez from the chair of CESISALC warned that Latin America and the Caribbean are contending with a \u201ctriple systemic crisis\u201d: escalating inequality, labor precarity, and environmental fragility. According to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the wealthiest 10% of the population control over 55% of total income, while the poorest 50% must survive on just 10%. More than half of the region\u2019s labor force remains in the informal sector, excluded from legal protections and basic social safety nets.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not the time for passive commentary,\u201d Henriquez said. \u201cSocial dialogue must move from the technocratic margins to the political center. Our legitimacy lies not in symbolism, but in our capacity to formulate structural responses to systemic challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n
From analysis to strategic action<\/span><\/h3>\nThe summit\u2019s working sessions focused on innovative methods for policy engagement, digital participation, institutional modernization, and the strategic use of data in public decision-making. There was broad consensus among participants that social dialogue, when embedded in institutional frameworks and grounded in evidence, remains the most legitimate and sustainable tool to address rising societal tensions.<\/p>\n
Contributions from leading experts added depth to the deliberations. Among them were Dr. Vasco Torres de Le\u00f3n, director of the Escuela Interamericana de Di\u00e1logo Social, Tripartismo y Resoluci\u00f3n de Conflictos (based in Panama), Dr. Caryl Alonso Jim\u00e9nez, Guatemalan, academic lecturer and international expert on public policy and social dialogue, and Rodrigo Mogrovejo of the International Labour Organization (ILO). They emphasized the need to strengthen institutional resilience and foster anticipatory governance, particularly in countries like Honduras and Peru, where fragile labor markets and deep polarization pose significant risks to democratic stability.<\/p>\n
Knowledge-sharing and regional alliances<\/span><\/h3>\nRunning parallel to the summit was\u00a0INTERCOONECTA, a regional cooperation platform of the Spanish development agency AECID, held from April 1-3. The program explored how social and economic councils can contribute to child protection, poverty reduction, and the legal institutionalization of social dialogue in national frameworks.
A newly released publication showcased the role of participatory governance in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. The meeting also marked the official launch of\u00a0RICESIS, a new Ibero-American network for multilateral cooperation between councils in Latin America, Spain, and Portugal.<\/p>\n
Presidency transition ahead<\/span><\/h3>\nAs per CESISALC tradition, a virtual preparatory meeting will be held in May to identify the member state that will assume the network\u2019s rotating presidency from Cura\u00e7ao in September 2025. The transition will follow the network\u2019s principles of\u00a0transparency, consensus, and collegiality.
The summit concluded with a resounding call to action. \u201cThe complexity of our time must not paralyze us,\u201d Henriquez affirmed, \u201cbut compel us to innovate, to collaborate, and to act. The future does not wait. The future must be designed\u2014collectively, consciously, and with moral purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Regional CESISALC Summit in Guatemala calls for bold, data-driven action<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nWillemstad \/ Guatemala, April 11, 2025\u00a0\u2014 Representatives from the\u00a0Latin American and Caribbean Network of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions<\/em> (CESISALC) gathered on March 31 in La Antigua, Guatemala, for their annual summit. The event, chaired by the Social and Economic Council of Cura\u00e7ao (SER) since September 2023, underscored the urgent need for regional innovation in policy, governance, and institutional cooperation amid mounting global and domestic challenges.<\/p>\nIn a pointed opening address, Mr. Raul Henriquez from the chair of CESISALC warned that Latin America and the Caribbean are contending with a \u201ctriple systemic crisis\u201d: escalating inequality, labor precarity, and environmental fragility. According to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the wealthiest 10% of the population control over 55% of total income, while the poorest 50% must survive on just 10%. More than half of the region\u2019s labor force remains in the informal sector, excluded from legal protections and basic social safety nets.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not the time for passive commentary,\u201d Henriquez said. \u201cSocial dialogue must move from the technocratic margins to the political center. Our legitimacy lies not in symbolism, but in our capacity to formulate structural responses to systemic challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n
From analysis to strategic action<\/span><\/h3>\nThe summit\u2019s working sessions focused on innovative methods for policy engagement, digital participation, institutional modernization, and the strategic use of data in public decision-making. There was broad consensus among participants that social dialogue, when embedded in institutional frameworks and grounded in evidence, remains the most legitimate and sustainable tool to address rising societal tensions.<\/p>\n
Contributions from leading experts added depth to the deliberations. Among them were Dr. Vasco Torres de Le\u00f3n, director of the Escuela Interamericana de Di\u00e1logo Social, Tripartismo y Resoluci\u00f3n de Conflictos (based in Panama), Dr. Caryl Alonso Jim\u00e9nez, Guatemalan, academic lecturer and international expert on public policy and social dialogue, and Rodrigo Mogrovejo of the International Labour Organization (ILO). They emphasized the need to strengthen institutional resilience and foster anticipatory governance, particularly in countries like Honduras and Peru, where fragile labor markets and deep polarization pose significant risks to democratic stability.<\/p>\n
Knowledge-sharing and regional alliances<\/span><\/h3>\nRunning parallel to the summit was\u00a0INTERCOONECTA, a regional cooperation platform of the Spanish development agency AECID, held from April 1-3. The program explored how social and economic councils can contribute to child protection, poverty reduction, and the legal institutionalization of social dialogue in national frameworks.
A newly released publication showcased the role of participatory governance in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. The meeting also marked the official launch of\u00a0RICESIS, a new Ibero-American network for multilateral cooperation between councils in Latin America, Spain, and Portugal.<\/p>\n
Presidency transition ahead<\/span><\/h3>\nAs per CESISALC tradition, a virtual preparatory meeting will be held in May to identify the member state that will assume the network\u2019s rotating presidency from Cura\u00e7ao in September 2025. The transition will follow the network\u2019s principles of\u00a0transparency, consensus, and collegiality.
The summit concluded with a resounding call to action. \u201cThe complexity of our time must not paralyze us,\u201d Henriquez affirmed, \u201cbut compel us to innovate, to collaborate, and to act. The future does not wait. The future must be designed\u2014collectively, consciously, and with moral purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Add to any – niet aanpassen” _builder_version=”4.23″ border_style=”solid” saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
In a pointed opening address, Mr. Raul Henriquez from the chair of CESISALC warned that Latin America and the Caribbean are contending with a \u201ctriple systemic crisis\u201d: escalating inequality, labor precarity, and environmental fragility. According to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the wealthiest 10% of the population control over 55% of total income, while the poorest 50% must survive on just 10%. More than half of the region\u2019s labor force remains in the informal sector, excluded from legal protections and basic social safety nets.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not the time for passive commentary,\u201d Henriquez said. \u201cSocial dialogue must move from the technocratic margins to the political center. Our legitimacy lies not in symbolism, but in our capacity to formulate structural responses to systemic challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n
From analysis to strategic action<\/span><\/h3>\nThe summit\u2019s working sessions focused on innovative methods for policy engagement, digital participation, institutional modernization, and the strategic use of data in public decision-making. There was broad consensus among participants that social dialogue, when embedded in institutional frameworks and grounded in evidence, remains the most legitimate and sustainable tool to address rising societal tensions.<\/p>\n
Contributions from leading experts added depth to the deliberations. Among them were Dr. Vasco Torres de Le\u00f3n, director of the Escuela Interamericana de Di\u00e1logo Social, Tripartismo y Resoluci\u00f3n de Conflictos (based in Panama), Dr. Caryl Alonso Jim\u00e9nez, Guatemalan, academic lecturer and international expert on public policy and social dialogue, and Rodrigo Mogrovejo of the International Labour Organization (ILO). They emphasized the need to strengthen institutional resilience and foster anticipatory governance, particularly in countries like Honduras and Peru, where fragile labor markets and deep polarization pose significant risks to democratic stability.<\/p>\n
Knowledge-sharing and regional alliances<\/span><\/h3>\nRunning parallel to the summit was\u00a0INTERCOONECTA, a regional cooperation platform of the Spanish development agency AECID, held from April 1-3. The program explored how social and economic councils can contribute to child protection, poverty reduction, and the legal institutionalization of social dialogue in national frameworks.
A newly released publication showcased the role of participatory governance in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. The meeting also marked the official launch of\u00a0RICESIS, a new Ibero-American network for multilateral cooperation between councils in Latin America, Spain, and Portugal.<\/p>\n
Presidency transition ahead<\/span><\/h3>\nAs per CESISALC tradition, a virtual preparatory meeting will be held in May to identify the member state that will assume the network\u2019s rotating presidency from Cura\u00e7ao in September 2025. The transition will follow the network\u2019s principles of\u00a0transparency, consensus, and collegiality.
The summit concluded with a resounding call to action. \u201cThe complexity of our time must not paralyze us,\u201d Henriquez affirmed, \u201cbut compel us to innovate, to collaborate, and to act. The future does not wait. The future must be designed\u2014collectively, consciously, and with moral purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Add to any – niet aanpassen” _builder_version=”4.23″ border_style=”solid” saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Running parallel to the summit was\u00a0INTERCOONECTA, a regional cooperation platform of the Spanish development agency AECID, held from April 1-3. The program explored how social and economic councils can contribute to child protection, poverty reduction, and the legal institutionalization of social dialogue in national frameworks.
A newly released publication showcased the role of participatory governance in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. The meeting also marked the official launch of\u00a0RICESIS, a new Ibero-American network for multilateral cooperation between councils in Latin America, Spain, and Portugal.<\/p>\n
Presidency transition ahead<\/span><\/h3>\nAs per CESISALC tradition, a virtual preparatory meeting will be held in May to identify the member state that will assume the network\u2019s rotating presidency from Cura\u00e7ao in September 2025. The transition will follow the network\u2019s principles of\u00a0transparency, consensus, and collegiality.
The summit concluded with a resounding call to action. \u201cThe complexity of our time must not paralyze us,\u201d Henriquez affirmed, \u201cbut compel us to innovate, to collaborate, and to act. The future does not wait. The future must be designed\u2014collectively, consciously, and with moral purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Add to any – niet aanpassen” _builder_version=”4.23″ border_style=”solid” saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
The summit concluded with a resounding call to action. \u201cThe complexity of our time must not paralyze us,\u201d Henriquez affirmed, \u201cbut compel us to innovate, to collaborate, and to act. The future does not wait. The future must be designed\u2014collectively, consciously, and with moral purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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