Trade has been identified as an important resource for financing development.  However, we have witnessed the dramatic consequences that unfettered trade liberalization has caused on people living in poverty and especially on women.  Economic models which have been implemented since the end of the last millennium have affected, aside from economic and social rights, gender justice, democratic quality and differences in the same way they have generated an imbalance between economic growth and citizens’ rights. Worried with the debate around the international trade agenda, from a human rights’ and especially from the economic, social and cultural rights perspective, the LAGTN has developed the work plan outlined below.

The Latin American Chapter has developed activities through the coordination of the Chapter and by the focal points:  Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Uruguay.  LAGTN has committed to the following areas of research, capacity building, advocacy and communications.   

In order to promote transparency within the IGTN and facilitate greater understanding of LAGTN for those who wish to learn more about the Network or partner with us, LAGTN organizational structure is detailed below. The links below can be used to navigate to a specific section of LAGTN's organizational structure.

• Members and Collaborators
• Latin American Chapter Coordination
• Research
• Capacity Building
• Advocacy
• Communications

Focal Point Argentina

• Norma Sanchís (Coordinator)
• Veronica Baracat

Focal Point Brazil

• Graciela Rodriguez
• Ruth Espinola Soriano de Mello
• Vivian Tavares da Costa
• Marta Lago
• Moema de Castro Guedes
• Maria Fernanda Escurra
• Grazielle Costa
• Lucia Santalices
• Equit Institute– Global Gender, Economy and Citizenship
• REBRIP – Brazilian Network for People’s Integration

Focal Point Colombia

• Patricia Jaramillo
• Liubka Buitrago
• REPEM – Popular Education Network between Women

Focal Point Chile

• Carolina Villarroel Rocco
• Coral Pey
• Maria de la Luz Trautman
• ACJR – Chilean Alliance for Just and Responsible Trade

Focal Point Mexico

• Rebeca Salazar
•  Mujer y Medio Ambiente A.C.

 Focal Point Uruguay

• Alma Espino (Coordinator)
• Paola Azar
• Sebastián Fleitas
• Soledad Salvador
• Martha Chiappe
• Verónica Amarante (Consultant)
• CIEDUR - Interdisciplinary Study Center for Development

Focal Point Centro America

• Norma Maldonado
• Mesa Global de Guatemala

The L.A Chapter Coordinator handles communications between the focal points and with the IGTN Steering Committee, plans regional meetings among the focal points, organizes the terms of reference and operating rules of the Latin American Chapter, manages common projects among the focal points, represents the Chapter at different regional and international events and on the IGTN Steering Committee. 

The Research Program:  “Impacts of Trade Liberalization on Gender Relations,” was supported by the Moriah Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation and the Coordination Research Area of the Latin American Chapter.  Alma Espino coordinates the LAGTN research program.

The project aims to provide a solid analytical base and foundation for incorporating gender issues into the analysis of trade and liberalization programs and policies.  LAGTN expects that its findings will have an impact on national, regional and multilateral trade terrain.  To fulfill these objectives, research teams were formed in each of the Latin American chapters with coordination from CIEDUR.

The Research Program consists of three phases with the 2^nd phase of the process just completed.  Research documents associated with phases 1 and 2 are organized in a series which is available on the LAGTN Resources page and the Chapter's own website:  www.generoycomercio.org

Capacity Building

As one of its objectives, LAGTN proposes to strengthen the capacity of the regional women’s movement to influence national and international mechanisms for economic integration.

In order to generate a critical mass of women in the region who are able to mobilize resources and efforts to reach ever broader groups of civil society, in 2002 LAGTN launched a training of trainers process on gender, globalization and economic integration. The objective was to generate a nucleus of trained women who were able and willing to continue widening the circles of debate by providing momentum to the ripple effect and involving other sectors of the women’s movement in monitoring the impacts of governments’ decisions in the region.

In 2003 la LAGTN integrated in representation the Latin American Region, as member of the Working Group of the project “Linking Economic Literacy Worldwide”, coordinated by WIDE.

Within this program, it is important to mention some of the training activities developed in the last few years:

    - International Workshops: Bariloche-Argentina, Novembre 2003; Rio de Janeiro-Brazil, November 2006.

    - Regional Seminars: Andean Area (Quito-Ecuador, October 2005); Southern Cone (Asuncion-Paraguay, November 2006); Central America and Mexico (Antigua-Guatemala, March 2007).

These activities were directed to social and women organizations, members of the Academia, union members, etc. from the entire Region.

Additionally, in relation to efforts in Capacity Building, LAGTN has published the following materials:

       Capacity Building Manual in three parts, entitled “International Trade and Gender Equality” by Alma Espino and Paola Azar. (2002). The publication was made possible with funding from the F. Ebert Foundation.

       "Trade and Gender: The FTAA and other of Integration Alternatives of the Americas,” produced by Norma Sanchís, published in Spanish and Portuguese; funded by UNIFEM.

       The film: FTAA: Necessary to Resist (Portuguese)  organized by Graciela Rodriguez with support from REBRIP - Brazilian Network for the Integration of the Peoples and Novib.

       “Women’s Strategies for the WTO” edited by Graciela Rodriguez and published by the Eqüit Intitute - Brazil, 2004; funded by the Heinrich Boell Foundation.

       “El comercio internacional en la agenda de las mujeres” (2004); Norma Sanchos, Verónica Baracat, Cristina Jiménez; funded by UNIFEM

       Manual “Los mapas del comercio” (2004); funded by WIDE

       The Virtual Seminar “International Trade from a Gender Perspective” October 2004 – April 2005 (2005.); funded by UNIFEM.

       Virtual Seminal: Creación de capacidades para la incidencia en las relaciones comerciales. Relaciones Comerciales Unión Europea - América Latina (2006); funded by Action Aid and IDRC.

       The film “A descarrilar la OMC”.

       Manual “Comercio internacional, agricultura y alimentación” (2007); funded by Action Aid.