The humanitarian crisis in prisons in Latin America is marked by violence (torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment), coupled with precarious health and nutrition, the absence of specific measures for the protection of vulnerable groups and the high level of overcrowding. This situation has been further aggravated by the health emergency caused by the COVID-19 virus.

A preliminary regional diagnosis concluded that in the case of Argentina there are difficulties in drawing attention to cases of institutional prison violence and for the victims to obtain reparation or recognition of their situation.

The Public Ministry of Defence, with the support of the EUROsociAL programme of the European Union, has designed a Registration, Communication and Comprehensive Care System for Victims of Institutional Prison Violence (SIRCAIVI), with the aim of identifying, registering and providing integral assistance to victims of institutional prison violence and their family members.

This system, which is being implemented in three countries in the region: Argentina, Chile and Costa Rica attempts settle a historic debt with people deprived of their liberty in terms of ill-treatment and torture in prisons with a specific public policy for which an effort has been made by various state institutions, through the constitution of the Inter-institutional Network against Institutional Violence-Table for dialogue and intersector action (Red-MEDAI).

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In this session, the Training Course on Theoretical Approaches and Practical Tools of the Housing First Methodology will begin. This is specially designed by the AIRES Association of Spain for the Uruguayan context based on the technical advice carried out within the framework of the alliance between the European Union EUROsociAL+ Programme and the Ministry for Social Development of Uruguay.

The course is aimed at all people who work in the Supported Housing Programme, the staff of the National Directorate of Social Protection of the Ministry for Social Development of Uruguay and other partner institutions.

Registration for the course is now closed.

Webinar Registration Link

A discussion organised by the EUROSociAL+ Gender Equality policy area in commemoration of 25 November: the day for the elimination of violence against women. In this space, experiences and success stories from Latin America and Europe will be exchanged, with the aim of learning from each other and designing better public policies to react to digital violence against women. Consideration will be given to how such policies can contribute to eliminating this phenomenon.

The EUROsociAL+ programme in alliance with the Gabo Foundation convenes the virtual workshop ‘Coverage of the challenges for social cohesion in Latin America’, which will be led by the journalist, teacher and member of the Governing Council of the Gabo Foundation, Mónica Gonzalez (Chile).

Journalists from Latin America and Europe, with at least three years of experience in permanent coverage on topics related to the activity’s theme, linked to some media outlet or freelancers can apply to this call. Up to 20 participants will be selected by public call.

The workshop will take place virtually, in six synchronous sessions of two hours each, in which the teacher will present the topics to be discussed and will open the conversation with journalists, so that they can present comments, doubts and experiences that everyone can learn from. Invited experts will participate.

More information here

In 2019, the Inter-American Association of Public Defender’s Offices (AIDEF), aware of the current migratory reality in the region and of the need for cooperation between Public Defender’s Offices to guarantee access to justice for people on the move, with the assistance of the European Union’s EUROsociAL+ Programme, launched an action for the creation of an Inter-American Network for the Defence of Persons in the Context of Mobility whose main objective is dialogue and joint work between entities that make up the AIDEF, to improve access to justice for migrants and refugees, through collaboration and reciprocal assistance, the exchange of information and experiences and the development of common activities.

The European Union’s EUROsociAL+ Programme together with AIDEF, invite you to the presentation of the Inter-American Network for the Defence of Persons in the Context of Mobility and the Action Protocol for the request of information between Public Defender’s Offices of the region for the defence of migrants and refugees.

The Regional Meeting on Climate Change and Gender Equality will be held virtually at various sessions throughout September 2021 (a total of 8 sessions every Tuesday and Thursday during the month). These sessions will showcase the experiences, good practices, challenges and opportunities that seek to integrate gender equality in climate action in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and the roadmap of the Gender Action Plan (GAP) of the Framework Convention on the United Nations on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

It is organised by the government of Chile in its capacity as COP25 Presidency through its Ministries of the Environment, Foreign Relations, Women and Gender Equity and is developed thanks to the support of the European Union, through its EUROsociAL+ and EUROCLIMA + programmes, with technical support from ECLAC as key strategic partners in climate action, joining up the dots between the 2030 Agenda and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The project also has the collaboration of the United Nations System of Chile, with financial contribution from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

The meeting is aimed at decision-makers at a national, regional and global level, the academic community, the media and civil society.

Application form

Meeting information

The COVID-19 health emergency has caused and/or deepened economic and social crises to differing degrees depending on the country, affecting in particular the population that was already the most vulnerable before the pandemic. Both in Latin American countries and in Europe, emergency measures have been taken to get food to people, but we know that the fight against hunger is not limited to these. The right to healthy food in the required quantity and quality requires a food security policy that considers the global regulation of agri-food systems, production chains, economies and social life dynamics in different territories and in each country.

The Argentine Ministry of Social Development implemented, together with the European Union EUROsociAL+ programme and other international organisations, an round of meetings for exchange and reflection on social policies and especially food policies, which includes this high-level dialogue, to share reflections on food security matters in both Europe and Latin America.

The homeless population is growing, social differences are sharpening in the midst of a global crisis that requires a serious response from governments. Since 2018 Chile has led with the installation of a social policy based on housing as the first step to end the homeless situation, by allying itself with different countries in the region.

In this context, authorities in the field are summoned to participate in the high-level international Webinar entitled “Housing First in Times of Pandemic: a strategy to end the homeless situation”, which will take place next Tuesday, 1 June, 2021 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Chile/5:00 p.m. CET.

This meeting is organised by the European Union Programme EUROsociAL+ and the Ministry of Social Development and Family of Chile, which is part of the “Support in the installation of a new national strategy to overcome the homeless situation, implementing the Housing First model in Chile” project. The main objective is to share the results of the international experiences of Housing First in times of pandemic, emphasising the Chilean and Latin American context, in order to inspire and engage different public and private actors in the sustainability of these solutions.

The Governments of Chile, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Brazil, Paraguay, Colombia and Argentina, along with social organisations, politicians, businessmen and key actors in the housing sector, have all been summoned to share their reflections on their experience and what they have learnt.

In these moments of crisis, there is a greater demand for leadership by the central state and sub-national levels, together with the need for clear frameworks of action and coordination that adequately respond to the systemic nature of the health and socio-economic impact, implementing measures that help to overcome it. With a view to an effective recovery, the role of the state, as a strategic coordinator and balancing mechanism of different capacities and interests, is fundamental for the coordination of long-range processes that ensure social cohesion and prosperity in accordance with democratic principles and international commitments on gender equality.

The territorial approach in policies and actions developed in the context of socio-economic recovery is essential for national policies to provide a framework and promote development and the economy in the territories, and, in a broader sense, a better quality of urban life.

The LAC-EU Roundtable promoted by the current Presidency of MINURVI (Assembly of Ministers and Highest Authorities in Housing and Urban Development of Latin America and the Caribbean), with the support of EUROsociAL+, the European Union’s programme for social cohesion in Latin America in association with UN Habitat seeks to exchange experiences, strategies and approaches between the two regions to face the socio-economic crisis derived from the pandemic, addressing the contribution from urban and territorial development, as well as from housing and the construction sector, to socio-economic recovery responses in cities.

The meeting is structured in two sessions:

• Wednesday, 26 May 2021 (09:00 Colombia-16:00 Brussels):Ministerial round table.

See session recording

• Thursday, 27 May (08:45 Colombia-15:45 Brussels): Technical round table

See session recording

One year ago, the International Labor Organization, the European Union’s EUROsociAL+ programme and the Argentinian Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security decided to join forces and work together to develop a series of virtual forums for dialogue and exchange on measures that, in terms of health and safety at work, countries were adopting in the face of COVID-19, both at the most critical moment of the crisis and for the reactivation of production and the economy, and for the recovery of employment.

The round table meetings focused on four economic sectors that have been especially affected by the crisis – construction, transport, domestic work and wholesale markets, the common thread of each encounter being occupational health and safety measures, the role of social dialogue and the sectoral agreements reached.

The publication presented today systematises the national responses shared at these sessions, as well as a series of reflections on the lessons learnt during the pandemic and the challenges facing occupational health and safety in the future.