Introduction
Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have approved the Tlatelolco Commitment, which aims to promote actions over the next decade to achieve a care society and advance towards substantive equality.
Understanding the Care Society
The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) acknowledges the care society proposal, prioritizing life sustainability and caring for people and the planet.
Overcoming Gender Division of Labor
This commitment encourages countries to promote measures to overcome the gender division of labor and transition towards a fair social organization of care, addressing the burden of tasks that disproportionately affects women and hinders their development and well-being.
Urgent Call for Collective Action
José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, ECLAC’s Executive Secretary, emphasized the importance of building a care society: “Advancing towards a care society is not only possible, but essential. The 21st century will undoubtedly be the century where we universalize the right to care. The next decade will be crucial for achieving the transformative push needed for this to happen. Acting today is planting hope. Achieving this goal requires collective, intergenerational action, care policies, and integrating the care perspective into all public policies, strategic investments, and regional cooperation.”
Recognition of the Right to Care
The representatives welcomed Opinion Consultive 31 of 2025 by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, recognizing an autonomous human right to care in its three dimensions: being cared for, caring for others, and self-care. They urged governments to respect and guarantee this right and adopt legislative and other measures to ensure its full effectiveness.
Inequality in Care Organization
The agreement acknowledges that the social organization of care in the region is unjust and unequal, historically affecting women, adolescents, and girls, particularly indigenous and afrodescendant women. It also expresses concern about current threats to multilateral spaces and funding reductions, as well as the worsening economic, social, and environmental situation.
Care Crisis
Aging Population
ECLAC has warned that Latin American countries face a care crisis due to the aging population, increasing care needs.
In the coming 25 years, this crisis will intensify: by 2050, the population aged 65 and over will reach 138 million, nearly 19 out of every 100 people in the region.
Pending National Care System
Mexico’s Care System
In Mexico, a national care system has been historically pending for women.
According to the National Survey for the Care System (ENASIC) 2022, 31.7 million Mexicans care for others, with 75.1% being women.
The care burden causes nearly four out of ten women to feel exhausted, as per ENASIC. Additionally, 31.7% reported reduced sleep; 22.7% experienced irritability; 16.3% felt depressed, and 12.7% saw their physical health affected.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the Tlatelolco Commitment? It’s an agreement by Latin American and Caribbean countries to promote actions over the next decade to achieve a care society and advance towards substantive equality.
- What is the care society proposal? It prioritizes life sustainability and caring for people and the planet, aiming to address the gender division of labor and promote a fair social organization of care.
- Why is building a care society essential? According to ECLAC’s Executive Secretary, José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, it’s crucial for universalizing the right to care and achieving transformative change in the 21st century.
- What does Opinion Consultive 31 of 2025 recognize? It recognizes an autonomous human right to care in its three dimensions: being cared for, caring for others, and self-care.
- Why is there a care crisis in Latin America? The aging population increases care needs, leading to a care crisis in the region.
- What concerns does the agreement express about care organization? It highlights the unjust and unequal social organization of care, affecting women, adolescents, and girls, particularly indigenous and afrodescendant women. It also expresses concern about threats to multilateral spaces, funding reductions, and worsening economic, social, and environmental situations.
