The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) will present on Tuesday, May 12, its Special Report COVID-19 No. 3 on monitoring the economic and social effects of the coronavirus in the region, entitled The social challenge in times of COVID-19.
This new document – the third in a series that examines the evolution of the pandemic and its effects in the region – will include an estimate of the social impact and related challenges that the current crisis will have for the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, in 2020 as well as in the medium and long term.
The report will be unveiled via a virtual press conference led by Alicia Bárcena, ECLAC’s Executive Secretary, from Santiago, Chile, at 11:30 a.m. local time (UTC/GMT -4).
It will be transmitted live on the institution’s website and its social media accounts on Twitter (@eclac_un) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/eclac). Journalists will be able to submit their questions ahead of time to the email address conferenciaprensa@cepal.org, and ECLAC’s Executive Secretary will respond to them once she has finished presenting the document. Questions will only be taken until 12:00 p.m. local time.
According to ECLAC’s recent estimates, COVID-19 is affecting the economies of Latin America and the Caribbean through external and domestic factors, the combined effect of which will lead to the worst contraction the region has experienced since 1914 and 1930. In 2020, a -5.3% contraction is forecast for the region’s economy, on average. Furthermore, a sharp rise in unemployment is foreseen, with negative effects on poverty, extreme poverty and inequality. The approximate magnitude of these social challenges, along with the details of a proposal for emergency income for people in situations of poverty, will be part of the new report that the United Nations regional commission’s Executive Secretary will present this Tuesday, May 12.
Members of the media are invited to participate in the virtual press conference. Journalists must connect via ECLAC’s website as of 11:30 a.m. local time (UTC/GMT -4). It is requested that questions related to the press conference’s topics be sent ahead of time to the email address conferenciaprensa@cepal.org. Questions will only be taken until 12:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday, May 12.
The full electronic version of this new document by ECLAC, along with a press release and Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena’s presentation, will be available on ECLAC’s website and on the webpage of the COVID-19 Observatory in Latin America and the Caribbean on Tuesday, May 12, as soon as the press conference has concluded.
What: Launch of ECLAC’s Special Report COVID-19 No. 3: The social challenge in times of COVID-19.
Who:
When: Tuesday, May 12, 2020, 11:30 a.m. local time in Chile (GMT -4).
Where: Virtual connection via ECLAC’s website.
For queries and to arrange interviews, contact ECLAC’s Public Information Unit.
Email: prensa@cepal.org; Telephone: (56 2) 2210 2040.
