Our Research

The Association Agreement between the European Union and Central America: Its potential impact on women's lives in Central America.

In light of the negotiations for an Association Agreement (AA) between the EU and Central America, CAWN commissioned a study to highlight the main areas in which free trade agreements impact on the lives of women in the region. The study finds that unless there is a drastic change in both the process and priorities of the negotiations, an AA between the EU and Central America will deepen existing poverty and inequality in the region and impact particularly on women, further limiting their opportunities for dignified work and increasing their responsibilities.

Briefing paper

Full Document October 2007 (PDF) Annex 1 (PDF)

 

Gender Perspectives and Women's Action on the Central American Free Trade Agreement

This report was commissioned by CAWN as a short scoping study of the Central American Free Trade Agreement covering the following areas:

  1. The overall CAFTA process
  2. The work of Central American women’s organisations around CAFTA, their positions and opportunities for joint work and research
  3. The work of development agencies and solidarity organisations and networks around CAFTA in the United Kingdom
  4. The implications of processes in Mexico including the European Union’s global agreement

The study was carried out in August and September 2003, and updated in 2004. The sources used were documents and articles mainly obtained through the Internet; a short email questionnaire for Central American and European contacts and some telephone interviews with UK organisations.

Full document May 2004 (Word)

Edited version March 2005 (PDF)