Analysts warn that twenty years after the signing of the peace accords in Central America, which ended years of civil war, the economic and social causes of those wars still exist, and could represent potential threats to peace and stability in the region. Economist Miguel Gutierrez stated that "little has changed" with respect to poverty and social inequality, since the signing of the 1996 peace accords. This Inter Press Service article argues that "economic and social marginalization and the need for regional integration" are still the most critical issues today.   more »

There are currently 184 textile maquilas in Guatemala and they employ a combined total of 70,000 people, 80 percent of whom are young women, according to a source with the Guatemalan Exporters Association’s (Agexport) Apparel and Textile Industry Commission (Vestex). Inés Benitez writes in IPSNews about female labour exploitation in the textile factories in Guatemala, known as maquiladores or maquilas.    more »