The first step in designing effective programs to reduce poverty in the region is to figure out the real numbers. Unfortunately, that's harder than it looks, writes Sanjay G. Reddy. Read the full article in the Spring 2008 issue of Americas Quarterly.

Published by Jorge Pinto Books, the Spanish-language book of the AS/COA Rule of Law Working Group includes new data, graphs and other information updated from the July 2007 English-language version.

Guatemalans elected Alvaro Colom president in Sunday's run-off vote. With the country's rampant crime rate a focus of the election, Colom won on an anti-poverty platform over pledges by his opponent, a retired general, to use the military for a fierce crackdown. AS/COA produced a July 2007 report on the rule of law in the Americas.

Guatemalans vote Sunday in a tight presidential race marred by violence and mudslinging. The winner faces the challenge of halting a rising crime rate. Read more. The new issue of Americas Quarterly, released November 2, examines security in Latin America. AS/COA produced a July 2007 report outlining means to boost the rule of law in the Americas.

Without comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level, U.S. states are now passing their own legislation. In the first of a series of U.S. immigration updates, AS/COA outlines how new state laws affect public benefits, employment, and identification.

On November 7, after months of negotiations and debate, the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 285 to 132. The bill is expected to receive Senate consideration shortly.

COA Vice President Eric Farnsworth writes that Iran's deepening ties with some Latin American nations could have destabilizing consequences. But he emphasizes that Iran's foray into the Americas serves as an opportunity for nations of the Western Hemisphere to work together in support of democratic principles.