INTERNATIONAL POLICY ANALYSIS Engendering Social Security and Protection: The Case of Latin America MARÍA JOSÉ BECERRA MORO June 2011 n Progress has been achieved in providing social protection for Latin American citizens in many countries of the region, resulting in extended coverage for groups that were excluded up until a few years ago. Women have also benefited from this develop­ment, as a greater number of Latin-American women have accessed to politically relevant positions. n Nevertheless, a number of challenges remain and need the attention of government leaders. The most important challenges are how to account for unpaid care work in the context of social security / protection, and how to develop paternity leave policies that promote the rights of fathers and, hence, strengthen mothers’ positions in the labour market, including the effects on their entitlement to social security. Equally, it is necessary that the region’s governments realize the importance of delivering gender oriented public policies.