The past two decades of progress in LGBTQ rights in many Latin American countries have helped to extend basic rights of marriage, health care and a security to many in the LGBTQ community—but not all.

Has the U.S. been asleep at the switch as other countries assert their power in the region? Here are five things the U.S. should do to re-engage with Latin America.

Beyond the economics of the 30 million Latin Americans living abroad, out-migraton from the region has also created a looming a political problem. Countries and societies are losing political and civic talent and leadership, precisely at a time when Latin America confronts complex, technical policy and economic reforms.

Since October, eleven journalists across six countries—two in Colombia, two in Honduras, three in Mexico, two in Brazil, one in Paraguay, and one in Peru—have been murdered, according to the Inter-American Press Association.