Analysis
In her address to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (CEPAL) in 2017, Espinosa emphasized that Latin America and the Caribbean must unite to combat inequality, which she identified as the chief barrier to sustainable development in the region. The wording in the claim matches the content of her speech as reported by multiple news outlets and the official CEPAL transcript.
Background
María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés served as Ecuador's Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2015 to 2017. During a 2017 CEPAL gathering, she highlighted the region's need for collective action against socioeconomic disparities, linking inequality directly to challenges in achieving sustainable development goals.
Verdict summary
The statement accurately reflects María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés' remarks at the 2017 CEPAL meeting.