OEA/Ser.P
AG/RES. 1782 (XXXI-O/01)
5 June 2001
Original: Spanish
PROMOTION OF DEMOCRACY
(Resolution adopted at the third plenary session, held on
June 5, 2001;
subject to review by the Style Committee)
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
HAVING SEEN the report of the Permanent Council
(CP/doc.3479/01) and the report of the Chair of the Working
Group on Representative Democracy on the special meetings held
on "The issue of representation: political parties, citizen
participation, and electoral systems" and
"Institutional weaknesses and governance"
(CP/CAJP-1786 /01);
BEARING IN MIND that the stability and strengthening of
democracy and the enhancement of the quality thereof through
efficient government administration are priority objectives, as
indicated by the Heads of State and Government in the Plan of
Action of the Third Summit of the Americas;
MINDFUL of the marked interdependence of democracy, economic
and social development, and human rights noted in the Plan of
Action of the Third Summit of the Americas and the mandates
assigned to the Organization, contained in Chapter 1 of the
aforementioned Plan of Action, "Making Democracy Work
Better";
MINDFUL ALSO that the Charter of the Organization of American
States establishes, in its preamble, "that representative
democracy is an indispensable condition for the stability, peace
and development of the region" and that one of its
essential purposes is "to promote and consolidate
representative democracy";
RECALLING the 1991 Santiago Commitment to Democracy and the
Renewal of the Inter-American System, the 1992 Declaration of
Nassau, and the 1993 Declaration of Managua for the Promotion of
Democracy and Development ;
BEARING IN MIND its resolutions adopted for the defense,
promotion, strengthening, and consolidation of representative
democracy, cited in resolution AG/RES. 1721 (XXX-O/00); and
CONSIDERING the advisability of strengthening ties of
cooperation and coordination among the policy-making bodies of
the Organization and the areas of the General Secretariat, as
well as with the various organs, agencies, and entities of the
inter-American system, such as the Inter-American Juridical
Committee, with a view to studying in greater depth the topics
on the hemispheric agenda in the area of the promotion and
consolidation of representative democracy,
RESOLVES:
1. To take note of the report of the Permanent Council on its
activities relating to the promotion of democracy.
2. To note with satisfaction the report of the Chair of the
Working Group on Representative Democracy and the special
meetings of the Group, with the participation of government and
academic experts, on "electoral systems, political parties,
representation, and citizen participation," held on
December 6, 2000; and on "institutional weaknesses and
democratic governance," held on April 12, 2001
(CP/CAJP-1800/01 rev. 1), in keeping with resolution AG/RES.
1721 (XXX-O/00); and to instruct the General Secretariat to
publish the report during the 2001-2002 period.
3. To note with satisfaction the work of the Unit for the
Promotion of Democracy, and to urge it to continue to support
the member states in their efforts to strengthen democratic
institutions, particularly legislatures, civil and electoral
registries, and bodies responsible for decentralization policy
and citizen participation, and to consolidate the values and
practices of a democratic political culture, emphasizing
dialogue, the involvement of youth and opinion-leading sectors,
and the strengthening of political parties.
4. To instruct the Permanent Council, in the context of the
dialogue on the modernization of the OAS and the renewal of the
inter-American system, to study ways of bringing its political
bodies into line with the priority attached to democracy by the
Heads of State and Government at the Third Summit of the
Americas.
5. To instruct the Permanent Council, through its respective
body, to:
a. Pursue its comprehensive consideration of the topics
identified as priorities in the Summits of the Americas process
and on the inter-American agenda in terms of the promotion and
consolidation of democracy and, for purposes of studying such
topics, invite the organs, agencies, and entities of the system,
such as the Inter-American Juridical Committee, as well as
government and academic experts, and organize special meetings
for that purpose, when it deems it necessary.
b. Continue providing any guidance necessary to the General
Secretariat with respect to the activities it may carry out in
the area of democracy and, in particular, to the Unit for the
Promotion of Democracy, on the basis of the priorities
established by the Heads of State and Government in the Summits
process and in the inter-American agenda.
c. Study and approve, by the end of 2001, the UPD Work Plan
for 2002, ensuring that said plan includes programs and
activities in pursuit of the mandates related to the promotion
and consolidation of democracy assigned to the OAS at the Third
Summit of the America.
d. Examine the progress reports on the activities carried out
by the Unit for the Promotion of Democracy in pursuit of the
objectives contained in its respective annual Work Plan,
including information on the level of budget execution, which
will be presented to the pertinent body by the General
Secretariat, through appropriate channels, within 45 days
following the end of each quarter, and include its comments and
observations in its annual report.
e. Continue studying the updated annual inventory of activities
relating to the promotion of democracy in each area of the OAS
General Secretariat, and receive detailed oral reports thereon
from the person in charge of the area, unit, or office
concerned.
f. Continue studying the fulfillment of resolution AG/RES.
1637 (XXIX-O/99), "Permanent Specific Fund to Finance
Activities Related to OAS Electoral Observation Missions,"
seeking possible alternatives for the fund's operation.
6. To request the General Secretariat to:
a. Consolidate ties and coordination among the various areas,
units, and offices for the execution of programs and activities
relating to the promotion of representative democracy, and to do
so with the collaboration of the various organs, agencies, and
entities of the system, so as to give due attention to and
fulfill the mandates of the Summits of the Americas and of the
General Assembly.
b. Propose, through the Unit for the Promotion of Democracy (UPD)
and in coordination with other units, organs, agencies, and
entities in the system, the inclusion of the specific programs
and activities for adequately addressing and complying with the
mandates contained in Chapter 1 of the Plan of Action of the
Third Summit of the Americas, "Making Democracy Work
Better."
c. Incorporate the topics addressed and the concerns raised
during the aforementioned special meetings of the Working Group
on Representative Democracy, through the Unit for the Promotion
of Democracy, when preparing its work plans and programs.
d. Regularly update, through the Unit for the Promotion of
Democracy, the annual inventory of activities relating to the
promotion of representative democracy.
7. To instruct the Permanent Council to report to the General
Assembly at its thirty-second regular session on the
implementation of this resolution.
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