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.