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Regional Organizations and the UN to Discuss Democracy and the Post-2015 Development Agenda

Washington DC – The Fourth High Level Meeting of the Inter-Regional Dialogue on Democracy will be held at the headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington, DC October 16-17.

This meeting will bring together the world’s major regional organizations to discuss democracy and development in the context of the post-2015 agenda. These organizations include the African Union, European Union, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Council of Europe, the Organization of American States, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and the United Nations.

Regional Organizations, through their respective initiatives and activities, including inter-regional cooperation, are uniquely positioned to support the realization of the post-2015 Development Agenda and the work of the UN in the area of Democracy and Development. Regional Organizations are also key actors in providing a venue for their Member States to discuss democracy and good governance. They support their members with activities such as technical assistance projects in the fields of elections, human rights and constitution building, which ultimately aim to improve the livelihoods of people in the regions.

The two-day event will be hosted by the Secretary General of the OAS, José Miguel Insulza, and co-organized by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) and the OAS. Secretary General Insulza said the event “constitutes a platform for the participation of regional organizations in important debates at the global level on subjects like democracy, development, cooperation and challenges for the future,” and highlighted the richness of an inter-regional exchange in which organizations “trade lessons learned and get the most benefit from them, taking into account the differences in their mandates, the context in which they operate, the particularities of the regions, and their capacity and influence.”

“Democratic governance is a critical component for a holistic approach to economic development, environmental sustainability and social justice,” said International IDEA Secretary-General Yves Leterme. “Regional organizations are playing an important role in contributing to democracy and sustainable development.”

The Organization of American States is the world’s oldest regional Organization, which brings together the 35 independent states of the Americas and constitutes the principal political forum of the region to debate common objectives, prevent conflicts and contribute to political stability, social inclusion and prosperity in the region. The basic principle of the hemispheric agenda on which the OAS is based is the protection and consolidation of democracy and respect for the principles of non-intervention and territorial integrity.

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) is an intergovernmental organization with a mission to support sustainable democracy worldwide. The objectives of the Institute are to support stronger democratic institutions and processes, and more sustainable, effective and legitimate democracy. International IDEA is the facilitator of the Inter-Regional Dialogue on Democracy, which is a leading platform for democracy for Regional Organizations.

For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org.

Reference: E-440/14