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OAS SECRETARY GENERAL WELCOMES PERUVIAN INITIATIVES THAT WILL STRENGTHEN DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS

  September 22, 2005

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, met today with the Chairman of Peru’s National Electoral Board, Enrique Mendoza Ramírez. During the meeting, Mendoza Ramírez briefed Insulza on his institution’s initiatives to promote civil education and ethics in the electoral process.

The Secretary General praised the Ethical Elections Pact reached a few months ago between Peru’s principal political forces and media representatives, which aims at elevating political debate and promoting adequate information among citizens. Insulza also highlighted the “commitment and duty of the parties and political movements, to maintain good practices during the process of electoral campaigns.”

Secretary General Insulza added that in accordance with the Inter-American Democratic Charter, “education and civic formation in democracy are citizens’ rights as well as a duty for governments, which they must promote permanently, as in the case of the National Electoral Board initiative.” He added that policies to keep citizens informed should be carried out continuously and not only during electoral processes.


Reference: E-207/05