Media Center

Press Release

OAS Secretary General’s Chief of Staff Highlights the value of political dialogue to strengthen processes of democratization, peace and development in the region

Social and political dialogue is crucial to ensure governance and strengthen processes of democratization, peace and development in the Hemisphere, today said Hugo de Zela, Chief of Staff of the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, when closing the Second International Forum for Dialogue and Development held in Lima, Peru.

The Forum was convened by the government of Peru in order to analyze the new Latin American context with regard to democratic transition processes and the development of extractive industries whose activities in recent years have been a source of local disputes in several countries of the region.

Ambassador de Zela indicated that the effect of such conflicts on local and national economies has become one of the topics of major concern in the Hemisphere. “Tensions regarding the implementation of extractive and infrastructure projects, for instance, have not only brought the work of several of these projects to a standstill—resulting in substantive economic losses—but have also claimed several lives,” he noted.

The Peruvian diplomat said that Latin America faces a common scenario, “which highlights the need to take on the challenge of promoting democratic participation pathways in order to achieve an efficient, accountable and responsive State, capable of responding to the needs, demands and expectations of the community, and the establishment of channels for dialogue, mechanisms for consensus building and peaceful and democratic resolution of conflicts at the source.” In this regard, he indicated that to face these challenges successfully, it is important to “strengthen dialogue and the ongoing analysis of these issues since it is evident that there is a clear demand for the need to establish channels and bridging mechanisms for building true, inclusive and participatory dialogue that lead to sustainable solutions.” “Social and political dialogue is of crucial relevance for governance and, thus, for strengthening processes of democratization, peace and development in the Hemisphere,” he added.

At another point in his speech, Ambassador de Zela recalled that the countries of the Hemisphere approved, during the OAS General Assembly held last June in Paraguay, a resolution entitled “Inclusive Dialogue for Effectively Dealing with Social Conflicts in Investments for Integral Development.” The initiative calls on the Organization to continue supporting member states in implementing state institutions and mechanisms that effectively respond to social conflict situations while recognizing that inclusive dialogue is an appropriate strategy for the resolution of disputes. “That is why the OAS will remain committed to this issue, which we consider of great importance,” he added.

The OAS Secretary General’s Chief of Staff also reviewed the work of the hemispheric institution in this area. "Through the Department of Sustainable Democracy and Special Missions (DSDSM/OAS) , we have been working on the promotion, protection and defense of democracy through prevention, management and resolution of political, social and institutional conflicts. Since 2005, the Department has supported mediation efforts and peace building in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua and Paraguay; as well as the resolution of disputes between Belize and Guatemala, Ecuador and Colombia, and Costa Rica and Nicaragua," he recalled.

Furthermore, Ambassador de Zela noted that the DSDSM, through its Institutional Strengthening in Dialogue and Mediation Section, has been conducting forums for the exchange of information and best practices, at the regional and hemispheric levels, on the prevention, management and resolution of social conflicts. It has also developed tools and mechanisms for preventing and addressing social conflict, such as the "Practical Guide to Democratic Dialogue", and has designed and implemented training workshops, both regionally and nationally, on the design and implementation of dialogue and mediation processes. "In addition, it has provided technical cooperation to several countries of the region, including Guatemala, Haiti, Peru, Ecuador and Suriname, to strengthen their capacities in the prevention and management of social conflicts," he indicated.

The Forum was opened by the President of the Council of Ministers of Peru, Ana Jara Velásquez, who presented the Peruvian model to prevent and manage social conflicts. President Velásquez said the Peruvian approach is based on dialogue as the main tool, and the ability to create, from the State, instruments that make agreements sustainable. "The strategy is to mobilize the State to improve conflict management, promote a change in the relationship between business and community and foster a culture of peace in society in order to transform conflicts into opportunities for development," said the President of the Council of Ministers, who added that this model is implemented in dialogue with other experiences in Latin America.

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

Reference: E-357/14