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Secretariat for Strengthening Democracy (SSD)
Strengthening Democracy in the Hemisphere
MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY FOR STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY
The democratic development of the Americas involves a perpetually unfinished agenda, a dynamic process that coincides with the gradual expansion of rights and freedoms of the nearly 1,000 million people living in the Western Hemisphere. The Charter of the Organization of American States (OAS) establishes as an essential purpose of the Organization to "promote and consolidate representative democracy, with due respect for the principle of nonintervention." That purpose, also enshrined in the Inter-American Democratic Charter, inspires the efforts of the Secretariat for Political Affairs (SPA/OAS), whose daily work is a tool available to Member States in strengthening their democratic regimes.
The SPA/OAS operates alongside countries, and per their request, through initiatives on topics as diverse as electoral observation and cooperation, good governance, prevention of social conflicts, inter-parliamentary dialogue, the universalization of civil identity, governance innovation, among others. Thus, the SPA/OAS is a technical arm at the service of the Member States in deepening their democracies, improving government institutions, strengthening the rule of law and, generally, in the defense and promotion of internationally recognized democratic values that have been ratified in the different legal instruments of the Organization.
With a clear strategic vision and the path traced by the XLV General Assembly of the OAS, the SPA/OAS is in the process of revamping its functions and contributing to a renewed General Secretariat, joining the efforts of Secretary General Luis Almagro to modernize the Organization and work towards a more efficient OAS, an Organization that is closer to the people and is increasingly helpful in solving the countries’ problems and building a better future for the citizens of the hemisphere.
Francisco Javier Guerrero Aguirre, PhD
Secretary for Strengthening Democracy - See Biography »
Secretary for Strengthening Democracy - See Biography »
Francisco Javier Guerrero Aguirre, PhD
Francisco Guerrero obtained his PhD in International Affairs and a Master in International Conflicts Analysis from University of Kent at Canterbury, England. He holds a law degree from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), entitled with honors.
Founder and scientific advisor of the Master Program in Economics and Government and the PhD Program in Strategic Management and Policy Development at the Anáhuac University, where he was responsible for the Mexico´s Structural Reforms research group.
Academic Advisor in various courses and seminars, Visiting Researcher in different countries, and has taught in doctoral, master's and bachelor's degree programs.
On January 2008, he was one of the five elected Mexicans for the renowned Eisenhower Fellowship Grant (Award) and within his areas of expertise includes: Electoral, Public policy, International affairs, Democracy and political transition, government and Transparency, among others.
Author of “The role of radio and television in the new model of political communication: Lessons for Mexico”; “The vote of mexicans abroad: Background, reflections and a look into the future”; and “The pattern of complaints and disciplinary complaints and monitoring the electoral law”. He has participated in several books.
Columnist in several national newspapers, magazines and author of specialized publications. Editorialist of the Excelsior newspaper column “Punto de Equilibrio”; host in the radio program “Frente al País”, 90.5 AM Imagen Radio group; radio anchor “Zona de Encuentro” program at Horizonte 107.9 AM, Instituto Mexicano de la Radio (IMER) and participant member for the TV program “Primer Plano” broadcasted at Canal 11, Instituto Politécnico Nacional.
He also served from August 2008 to October 2013 as Electoral Councillor at the Instituto Federal Electoral (IFE) ratified by the Mexican Congress. He has held several positions in the public sector, like Senior Director at the Centro de Estudios Sociales y de Opinión Pública (CESOP) at the Mexican Chamber of Deputies; Chief of Staff for the President of Mexican Senate; National Sub-commissioner at the Comisión Nacional de Arbitraje Médico (Conamed); Head of International Affairs Office and Chief of Staff both at the Secretaria del Trabajo y Previsión Social, and also served as Chair of the General Coordination for Affiliated Workers at the Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado (ISSSTE). Also Advisor to Mexico City´s General Attorney.
Electoral observer in several countries such as: Dominican Republic (2000), United States (2008 and 2010), Colombia (2010), Russia (2012), Venezuela (2012 and 2013) and Guyana (2015) and collaborated with the OAS as a specialist on vote in the presidential election of Panama (2014).
Secretary for Strengthening Democracy of the Organization of American States (OAS) since June, 2015.
Our Mission
The mission of the Secretariat for Political Affairs (SPA) is to contribute to the strengthening of political processes in the OAS member states, and in particular to support democracy as the best option to ensure peace, security, and development. Through its efforts, the Secretariat reinforces the Organization's role as the primary political forum in the inter-American system and actively helps to sustain democracy in the member states.
In pursuit of its objectives, the SPA acts to increase the legitimacy of institutions in political processes and to strengthen the means of maintaining those processes.
The Secretariat is composed of the Executive Office of the Secretariat for Strengthening Democracy and the following dependencies:
