OEA - Documento ACTAS-S C 427 26 de 2026

[image] OEA/Ser.G

CP/ACTA 2500/24 22 mayo 2024

ACTA DE LA SESIÓN EXTRAORDINARIA

DEL CONSEJO PERMANENTE DE LA

ORGANIZACIÓN DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS

CELEBRADA EL 22 DE MAYO DE 2024

Transcripción corregida

Esta transcripción corregida se somete a la aprobación del Consejo Permanente. Una vez aprobada, constituirá la versión final del acta.

ÍNDICE

Página

Nómina de los miembros que asistieron a la sesión 1

Expresión de condolencias al pueblo y Gobierno de Guatemala por el

Fallecimiento del Embajador Francisco Villagrán de León 3

Aprobación del proyecto de orden del día 4

Seguimiento de los temas tratados en la sesión extraordinaria del Consejo Permanente

sobre “Implementación de todos los aspectos de la Carta Democrática Interamericana

y sus desafíos (30 de mayo de 2023) 5

Reflexiones sobre la futura implementación del Plan de Trabajo del Grupo Voluntario

de Seguimiento a la Carta Democrática Interamericana 18

Palabras del Secretario General de la Organización de los Estados Americanos,

señor Luis Almagro Lemes 36

Intervenciones de los Estados Miembros 37

DOCUMENTO CONSIDERADO EN LA SESIÓN

(SE PUBLICA POR SEPARADO)

CP/INF. 10200/24, Nota de la presidencia del Grupo Voluntario de Seguimiento a la Carta Democrática Interamericana mediante la que solicita que se convoque una sesión extraordinaria del Consejo Permanente para el miércoles, 22 de mayo de 2024, a las 10:00 a. m., de conformidad con el mandato contenido en la resolución AG/RES. 3004 (LIII-O/23)

CONSEJO PERMANENTE DE LA ORGANIZACIÓN DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS

ACTA DE LA SESIÓN EXTRAORDINARIA

CELEBRADA EL 22 DE MAYO DE 2024

En la ciudad de Washington, D. C., a las diez de la mañana del miércoles 22 de mayo de 2024, celebró sesión extraordinaria el Consejo Permanente de la Organización de los Estados Americanos con el fin de abordar la implementación de todos los aspectos de la Carta Democrática Interamericana y sus desafíos. Presidió la sesión el Embajador Chet Donovan Neymour, Representante Permanente del Commonwealth de las Bahamas y Presidente del Consejo Permanente. Asistieron los siguientes miembros:

Embajador Tarlie Francis, Representante Permanente de Grenada y Vicepresidente Interino del Consejo Permanente

Embajadora Lou-Anne Gaylene Gilchrist, Representante Permanente de San Vicente y las Granadinas

Embajadora Luz Elena Baños Rivas, Representante Permanente de México

Embajadora María del Carmen Roquebert León, Representante Permanente de Panamá

Embajador Washington Abdala, Representante Permanente del Uruguay

Embajadora Alejandra Solano Cabalceta, Representante Permanente de Costa Rica

Embajador Héctor Enrique Arce Zaconeta, Representante Permanente de Bolivia

Embajador Carlos Roberto Quesada López, Representante Permanente de Honduras

Embajador Sebastián Kraljevich Chadwick, Representante Permanente de Chile

Embajador Francisco O. Mora, Representante Permanente de los Estados Unidos

Embajador Benoni Belli, Representante Permanente del Brasil

Embajador Stuart Savage, Representante Permanente del Canadá

Embajadora Wendy Jeannette Acevedo Castillo, Representante Permanente de El Salvador

Embajador Daniel Raimondi, Representante Permanente de la Argentina

Embajadora Mayerlyn Cordero Díaz, Representante Permanente de la República Dominicana

Embajador José Luis Sardón, Representante Permanente del Perú

Embajador Daniel Raimondi, Representante Permanente de la Argentina

Embajadora Mayerlyn Cordero Díaz, Representante Permanente de la República Dominicana

Embajador José Luis Sardón, Representante Permanente del Perú

Consejera Ana Soledad Sandoval Espínola, Representante Interina del Paraguay

Embajador Gandy Thomas, Representante Interino de Haití

Ministra Consejera Joy-Dee Davis-Lake, Representante Alterna de Antigua y Barbuda

Consejero Mauricio Roberto Benard Estrada, Representante Alterno de Guatemala

Primera Secretaria Ruedi Josiane Trouchen, Representante Alterna de Trinidad y Tobago

Ministro Marco Vicente Ponce Villacís, Representante Alterno del Ecuador

Ministro Consejero Mikhail Giovanni Bullard, Representante Alterno del Commonwealth de las Bahamas

Ministra Consejera Cinammon Elizabeth Bottaro, Representante Alterna de Belize

Primera Secretaria Chanel Vanessa Nahar, Representante Alterna de Suriname

Ministra Delita Elizabeth McCallum, Representante Alterna de Jamaica

Ministra Consejera Andrea Marcela Alarcón Mayorga, Representante Alterna de Colombia

Segundo Secretario William Devere Clarke, Representante Alterno de Barbados

Consejera Keishanna Sullivan, Representante Alterna de Guyana

Ministro Consejero Augustine Fitzstephen Adullah Skerritt, Representante Alterno de Saint Kitts y Nevis

Primera Secretaria Dalia Clement, Representante Alterna de Santa Lucía

También estuvo presente el Secretario General Adjunto, Embajador Nestor Mendez, Secretario del Consejo Permanente.

El PRESIDENTE: Good morning, colleagues. Welcome to the special meeting of the Permanent Council, convened today, Wednesday, May 22, at 10:00 a. m.

EXPRESIÓN DE CONDOLENCIAS AL PUEBLO Y GOBIERNO DE GUATEMALA POR EL FALLECIMIENTO DEL EMBAJADOR FRANCISCO VILLAGRÁN DE LEÓN

El PRESIDENTE: Before we commence this morning’s proceedings, I would like to extend on behalf of the Permanent Council, and on behalf my own delegation, our deepest condolences to the people and Government of Guatemala on the profoundly saddening passing of our esteemed colleague, Ambassador Francisco Villagrán.

I vividly recall in my first tour of duty having one or two spirited conversations with Ambassador Villagrán on the usual topic, the Organization of American States (OAS) budgetary and fiscal affairs.

Ambassador Villagrán was a true friend of this [Permanent] Council. A dedicated diplomat, and a tireless advocate for peace and democracy. His unwavering commitment to the principles of the OAS and his passion for regional cooperation will be deeply missed.

In recognition of his exceptional contributions and to honor his legacy, this [Permanent] Council will hold a tribute to his memory during our next regular meeting. For now, I invite all of you to join me in a moment of silence.

[El Consejo, de pie, observa un minuto de silencio.]

Thank you kindly.

I have the honor to declare open this special meeting of the Permanent Council, which is being convened pursuant to Article 14 of the Statute of the Permanent Council and Article 37 of this Permanent Council Rules of Procedure. The meeting is being convened at the request of the permanent missions that comprises the Voluntary Group for the Follow-up of the Inter-American Democratic Charter; and for the record, those members are Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Grenada, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, the United States, and Uruguay, as contained in document CP/INF. 10200/24 to address the implementation of all aspects of the Inter-American Democratic Charter and its challenges; in fulfillment of the mandate established by resolution AG/RES. 3004 (LIII-O/23), of the General Assembly.

Let me begin by expressing my sincere gratitude to the Chair of the Voluntary Group, the requesting delegations, as well as the staff of the Department of Sustainable Democracy and Special Missions of the Organization of American States (OAS), and for their efforts and support in organizing this morning’s session.

I also extend a warm welcome to the high-level representatives of the governments and civil society who are joining us both in person and virtually, and our esteemed panelists from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and the OAS General Secretariat. Your contributions to these discussions are certainly valued.

APROBACIÓN DEL PROYECTO DE ORDEN DEL DÍA

El PRESIDENTE: Colleagues, further in accordance with Article 43 of the Rules of Procedure of the Permanent Council, we will proceed to adopt the order of business for this meeting as set out in document CP/OD-2500/24.

The floor is open for any delegations who wish to object or otherwise.

[El proyecto de orden del día contiene los siguientes puntos:

1. Aprobación del orden del día

2. Seguimiento de los temas tratados en la sesión extraordinaria del Consejo Permanente sobre “Implementación de todos los aspectos de la Carta Democrática Interamericana y sus desafíos” (30 de mayo de 2023)

• Informe de avances en las actividades programadas y realizadas por el Grupo

Voluntario de Seguimiento a la Carta Democrática Interamericana, a mayo de 2024

o Presentación a cargo del Embajador Francisco Mora, Representante Permanente de Estados Unidos y Presidente del Grupo Voluntario de Seguimiento a la Carta Democrática Interamericana

• Resumen de las iniciativas de la OEA que se están llevando a cabo en apoyo

del seguimiento de la Carta Democrática Interamericana. Breves presentaciones a cargo de:

o Comisionada Roberta Clarke, Presidenta de la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos

o Señora Maricarmen Plata, Secretaria de Acceso a Derechos y Equidad

o Embajador James Lambert, Secretario de Asuntos Hemisféricos

o Comisionada Roberta Clarke, Presidenta de la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos

o Señora Maricarmen Plata, Secretaria de Acceso a Derechos y Equidad

o Embajador James Lambert, Secretario de Asuntos Hemisféricos

o Señora Maryse Robert, Directora del Departamento de Desarrollo Económico, Secretaría Ejecutiva para el Desarrollo Integral

o Señora María Teresa Mellenkamp, Encargada del Departamento de Sustentabilidad Democrática y Misiones Especiales, Secretaría para el Fortalecimiento de la Democracia

1. Reflexiones sobre la futura implementación del Plan de Trabajo del Grupo Voluntario de Seguimiento a la Carta Democrática Interamericana

• Alocuciones de representantes de alto nivel de gobiernos o de la sociedad civil

o Embajador Riyad Insanally, Investigador principal del Caribbean Initiative, Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

o Senador Tim Kaine, miembro de la Comisión de Relaciones Exteriores del Senado de Estados Unidos (SFRC) y Presidente de la Subcomisión del Hemisferio Occidental, Delincuencia Transnacional, Seguridad Civil, Democracia, Derechos Humanos y Cuestiones Mundiales de la Mujer de la SFRC

o Señora Mariclaire Acosta, Presidenta del Consejo Directivo de Justicia Transicional México

o Señora Gloria de la Fuente, Subsecretaria de Relaciones Exteriores de Chile

o Señor Nicolás Albertoni, Subsecretario de Relaciones Exteriores del Uruguay

o Señora Maroussia Lévesque, Investigadora doctoral sobre gobernanza de la inteligencia artificial, Facultad de Derecho de Harvard

o Señor João Caldeira Brant Monteiro de Castro, Secretario de Políticas Digitales de la Presidencia de la República de Brasil

1. Palabras del señor Luis Almagro, Secretario General (video pregrabado)

2. Intervenciones de los Estados Miembros.]

There being no observations, the order of business is hereby approved.

1. Palabras del señor Luis Almagro, Secretario General (video pregrabado)

2. Intervenciones de los Estados Miembros.]

There being no observations, the order of business is hereby approved.

SEGUIMIENTO DE LOS TEMAS TRATADOS EN LA SESIÓN EXTRAORDINARIA DEL CONSEJO PERMANENTE SOBRE “IMPLEMENTACIÓN DE TODOS LOS ASPECTOS DE LA CARTA DEMOCRÁTICA INTERAMERICANA Y SUS DESAFÍOS” (30 DE MAYO DE 2023)

El PRESIDENTE: Moving on to item two of this morning’s agenda.

Proceeding now to the second item on the order of business, which is entitled Follow-up Topics Addressed at the 2023 Special Meeting Focused on the Implementation of All Aspects of the Inter-American Democratic Charter and its Challenges, I am pleased to welcome Ambassador Francisco Mora, Permanent Representative of the United States of America, and the Chair of the Voluntary Group will follow up to the Inter-American Democratic Charter. Ambassador [Mora] will share with us a progress report on the activities planned and those undertaken by the Voluntary Group as of May 2024.

Accordingly, the Chair recognizes and offers the floor to Ambassador Francisco Mora.

Ambassador Mora, the floor is yours.

El PRESIDENTE DEL GRUPO VOLUNTARIO DE SEGUIMIENTO A LA CARTA DEMOCRÁTICA INTERAMERICANA: Thank you very much, Chair.

Good morning to all ambassadors, colleagues, and participants. It is an honor to address this special Permanent Council meeting today as we reflect on the Inter-American Democratic Charter and look to future implementation of the work plan of the Voluntary Group for the Follow-up of that Charter.

The United States is proud to serve as Chair of this open participation group, working in collaboration with 18 other diverse partner members. We welcome the engagement of all delegations in our efforts.

In September of last year, the region commemorated the 22nd anniversary of the Inter-American Democratic Charter’s adoption. This Charter, adopted by acclamation, proclaimed in its first article that, and I quote: “The peoples of the Americas have a right to democracy, and their governments have an obligation to promote and defend it.” This profound statement encapsulates our collective vision of democracy as not only a system of governance, but a fundamental and practical responsibility towards all of our citizens.

Over the past two decades, we have witnessed both the strengthening and the testing of democracy across our hemisphere. While significant strides have been made, recent data, such as the, for example, the latest Latino barometer poll, reflects a concerning decline in support for democracy, with only 48% of respondents in Latin America now believing that democracy is preferable to other forms of government. This is a decline of 15 percentage points since 2010, a trend mirrored globally, and also here in my own country, Mr. Chair. Insecurity, inequality, and distrust in political institutions fuel this disillusionment. Yet despite these challenges, the majority of respondents remain committed to democratic principles, rejecting authoritarian governance.

Mr. Chair and colleagues, the establishment of the Organization of American States (OAS) Voluntary Group for Follow-up on the Inter-American Democratic Charter marks a significant advancement in our collective efforts to promote and defend democracy. This [Voluntary] Group represents a robust commitment to strengthening regional democracies, countering challenges to effective governance, and enhancing application of the Charter in a collective manner. Since its inception, the [Voluntary] Group has focused in defining roles, responsibilities, and a structured workplan. Reflecting this progress and aligned with past discussions held here and in the context of the IX Summit of Americas, I am now pleased to share with this Council a report on efforts undertaken by the Voluntary Group consistent with the mandate for action approved by last year’s General Assembly.

Chair, the Voluntary Group held its first meeting in November of 2023, and since then, it has achieved the realization of six meetings, the approval of guidelines for its functioning, and the approval of a detailed work plan. Moreover, it held one meeting with representatives of civil society organizations, one meeting with permanent observers missions, and one event with the Law faculty at the George Washington University on democratic governance and human challenges. In addition, at the end of this month, the Voluntary Group will hold a symposium with the United States Institute of Peace and the Democratic Charter, supported by the Carter Center, and it is titled: “Maximizing the impact of existing instruments for enhancing the democratic promotion and strengthening”. It is a joint discussion on shared goals and challenges exploration of opportunities for mutual support.

Regarding the functioning of the Voluntary Group, the members agreed that the Group’s presidency would be held for six months with the possibility of an extension for another six months. The United States has held the presidency for the first term, while Peru was designated as the Group’s vice president.

The approved rule plan consists of four axes aligned with the chapters of the Inter-American Democratic Charter. First, democracy and human rights; second, democracy, integral development, and combating poverty; promotion of a democratic culture; and strengthening and preservation of democratic institutions. Under each of these axes, member states identified themes and activities to be implemented.

Furthermore, Mr. Chair, the work plan will last 24 months, and its implementation has been divided into three phases, each with a duration of between six to eight months. The Voluntary Group may also revise this plan every six months according to the state of its implementation.

In line with the work plan, on March 22, an informal meeting was held to discuss collaboration between civil society and the Voluntary Group. The meeting focused on how civil society organizations and other social actors can engage meaningfully with the Voluntary Groups to advance the objectives set out in the work plan. Thereafter, on March 26, the Voluntary Group organized a meeting with interested member states and permanent observer missions, that session focused on programming related to education and human rights issues within the frame of the Inter-American Democratic Charter. Two weeks later, on April 10, the symposium, titled: “Democratic Governance and Human Rights Challenges”, was held in conjunction with the law faculty of the George Washington University; that panel included representatives from OAS member states, the Inter-American Human Rights System (IAHRS), and experts from academia and civil society working on discrimination, equality, protection of vulnerable groups, and environmental concerns. That event’s outcome is comprised of a set of suggestions and recommendations addressing current challenges through the inter-American system.

In line with its work plan, Mr. Chair, the Voluntary Group will, as I mentioned, convene a symposium with the U.S. Institute of Peace and the group of friends of the Democratic Charter on May 30. The symposium will include a public session discussing objectives, challenges, and opportunities for mutual support in promoting and strengthening democracy. It will be followed by a working session for Voluntary Group members to include Professors Max Cameron and Michael Coppedge. They will share thoughts on contemporary challenges to democracy as well as the contributions of the Voluntary Group for the strengthening of democracy.

I am also pleased to share that the Voluntary Group is in the process of coordinating an official side event during the upcoming [session of the] General Assembly, working in collaboration with our host, the Government of Paraguay, other Group members, the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression (SRFOE) of the Inter-American Commission on Humann Rights (IACHR), and the OAS General Secretariat.

To conclude Mr. Chair, this presidency of the [Voluntary] Group would like to thank members of the group for their continued collaboration and support. I would also like to reiterate my personal commitment to continue to progress rooted in mutual respect throughout the remainder of the term held by the United States.

Thank you very much.

El PRESIDENTE: Thank you very much. Ambassador Mora. And we take note of the stark data revelation 48%, quite concerning.

We would like to move on to the next section of the agenda. And before we move on, I would like to kindly request that representatives or presenters adhere to the allocated time of maximum of six minutes for each presentation, given that we have an extensive list of speakers and presenters for today’s event.

I would like to, at this time, invite the presentation from the distinguished President of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), and the representatives of the General Secretariat that will be sharing with us brief presentations providing an overview of the Organization of American States (OAS) initiative currently being undertaken in support of the follow-up to the Inter-American Democratic Charter.

To start things off, I am pleased to offer the floor to Commissioner Roberta Clark, President of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

Madam President, welcome back to the Permanent Council, and the floor is yours.

La PRESIDENTA DE LA COMISIÓN INTERAMERICANA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS: Thank you Ambassador Chet Neymour for this invitation to contribute to the special session of the Permanent Council. I would like to recognize Secretary General, Luis Almagro; Assistant Secretary General Ambassador Nestor Mendez, of course all representatives of the permanent missions.

Representative democracy is a product of right to political participation, and it is also instrumental to the achievement of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. For these reasons, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) is attentive to, and concerned about, any reduction of democratic space for participation. They are concerned about incursions on judicial independence and interference with free and fair elections. They also follow in closely threats to the guarantees of equality and non-discrimination, and the seriously negative impact of corruption on human rights.

The IACHR through its strategic plan focuses on monitoring and alerting on situations that may jeopardize democratic institutions. We issue recommendations to states to strengthen the rule of law and we are attentive to strengthen in the inter-American standards on the independence and separation of powers at the state. We do all of this to inform the Organization of American States (OAS), all of the member states, and as a base for our own technical cooperation with individual member states. And so, the IACHR has pronounced on the right to political participation under conditions of equality through our petitions on cases mechanism.

In the merit reports of Gadea Mantilla and Henrique Capriles, the IACHR recalled the essential elements of representative democracy include: respect for human rights, access to, and the exercise of power in accordance with the rule of law, the holding of periodic free and fair elections based on balloting and universal suffrage; the pluralistic system of political parties and organizations, and here again the separation and independence of the branches of government.

In the context of the rights of indigenous peoples, the IACHR reminds the right of access to information comprises a positive obligation. States should provide citizens with access to information and a correlative right of individuals to access information held by the state. This right entails the obligation to make public administration transparent, a really important rule for representative democracy, and to provide ex officio the information requested by the public in a timely, accessible, and complete manner when this is a condition for the exercise of other rights.

I want to also recall the Merit Report of Luna López from Honduras, where the IACHR recalled that the very purpose of Article 13 of the American Convention is to strengthen the functioning of pluralistic and deliberative democratic systems through the protection and promotion of a free flow of information, ideas, and expressions of all kinds.

Related to the petitions and the cases system, allow me to say that the IACHR has continued to work on measures to reduce the procedural backlog and in this, our 65th year, we note that 100 merit reports were approved in 2023, the highest number of merit reports recorded in the history of the IACHR; and this year we hope to exceed that.

And now moving on to our technical cooperation mandate. In 2023, the IACHR published a compendium on democratic institutionality and human rights, and we did that to provide uses of the system with an analysis of the standards related to democracy. This compendium should encourage reflection on those factors that weaken democratic institutions and the rule of law, and should inspire remote social participation for the enforceability of rights.

Our strategic plan identifies and strengthens the capacity [of state] actors, as well as civil society organizations, and we do this through dialogues and training. In 2023, the Commission will have 15 webinars with more than nearly 7,000 people participating online and in person. We have three Massive Open Online Courses, otherwise known as MOOCs, which we organized during 2023. In the Caribbean, the IACHR conducts an annual human rights seminar on the Inter-American Human Rights System (IAHRS), and in 2023 this seminar focused on the protection of human rights with a focus on economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights.

The IACHR has also conducted outreach to the Caribbean Ombudsman Association, and also the Haitian Human Rights Defenders in conjunction with the Office of the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights.

We have done trainings for Garifuna communities in Honduras; in El Salvador on inter-American human rights system for non-governmental organizations and human rights defenders; the civil society organizations in Nicaragua; and regionally on access to justice and the protection of Afro descendants for officials and the judiciary, including public defender officers.

So, in conclusion, I say today more than ever it is necessary to remember that the ideas that inspired the creation of the inter-American human rights system, and including of course the [Inter-American] Democratic Charter, meaning the respect for the dignity of the human person, and the guarantee of freedom of participation, are still extremely valid.

There are old and now new threats to democracy, including, as Ambassador Mora has already said, inequalities, violence, insecurities. And to that I would add misinformation that can severely distort the trust of citizens in public institutions and deter their participation.

And so, it is essential and a priority to continue to work together to consolidate democratic institutions, the rule of law, and economic social development throughout the Americas and the Caribbean.

I thank you very much Ambassador Neymour for giving me this opportunity.

And so, it is essential and a priority to continue to work together to consolidate democratic institutions, the rule of law, and economic social development throughout the Americas and the Caribbean.

I thank you very much Ambassador Neymour for giving me this opportunity.

El PRESIDENTE: Thank you very much, Commissioner Clark, it is always good to see you, and thank you very much for your presentation.

Following the perspective of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) General Secretary, our next speaker is Ms. Maricarmen Plata, Secretary for Access to Rights and Equity.

Secretary Plata, welcome, and the floor is yours.

La SECRETARIA DE ACCESO A DERECHOS Y EQUIDAD DE LA SECRETARÍA GENERAL DE LA ORGANIZACIÓN DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS: Thank you, Chair.

Agradezco la oportunidad de dirigirme a ustedes en esta sesión, valorando ante todo la intrínseca relación entre democracia y acceso a derechos, tal y como lo define claramente la Carta Democrática Interamericana, y reconociendo, además, el importante trabajo del Grupo Voluntario de Seguimiento a la Carta Democrática, en definir una hoja de ruta colaborativa, con aportes de todas las áreas de la Secretaría General.

Desde la Secretaría de Acceso a Derechos y Equidad hemos aportado en esta construcción, tanto desde las dinámicas correspondientes a nuestra labor en promover la participación ciudadana, como la inclusión social. Siendo así, quisiera referirme, en primer lugar, a las iniciativas que han buscado tender puentes y acercar la labor de seguimiento a la Carta Democrática [Interamericana] a la sociedad civil. El artículo 6 de la Carta Democrática define la participación de la ciudadanía como una condición necesaria para el pleno y efectivo ejercicio de la democracia.

Desde la Sección de Relaciones con la Sociedad Civil nuestra Secretaría ha podido contribuir al Plan de Trabajo del Grupo Voluntario destacando en este período el diálogo celebrado el pasado 22 de marzo, entre Estados Miembros de la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA) junto a organizaciones de la sociedad civil y otros actores sociales, con la finalidad de dar a conocer el Plan de Trabajo y las prioridades del Grupo Voluntario y recibir los insumos de la sociedad civil.

Esa sesión arrojó importantes recomendaciones, entre las cuales destaco un llamado a promover trabajos en conjunto con la sociedad civil que permitan en primer lugar catalizar la labor que muchas organizaciones de la sociedad civil ya realizan en función del fortalecimiento de la democracia, y especialmente en su conexión con los derechos humanos. En segundo lugar, monitorear y compartir buenas prácticas que surgen de los trabajos, tanto en el terreno de las organizaciones de la sociedad civil como de otros actores sociales, tales como la academia. En tercer lugar, valorar el impacto de iniciar una cultura democrática desde las comunidades, catalizando, además, los esfuerzos que realiza la sociedad civil en las localidades hasta más remotas de nuestro hemisferio.

Hoy en la OEA contamos con un importante registro que reúne más de 700 organizaciones de la sociedad civil. Tal y como fue descrito en la reunión sostenida el pasado 22 de marzo –y voy a citar a Katia Salazar que he visto que también anda por aquí, para que no diga que no reconocí su frase–surge una visión y un reto de poder motivar dinámicas de ecosistema en torno a nuestra Carta Democrática [Interamericana], que vinculen a la sociedad civil con los Estados Miembros de la OEA en búsqueda de soluciones y propuestas concretas.

En segundo lugar, quisiera destacar t