On July 29th, the seventh meeting of the Voluntary Group for the Follow-up to the Inter-American Democratic Charter was held at OAS headquarters in Washington, D.C., with the participation of 15 OAS Member States. The meeting was led by the Chair of the Voluntary Group, Francisco Mora, Permanent Representative of the United States to the OAS.
The Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, Pedro Vaca, made a presentation on the official side event organized by the Voluntary Group on June 27 in Asuncion, Paraguay, within the framework of the last General Assembly. The Rapporteur also presented results and possible areas of work, of which the Voluntary Group took note.
The Director of the Department of Social Inclusion (DSI), Betilde Muñoz-Pogossian, then made a presentation on the Inter-American Social Protection Network (IASPN) and the activities to be carried out following the announcement of its reactivation. She highlighted the role of IASPN in its ability to broaden dialogue and strengthen collaboration.
In addition, remarks were made by the Officer-in-Charge of the Department of Democratic Sustainability and Special Missions (DSDSM), María T. Mellenkamp, on the technical support that the Secretariat for Strengthening of Democracy can provide in relation to the mandates of the resolution AG/RES. 3029 (LIV-O/24) STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY, specifically those related to the efforts being carried out by the Voluntary Group.
Member States shared views regarding possible dates for the Special meeting of the Permanent Council, established pursuant to the operative paragraph 8 of the resolution AG/RES.3029 (LIV-O/24), to follow up on the topics addressed at the Special meeting of May 22, 2024, focused on the implementation of all aspects of the Inter-American Charter and its challenges. Discussions also took place regarding efforts to organize an event in September to celebrate the anniversary of the Inter-American Democratic Charter's adoption and the International Day of Democracy.
The Voluntary Group adopted the following agreements:
1. The Secretariat for Strengthening Democracy will draft a concept note to determine the mechanism to be proposed to comply with the mandate in operative paragraph 7 of the resolution AG/RES.3029 (LIV-O/24). This concept note will be consulted in an open and transparent manner with all Member States, in an inclusive process;
2. To hold the Special meeting of the Permanent Council, as set forth in the aforementioned resolution, before the end of the year, preferably in October;
3. The Member States will submit to the Secretariat for Strengthening Democracy ideas to celebrate the anniversary of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, and the International Day of Democracy, as well as potential panelists for the next session of the Permanent Council to follow up on the topics addressed at the Special meeting of May 22, 2024;
4. The Permanent Representative of Chile, Ambassador Sebastián Kraljevich was elected as the new Chair of the Voluntary Group for the Follow-up of the Inter-American Democratic Charter;
5. The Permanent Representative of Peru, Ambassador José Luis Sardón de Taboada was elected to continue a second term as Vice-Chair of the Voluntary Group for the Follow-up of the Inter-American Democratic Charter.
The Voluntary Group for Follow-up of the Inter-American Democratic Charter was created in response to the mandate of resolution AG/RES. 3004 (LIII-O/23) Strengthening Democracy to foster dialogue, horizontal cooperation, and the exchange of best practices among its members, and to identify opportunities within the principles of the OAS Charter and the Inter-American Democratic Charter to strengthen their democracies.
Reference: E-052/24
