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The Regional Director of International IDEA for Latin America and the Caribbean, Dr Daniel Zovatto, participated along with a large group of former presidents and heads of state of Latin America and Spain, the Secretary General of the OAS and regional leaders, at the Second Presidential Dialogue: Towards Reinventing the Political Parties, organized by the Cátedra Mezerhane at Miami-Dade College.

El Director Regional de IDEA Internacional para América Latina y el Caribe, Dr Daniel Zovatto, participó junto a un importante grupo de expresidentes, jefes de Estado de América Latina y España, el Secretario General de la OEA y líderes regionales, en el foro II Diálogo Presidencial: “Hacia la Reinvención de los Partidos Políticos”; organizado por la Cátedra Mezerhane.

Latin America is approaching one of its most important electoral marathons in recent decades.

Este articulo se encuentra disponible en Castellano. 

Statement by International IDEA

Conference of the States Parties

United Nations Convention against Corruption

Seventh Session

Vienna, 6-10 November 2017

(delivered on 8 November 2017)

Honorable delegates, Madame Chair,

Is democracy really in trouble, or do recent events simply signal a temporary downward fluctuation?

Substate constitutions are broadly understood as written legal instruments that limit and structure political power at the substate level, with legal supremacy regarding other substate laws.

Today’s political landscape poses complex global challenges to democracies.

07 November 2017 | STOCKHOLM—The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) in partnership with L'Association Béninoise de Droit Constitutionnel  and l’Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, will host a Regional Policy Dialogue with the theme, “Three Decades of Democratic Transition in Africa: Wh

Whether constitutional change takes place through a big bang or incrementally, for it to be successful and legitimate, there is a need for both "momentum" and public and multi-stakeholder participation.

Un mes después de la aprobación del presupuesto nacional, ambas cámaras del parlamento recibieron severas críticas de los haitianos, tanto dentro como fuera del país. Haití está enfrentando una situación tensa debido a las repetidas huelgas en el sector del transporte público y las manifestaciones semanales, que a menudo terminan con violencia.

One month after having voted the national budget, both houses of parliament have received stark criticisms from Haitians, both within the country and abroad. Haiti is facing a tense situation due to repeated strikes in public transportation sector and weekly demonstrations, often ending in violence scenes and breakages.

As ongoing peace talks between the government, the armed forces and ethnic armed groups continue in Myanmar, there is an increased desire for more comparative expertise on constitutional principles and how they relate to implementing federalism. In response, International IDEA Myanmar held a series of seminars in Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon on federalism and key constitutional issues.

From 18–27 September – during the German federal elections – International IDEA’s Myanmar Office organized a study tour of Germany and Finland for Myanmar’s Union Election Commission (UEC). Through comparative experiences and peer-to-peer learning, the UEC delegation gained an abundance of new perspectives and knowledge, particularly on the implications of federalism on election management and the importance of civic education in promoting democracy.  

In preparation for potential electoral processes in Libya in 2018, a series of workshops targeting 24 Libyan media representatives were held in Tunis from 29 October to 1 November. The workshops, which were part of the Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections (BRIDGE) module, were customised to meet the needs of the media in Libya.

Polarized relations between a country’s political parties make it difficult to pursue reforms that are needed for democracy, peace and development. Trust and cooperation between parties is essential. Intra- and inter-party dialogue is often an inclusive and sustainable way for governments to find solutions to complex national issues. Dialogue requires politicians to properly engage with one another—to reflect, exchange views and seek consensus on the best solutions for citizens.

To elevate the discourse on developmental approach to natural resource governance, International IDEA Africa and West Asia Programme in partnership SADC Parliamentary Forum convened a two-day High Level Policy Dialogue on "Building Regional and National Capacities for a Developmental Approach to the Extractive Sector Governance in Southern Africa". The dialogue was held in Johannesburg, South Africa from 21 to 22 September 2017.

IDEA Internacional en alianza con Radio Programas del Perú desarrollan campaña mediática sobre la reforma electoral peruana.  Esta podría tener efectos positivos en las elecciones municipales y regionales del siguiente año. 

At present, Peru is discussing the political reform that has been demanded for more than a decade. Various topics that are expected to be reformed might have a very deep impact in the regional and municipal electoral process of 2018 in which more than 12,000 authorities will be elected nationwide. Hence, it is relevant to position this topic as part of the public agenda in order to ensure citizens’ participation in this process.

Since the landmark election of Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy in 2015, Myanmar has successfully held by-elections in 2017 and is expecting to hold general elections in 2020. Despite these notable achievements, real challenges remain in the country’s ongoing democratic transition and activists continue their efforts to build a more inclusive and democratic society.  

^{Disclaimer: Views expressed in this commentary are those of the staff member. This commentary is independent of specific national or political interests. Views expressed do not necessarily represent the institutional position of International IDEA, its Board of Advisers or its Council of Member States.}