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OAS and Chile to Commemorate in Valparaíso the Tenth Anniversary of Inter-American Democratic Charter

The Organization of American States (OAS) and the Government of the Republic of Chile will hold on September 3 and 4, 2011, the Hemispheric Commemoration of the Tenth Anniversary of the Inter-American Democratic Charter with the participation of the President of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, the Secretary General of the hemispheric organization, José Miguel Insulza, and foreign ministers and special guests from throughout the region.

The event, titled, “Hemispheric Commemoration of the Tenth Anniversary of the Inter-American Democratic Charter and Renewal of the Commitment of the Americas to Democracy,” will be divided into two panels named, “The Challenge of Social Inclusion,” in the context of democracy in the Americas, and “The Future of Democracy in the Americas: Protection and Strengthening.” The sessions will be moderated by the former OAS Secretary General and former President of Colombia, César Gaviria Trujillo, and by the President of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and Director General of the Andean Commission of Jurists, Diego García Sayán.

President Piñera and Secretary General Insulza will participate in the inauguration ceremony, to be held Saturday, September 3, beginning at 15:45 (GMT 19:45) in the Building of the Honorable National Congress, in the city of Valparaíso, the event headquarters. The closing speech will be delivered by the host country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alfredo Moreno, who will present a Declaration regarding to the renovation of the commitment of the Member States to Democracy in the Americas.

Sixteen ministers and 14 heads of delegations are expected to participate during the two day event. Among the countries that have confirmed their participation are Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Also present will be representatives of the OAS Permanent Observer countries and from civil society organizations.

On September 11, 2001, during a Special General Assembly of the OAS, the Inter-American Democratic Charter (IDC) was signed in Lima, Peru, and is considered the “principal inter-American instrument to strengthen and preserve the democratic institutions of the nations in the Americas.”

Ten years after its signing, the member countries of the OAS will reaffirm the effective contributions of the Charter in promoting democracy in the continent, as well as in strengthening it and furthering its relevance.

The event will be broadcasted live here.

The event’s agenda is available here.

For more information, visit here.

WHAT: “Hemispheric Commemoration of the Tenth Anniversary of the Inter-American Democratic Charter and Renewal of the Commitment of the Americas to Democracy”

WHEN: September 3 and 4, 2011

WHERE: Building of the Honorable National Congress, Valparaíso, Chile

Reference: AVI-192/11