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12/09/2006

COMMEMORATION OF THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADOPTION OF THE INTER-AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC CHARTER

Intervention by Ambassador Graeme Clark

OAS Permanent Council
12 September 2006

Chairman,

As this is the first time I have the pleasure of speaking in the Permanent Council, I am particularly honoured that the occasion is a special meeting commemorating the fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Inter American Democratic Charter.

I say this because as former ambassador of Canada to Peru in the year 2000 I had the privilege to witness some of the events which inspired, as we know, the efforts of the Organization to develop and adopt the Democratic Charter. It is fitting now to recall, five years later, the sense of accomplishment and unity of purpose permeating the Special session of the General Assembly held in Lima which adopted the Democratic Charter in September 2001, following a mandate of leaders at the Quebec City Summit of the Americas – followed by our collective horror and grief at tragic events of that same 11^th of September.

Today we have the opportunity to measure the exceptional significance of the Inter American Democratic Charter, take stock of the road travelled over the past years and see how we can further enhance the relevance of the Charter, and its application, in the future.

It has often been said that the Inter American Democratic Charter represents a seminal achievement of our Organization, an example to the world and a milestone for the strengthening of representative democracy in our region, a key priority of the OAS. The Charter is certainly unique, as a regional instrument, in expressing the commitments of democratic governments of the Hemisphere to democracy and binding us to a set of common values and rules to support it. One of its key features, which Canada fully appreciates, is its broad vision of representative democracy, going beyond a limited and restrictive interpretation which would focus only on particular elements – such as, for example, the holding of elections. But a living and healthy democracy involves much more. The Charter identifies democracy’s essential elements, including: respect and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the supremacy of the rule of law, separation of powers, transparency and accountability, political pluralism and the consolidation of political parties, freedom of expression and citizen participation with a strong civil society.

At the same time, in broadening the approach to democracy and in including its link to key areas for the stability and prosperity of countries of the region, such as development, poverty reduction and social issues, the Charter has paved the way to tackle problems of democratic governance.  It is not just the framework of democracy which matters in responding to the aspirations of citizens but the capacity of institutions and elected officials to deliver on the promises of democracy, be it for the security of people, their well being and the development of their human potential. The shortcomings of government institutions, in their regulatory, control or service functions, are often among the root causes of failures of democratic systems and the perpetuation of inequities, and an important factor in citizen’s disenchantment with democracy in the Hemisphere. The capacity and opportunity of citizens to articulate their preferences, to involve themselves more fully in the political process, is part of strengthening a democratic culture, to which the Charter also commits us, and part of the solution to fundamental challenges in the region.

The significance of the Charter – and this is perhaps its key contribution   also lies in raising awareness and concern, beyond individual countries’ borders, on the challenges and threats to democracy and in opening avenues for concerted and collective action to defend against these threats and to meet these challenges in a consensual manner. Cooperation between member states and at the regional level to uphold democratic values and principles is at the heart of the Charter and a prescription for a regional code of conduct. In opening the way for support and assistance in situations of crises and outlining procedures for the collective defence of democracy, the Charter commits us to a cooperative approach for entrenching democracy in the hemisphere.  We should not hesitate to use fully this potential.

Since its adoption, the Charter has served us well. It has inspired the work of the OAS in practically every difficult situation representing a threat to democratic stability which has unfortunately arisen over the course of the past years. The spirit of the Charter – and sometimes its letter – has been invoked and evoked repeatedly, whether to serve as a key reference for missions mandated by the OAS in support of fledging democracies, or to provide guidance in facilitation and mediation efforts or to deal with new and complex challenges to democracy sometimes linked to conflicts between constitutional authorities, in preventing and resolving crises.

The Charter has also provided a strong foundation for the critical work done by the Organization’s numerous electoral observation missions, a fundamental element in ensuring credible and viable democratic systems.

It has served as an inspiration in guiding the contribution of the OAS in the promotion and observance of human rights, addressing emerging issues relating to children and women’s rights or indigenous rights and in promoting civil society participation. The Charter has also served as a fundamental benchmark to frame discussions on the threats, weaknesses and challenges to democracy, bringing into focus the impact on democracy of multiple factors ranging from the threats posed by persistent extreme poverty, inequality, corruption, terrorism to narcotrafficking and transnational organized crime.

As we look at the present challenges, we need to build on the positive experiences which we have gained in dealing with a variety of crises and use the Democratic Charter as a constantly renewed source of guidance and inspiration. The implementation of the principles embodied by the Charter and its key values must continue to be at the heart of our efforts to strengthen democracy.

One of the key areas where the full potential of the Charter can be brought to bear relates to the assessment of the vitality  or weakness  of democracy in the region. The Charter establishes standards to which we must all aspire for the realization of democracy both in our countries and collectively. Measuring how we live up to these standards, in the various essential dimensions of democracy established by the Charter, should be a key priority. Our accountability as governments entrusted with the confidence of our citizens is crucial for enhancing the credibility of democracy and supporting well functioning democratic systems.

In the past year we have seen the important role the OAS also plays in ensuring free and fair elections in the region and the valuable contribution it makes to transparent and credible electoral processes. This remains a key feature of democratic life   to which the Charter devotes a separate chapter. Increasing the role of the Organization in this vital area and its capacity to bring and expand support when needed, both in the lead up to and following elections, should be at the forefront of our agenda.

Looking ahead we should also bear in mind that the Charter is inspired by the intention to approach democratic strengthening through the support for preventive action conducted in a measured and timely way. Much benefit can arise from developing further this capacity, particularly by improving the tools he OAS has and developing greater institutional cooperation in the Hemisphere.

These are some of the ways we can implement the commitments made under the Charter and address ongoing challenges to democracy in the region.
 
We have the opportunity to ensure that the Charter remains a living document which fulfills the aspirations of all our citizens to live in strong, healthy,  responsive and accountable democracies.

Let me assure you that Canada is fully committed to the values and principles embodied in the Charter and will continue to work with others and the OAS to realize its full potential.

Thank you.