International IDEA's Work
Regions: Peru

Peru

Concluding a series of regional seminars that have been taking place throughout Peru since July 2001, International IDEA, together with NDI, Carter Center, Transparencia/Peru and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), organized an International Electoral Reform Seminar 30 November and 1 December 2001 in Lima, sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and USAID. (Media coverage in El Comercio Peru, International IDEA's presentation in Spanish)

As an initial contribution to the democratization process in Peru, International IDEA is planning to undertake a full-fledged democracy assessment using the dialogue methodology (National Agenda Setting methodology). International IDEA has begun a feasibility study for developing a democracy assessment project in Peru along the same lines as the assessment undertaken by the Institute in Guatemala during 1998. The assessment will be a participatory exercise to identify substantive issues to be included in a national discussion agenda.

International IDEA plans a mission to Peru in December 2001 to meet with Government officials as well as NGOs in order to continue with preparations for the planned democracy assessment 2002. The Institute will also participate at the meeting of the Acuerdo de Lima, a Latin American network of major NGOs working on democracy and elections.

International IDEA is also planning to hold an International Seminar on 'Comparative Experiences on Truth Commissions and Reconciliation Processes' in Lima, Peru. The Seminar seeks, as one of its main objectives, to provide assistance to the Peruvian Truth and Reconciliation Commission established by the Government in 2001. Considering the importance of the work of the Commission in the context of strengthening the democratization process in Peru, reflection and analysis on main lessons learned and key challenges from similar experiences in neighboring countries such as Chile and Argentina, and other relevant cases such as El Salvador and Guatemala, constitutes an important and essential contribution. The International Seminar is scheduled to take place in the second half of 2002.

For more information contact

Ms Myriam Mendez-Montalvo
m.mendez-montalvo@idea.int

Launch of the State of Democracy in Peru 2000-2001

An updated State of Democracy study for Peru was launched in Lima on 11 July, 2001 at a ceremony hosted by the Cultural Centre of the Catholic University of Lima. The revised study takes into account the series of unexpected changes in Peruvian politics, most notably the collapse of the Fujimori regime, which marked the latter half of the year 2000.

International IDEA piloted its State of Democracy methodology and research tool in Peru, Bangladesh, South Korea, El Salvador, Italy, Kenya, Malawi and New Zealand, during the year 2000. Between June and November 2000 International IDEA selected a group of experts to rehearse the methodology and test the tool.

The launch ceremony was co-organised by International IDEA, the Catholic University, Transparencia/Peru, the Andean Commission of Jurists and the Institute Dialogue and Proposals. Around 300 people representing different spheres of Peruvian society were in attendance.

The four researchers, Rolando Ames, Rafael Roncagiolo, Sinesio Lopez and Enrique Bernales presented the study, which was commented by H.E. Susana Villaran, Minister for the Promotion of Women and Human Development; Mr. Alfonso de los Heros, former President of the Council of Ministers; and Mr. Jose Ugaz, Special Prosecutor for the Montesinos case. Dr. Daniel Zovatto, Senior Executive and Marcelo Varela-Erasheva, Programme Officer, represented International IDEA.

The Democratisation of the State

A workshop on International IDEA's "The State of Democracy in Peru 2000-2001" was held between Wednesday 11 and Friday 13 July, co-organised and sponsored by International IDEA, the Carter Center, the National Democratic Institute and Transparencia/Peru. Contributors included the Presidency of the Republic of Peru, the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru and the Inter-American Development Bank.

The workshop took place at the cultural centre of the Catholic University of Peru and was attended by an average daily audience of 300 people representing various sectors of Peruvian society. It was inaugurated by the current Minister of Justice, H.E. Diego Garcia-Sayan and adjourned by the Vice President elect, H.E. Raul Diez-Canseco to whom a summary of the main recommendations of the workshop were presented.

The keynote speaker of the inaugural ceremony was H.E. Mr. Rodrigo Carazo, former President of Costa Rica. The members of the head table were: Mr. Salomon Lerner F.; Rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru; Mr. Gerardo Le Chevallier, NDI; Mr. Daniel Zovatto, IDEA; Mr. Charles Costello; Carter Center; Mr. Alfonso Parra; IADB and Mr. Salomon Lerner G.; President of Transparencia/Peru.

The workshop comprised the following four working sessions:

1. Civil society and public opinion.

Moderator: H.E. Mikael Dahl, Swedish Ambassador to Peru.

Keynote speakers:

Mr. Luis Moreno-Ocampo, President of the Argentine Chapter of Transparency International in Argentina and President of Poder Ciudadano.
H.E. Susana Villarán, Minster for the Promotion of Women and Human Development

Commentators:

Mr. Rolando Ames, Institute Dialogue and Proposals
Ms. Sofía Macher, National Co-ordinator for Human Rights
Mr. Pablo Checa, Institute for Labour Union Studies

2. Political parties, representation and parties system.

Moderator: Daniel Zovatto, IDEA

Keynote speakers:

Mr. Genaro Arriagada, former Minister of State of Chile
Mr. Julio Cotler, Insitute for Peruvian Studies

Commentators:

Mr.Sinesio Lopez, Pontifical Catholic University of Perú
Mr. Manuel Orozco, Inter-American Dialogue
Mr. Luis Solari, Perú Posible (political party)
Mr. Jorge del Castillo, APRA (political party)

3. Mission of the Armed Forces and national defence system.

Moderator: Gerardo Le Chevallier, NDI

Keynote speakers:

General ® Joaquín Cuadra, former Commander in Chief of the Nicaraguan Army; President of Unidad Nacional (political party)
Mr. Enrique Obando, President of the Institute for Political and Strategic Studies

Commentators:

Mr. Hugo Palma, Peruvian Ambassador
Mr. Gustavo Gorriti, member of the special Commission for transference in the Defence sector
Mr. Carlos Tapia, national expert on military affairs

4. Reforms to the electoral system.

Moderator: Charles Costello, The Carter Center.

Keynote presenters:

Mr. Jose Woldenberg, President of the Electoral Federal Institute of Mexico
Mr. Rafael Roncagliolo, Transparencia/Perú

Special invitees:

Mr. Manuel Sánchez-Palacios Paiva, President of the National Electoral Jury (JNE)
Mr. Fernando Tuesta-Soldevilla, Chief of the National Bureau for Electoral Processes (ONPE)
Mr. Celedonio Méndez-Valdivia, Chief of the National Registry for Identification and Civil Status (REGNIEC)

A report of the workshop is being prepared and will be published soon.

Rafael Roncagliolo, Programme Manager, Peru
E-mail: peru@idea.int

Daniel Zovatto, Senior Executive
E-mail: zovatto_idea@hotmail.com

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