International Delegation Evaluates Democratization in Guatemala

Press Release: 

International Delegation Evaluates Democratization in Guatemala

Guatemala City, March 27 - A delegation of 28 experts arrived in Guatemala earlier this week to evaluate the challenges and opportunities of the democratic process here, one year after the signing of the peace accords.

The delegation is led by International IDEA (International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance), a Stockholm-based international organization founded in 1995 which promotes democracy and free and fair elections throughout the world.

International IDEA has conducted evaluations of democracy in Nepal, Burkina Faso, and Romania. Guatemala is the first country in the Americas where the Institute carries out similar work.

The international delegation, headed by former Colombian president Mr. Belisarion Betancurt, will remain in the country until March 30. Other delegation members include Guatemalan economist Mr. Gert Rosenthal, Mr. Terry L. Karl, director of the University of Stanford Center for Latin American Studies, Mr. Eldelberto Torres Rivas, director of the "War-torn Society Project", and Mr. Daniel Zovatto, senior executive at International IDEA.

During their visit the experts will meet with key international and national figures in order to gather information for their study, which will be published later this year and include recommendations for strengthening democratic development in Guatemala. The eight areas to be investigated by the team are state reform and democratic governance; socio-economic issues; culture and ethnicity; public security, justice and human rights; the role of the armed forces; international co-operation; the role of the media; and civil society.

The delegation president, accompanied by the team co-ordinators, are meeting with President Alvaro Arzú, representatives of the Commission for Accompaniment of the Peace Accords and the government Peace Secretariat, the presidents of the Supreme Court, Congress and the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, as well as other Guatemalan representatives.

International IDEA (International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance) was founded in February 1995. The Institute’s overall objective is to promote and advance sustainable democracy world-wide and to improve and consolidate electoral processes. To date, Members are Australia, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Denmark, Finland, India, Namibia, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights, the International Federation of Journalists, the International Press Institute, and Parliamentarians for Global Action. The Institute also has co-operative agreements with the International Commission of Jurists, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and the United Nations Development Programme. Switzerland also contributes to the work of the Institute.