A Common Commitment to Democracy in the Americas: The Renewed Importance of the Inter-American Democratic Charter
The U.S. Department of State Office on Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, the Inter-American Dialogue and Partners for Democratic Change co-hosted this seminar to discuss the importance of the Inter-American system and instruments such as the Inter-American Democratic Charter to confront current challenges and threats to democracy in the region. In particular, Partners presented a regional program, Catalysts for Democratic Change in the Americas, that works closely with civil society organizations to build awareness of the Charter and promote collaborative strategies to advocate compliance with its democratic principles.
Panelists:
Pablo Lumerman, Director, Fundación Cambio Democrático (Partners-Argentina)
Since June 2008, Pablo Lumerman is the Director of Fundación Cambio Democrático and serves on the Steering Committee of Partners for Democratic Change International, a network of 19 organizations located in the Americas, Africa, Europe and Asia that promote social change processes based on conflict resolution and consensus building. He has a degree in Political Science at the University of Buenos Aires, and a Master in Local Development at the National University of San Martín and Autonomous University of Madrid. He studied mediation in the Post Degree Department of the University of Buenos Aires, and developed his experience working at FCD in areas such as socio-environmental conflict management and collaborative ecosystem management of natural resources. The main focus of his research work is the impact of conflict on sustainable development. Pablo is also member of the Community of Practice and Learning of the Democratic Dialogue Regional Project of UNDP and from the Deliberative Democracy Network of the Kettering Foundation. He teaches environmental policy at the University of Buenos Aires. He is a conflict mediator and facilitator and has experience in several countries in Latin America and Europe giving conferences and seminars. Furthermore, Pablo has a vast experience as a trainer on conflict sensitive approaches and consensus building tools.
Jaime Aparicio Otero, outgoing Chair of the Inter-American Juridical Committee
Jaime Aparicio Otero was the Ambassador of Bolivia to the United States from 2003 to March 2006. Previously, he worked at the Organization of American States as Executive Secretary of the Summits of the Americas Secretariat, coordinating the Summit of the 34 Heads of State of the Americas in Quebec City in 2002. As a career diplomat Ambassador Aparicio led a number of diplomatic missions in Latin America, France, UNESCO and United Nations. As Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs coordinated the Summit of the Americas on Sustainable Development held in Bolivia in 1996. Ambassador Aparicio holds degrees in Law from San Andres University, and in political science from the Political Sciences Institute in Paris. In June 2005, he was unanimously elected, for a four year period, member of the Inter-American Juridical Committee. The Committee, headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, is an advisory body of the Organization of the American States in International Law and also advices on issues related to the Inter-American Democratic Charter (IADC), and Access to Public Information. Since 2008. Ambassador Aparicio was elected President of the Committee. From 2007-2008, he was Chief of the Electoral Missions of the Carter Center in Nicaragua, and Ecuador. Ambassador Aparicio has published widely on foreign policy, promotion of democracy, populism and the application of the IADC, and has been invited to speak at the Universities of Yale, Columbia, Wharton, Texas, Brigham Young, San Diego in California, SAIS at John Hopkins, American University, Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and Georgetown. He also participates regularly as political analyst in CNN, and other TV programs and media in issues related to foreign policy and Latin America. Ambassador Aparicio is also a regular commentator for the Latin American Advisor, a daily current affairs publication of the Inter-American Dialogue in Washington, D.C.
Moderator:
Julia Roig, J.D., Executive Director, Partners for Democratic Change
Ms. Roig is responsible for the overall development and strategic planning of Partners’ network, as well as the management of Partners’ staff and global programming. She provides technical leadership on the development of new Centers and other new program development, and maintains relationships with key counterparts and donors. Ms. Roig joined Partners after significant field experience in the Balkans and Latin America managing various Rule of Law and Conflict Resolution development programs. She is an experienced mediator, facilitator, systems designer and trainer; and has specialized expertise in international project evaluation and program assessments. Ms. Roig currently serves on the editorial board of Conflict Resolution Quarterly, and has written extensively on international conflict resolution and mediation program management. She began her legal career as a mediation program manager for the D.C. Courts, and then as ADR Specialist for the U.S. Office of Special Council. Ms. Roig holds a J.D. from The George Washington University.
