OAS - Unit for the Promotion of Democracy · 2008-06-24 · media, universities, and civil society...

OAS - Unit for the Promotion of Democracy December 2002

Program to Support the Strengthening of Legislative Institutions - UPD/OAS

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PROGRAM TO SUPPORT THE STRENGTHENING

OF LEGISLATIVE INSTITUTIONS

December 2004



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Table of Contents

Section Page I. Introduction 3 II. Program Activities 4 A. Training Programs 4 A.1. Andean Region 5 A.2. Central America and the Dominican Republic 5 A.3. Southern Cone 6 B. Fora 7 B.1. Andean Region 7 B.2. Central America and the Dominican Republic 9 B.3. English-speaking Caribbean 13 B.4. Southern Cone 13 B.5. Hemispheric Activities 15 C. Advisory Services 16 C.1. Andean Region 16 C.2. Central America and the Caribbean 18 C.3. Southern Cone 20 C.4. Hemispheric Activities 20 D. Studies and Publications 21 D.1. Andean Region 21 D.2. Central America and the Dominican Republic 23 D.3. Southern Cone 25 D.4. Hemispheric Studies and Publications 27



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PROGRAM TO SUPPORT THE STRENGTHENING OF

LEGISLATIVE INSTITUTIONS (PAFIL) December 2004

I. INTRODUCTION The return to democracy as the preferred form of government in most Latin American countries has led to an historical consensus, and an inter-American commitment for the defence and collective promotion of the democratic system. Democracy has become the predominant value in the hemisphere. Today, no one questions its legitimacy. The shared conviction among governments and peoples that democracy is the best system of government for the region has translated into a specific mandate to the Organization of American States (OAS). The OAS member states agreed to include among the Organization’s principles, objectives and functions, the promotion and defense of representative democracy. In 1990, OAS member states established the Unit for the Promotion of Democracy (UPD) with the mandate of responding “promptly and effectively to member states which, in the full exercise of their sovereignty, request advice or assistance to preserve or strengthen their political institutions and democratic procedures.” In accordance with this mandate, one of the UPD strategic programs is the Program to Support the Strengthening of Legislative Institutions (PAFIL for its acronym in Spanish). One of the basic principles of representative democracy is the separation, independence, and balance of political power to discourage the concentration of political power in any single valid branch of government. For this principle to be valid, the legislative branch must be genuinely representative, accountable and transparent; must draft quality legislation; and must oversee adequately the executive branch. Because most Latin America legislatures need to strengthen their capacity to perform those functions adequately, PAFIL purpose is to cooperate with national legislatures and regional parliaments in the promotion of inter-parliamentary cooperation, and in their efforts to modernize their institutions. The program focuses on developing strategic resources for institutional strengthening. It offers support through regional activities that act as catalyst for the generation and exchange of new knowledge and information on the requirements for the modernization and strengthening of the legislative branch; and it supports the training and professional development of human resources specialized in legislative affairs.



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Its activities are carried out in cooperation with parliamentary or academic institutions concerned with legislative development. Partner institutions include the Joint Parliamentary Commission of the Common Market of the South (CPCM for its acronym in Spanish), the Andean Parliament, the Andean Centre for Legislative Development (CADEL for its acronym in Spanish), the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN for its acronym in Spanish), the Central American Forum of Presidents of the Legislative Branches (FOPREL for its acronym in Spanish), and the Central American Institute for Legislative Studies (ICEL for its acronym in Spanish). Academic institutions that have worked with the UPD in this field include: the Political Science Department of Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia; the Legislative Studies Program of the Latin American Centre for Humane Economics (CLAEH for its acronym in Spanish), Uruguay; the Political Science Institute of the University of Uruguay; the Political Science Department of the Universidad Torcuato Di Tella, Argentina; the Political Science and International Relations Department of the University of Brasilia, Brazil; the Law School of Universidad Americana, Paraguay; the Parliamentary Training Institute of the Chamber of Deputies in Argentina; the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, Dominican Republic; and INTERLEGIS from the Brazilian Legislature, among others. II. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES Between 1996 and 2002, the Program carried out the following sub-regional and national activities through courses, seminars, workshops, meetings, advisory services, research, and publications. A. TRAINING PROGRAMS

The UPD, in collaboration with strategic institutional partners throughout the hemisphere, has designed and carried out several training programs to promote a better understanding of the legislative branch role, its complexity, shortcomings and potential, in a democratic political system and in the integration process. In addition, these programs attempt to foster a better understanding of the political management tools available for legislative work. Course participants included parliamentarians, legislative advisors, legislative officers, journalists, and legislative affairs scholars. Topics include issues related to the role of parliament in democracy, the functions of representation, political control and oversight, electoral systems for legislatures, relations with other branches of government, the media, society and constituents, strategies of political communication, e-congress, the role of political parties in legislatures, parliamentary management, the political construction of laws, and legislative ethics, among others.



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A.1. Andean Region Second Andean Regional Course on the Role of the Legislative Branch in Democracy and Integration, Quito, Ecuador, September 2001. The UPD organized this event in collaboration with the Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja and with the support of the Ecuadoran Congress. Thirty-five young leaders from Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela participated in the on-site training; and two-hundred young Ecuadorean leaders participated through virtual classrooms. First Andean Regional Course on the Role of the Legislative Branch in Democracy and Integration, Bogota, Colombia, September 2000. The UPD organized this event in collaboration with the Department of Political Science and International Relations of the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana of Colombia. Twenty-six young leaders representing civil society organizations, universities, the media and political parties participated in the course. Course participants were from Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. A.2. Central America and the Dominican Republic Third Regional Course on Parliaments, Democracy and Integration with emphasis on Parliamentary Modernization for Central America, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Mexico City, November 2001. More than seventy young political leaders from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and the Dominican Republic participated in this event. Eighteen out of seventy participants were members of their countries’ legislative bodies, and three were members of the Central American Parliament. Political advisors, technical and administrative congressional authorities, leaders of the main political parties, and representatives of the media also attended the course. The event was sponsored by the Mexican Senate and Chamber of Deputies, the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM), the State University of New York (SUNY), PARLACEN, and the Central American Institute of Political Studies (INCEP). Second Central American Regional Course on the Role of the Legislative Branch in Democracy and Integration, San Jose, Costa Rica, December 2000. The UPD organized this event in collaboration with PARLACEN, and INCEP. Universidad Latina from Costa Rica provided the academic support for the course. Thirty-five young representatives from civil society organizations, political parties, the media, and schools of political science from Central America and the Dominican Republic participated in the course.



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First Central American Regional Course on the Role of the Legislative Branch in Democracy and Integration, Sololá, Guatemala, September 1999. The UPD organized this event in collaboration with PARLACEN, and Rafael Landívar University of Guatemala. The course was sponsored by the Guatemalan Congress. Thirty-five young leaders representing civil society organizations, universities, the media, and political parties from Central America and the Dominican Republic participated in the course. A.3. Southern Cone Fourth Regional Course for MERCOSUR member states and associated members on the Role of the Legislative Branch in Democracy and Integration, Brasilia, Brazil, August 2002. This course was held from August 19 to 24 in Brasilia. It was jointly organized by the UPD, INTERLEGIS, and the Brazilian Legislative Institute of the Brazilian Senate and Chamber of Deputies. The College of the Americas (COLAM)/Inter-American Organization for Higher Education (OUI for its acronym in Spanish), and the Joint Parliamentary Committee of MERCOSUR also sponsored the course. More than 70 young leaders from Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay attended the event. Among course participants were national, provincial and municipal legislators, congressional officers and advisors, journalists, and academics. Renowned politicians and experts from MERCOSUR and the hemisphere lectured on key issues related to the strengthening of legislative institutions, such as parliament-civil society relations, the role of political parties in congresses, parliamentary ethics, and legislative management. Third MERCOSUR Course on Legislative Modernization and Integration, Montevideo, Uruguay, November 2001. The UPD organized this course with the support of the Congress, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education of Uruguay, the Universidad de la República, CLAEH, and the Joint Parliamentary Committee of MERCOSUR. The Uruguayan government declared the event to be of national interest. Thirty-five young leaders participated in the course, including legislators and leaders of political parties, academics and journalists from the MERCOSUR countries. Renowned politicians and experts lectured in the course, including the former presidents of Uruguay, José María Sanguinetti and Alberto Lacalle, the leader of the Frente Amplio political party, General Liber Seregni, as well as the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Education and the President of the Chamber of Deputies of Uruguay, among others. Second MERCOSUR Regional Course on the Role of the Legislative Branch in Democracy and Integration, Asunción, Paraguay, November 2000. The UPD organized this course in association with American University of Paraguay, and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. The course was also sponsored by the Congress of Paraguay. Thirty young leaders representing political parties, the media, universities, and civil society organizations from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay attended the course.



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First MERCOSUR Regional Course on the Role of the Legislative Branch in Democracy and Integration, Buenos Aires, Argentina, August 1999. The UPD organized this course with the Parliamentary Training Institute (ICAP) of the Chamber of Deputies of Argentina. Twenty young professionals representing political parties, the media, universities, and civil society organizations from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay participated in the course. Lectures were offered by distinguished Argentine scholars as well as by legislative leaders. B. FORA These events provide a venue for inter-parliamentary interaction at the highest legislative level. They provide the occasion for the exchange of information on best practices and lessons learned, and for the analysis of new comparative research and knowledge on issues related to legislative modernization and inter-parliamentary cooperation. They also foster horizontal cooperation and mutually beneficial dialogue between parliamentarians and academics. B.1. Andean Region Seminar on Political Reform: The Role of Political Parties and Congresses, Bogotá, Colombia, September 2002. The UPD, the Andean Parliament, and the Universidad del Externado of Colombia, organized the Seminar on Political Reform: The Role of Political Parties and Congresses. The Seminar was held in the Colombian Congress in Bogota, Colombia on September 12-13. It addressed three key themes: political reform of the State, political parties and congresses, and relations between parties and congresses. The Forum provided a regional venue for the analysis of key political reform issues and trends in the Andean countries, including the actual and potential role of political parties and congresses in the political reform processes of the region, and its impact on democratic governance. Seminar on Communication Strategies for Parliaments. Bogotá, Colombia, July 2001. The UPD collaborated with the Andean Parliament in the organization of this seminar on communication strategies for parliaments, which was held at the Andean Parliament headquarters. Andean parliamentarians, communications directors of the national offices of the Andean Parliament, and media leaders attended the event. The Seminar aimed to facilitate a participative construction of a comprehensive strategy for parliamentary communications that would be useful for parliamentarians, the media, and civil society organizations, and at the same time, would help strengthen the legislative branch.



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Meeting of the Andean Forum of Presidents of the Legislative Branches, Quito, Ecuador, April 2001. The UPD provided technical and financial support to the Andean Parliament for the organization of this meeting. The meeting provided a venue for political dialogue at the highest parliamentary level in the region. It facilitated the discussion of legislative leaders on issues of common interest to the Andean parliaments, including the role of the legislative branch in their respective democracies and in the Andean integration process. It also provided the opportunity for a meeting on parliamentary cooperation among presidents and leaders of sub-regional parliaments, such as the Joint Parliamentary Committee of MERCOSUR and PARLACEN. The event concluded with a joint declaration by the presidents of the Andean congresses, and the adoption of a cooperation agreement among the Andean Parliament, CPCM, and PARLACEN. Regional Seminar on Budgetary Analysis and Approval in the Congresses of the Andean Region, Bogota, Colombia, November 2000. The UPD provided technical and financial assistance to the General Secretariat of the Andean Parliament for the organization of this seminar. Participants included budgetary process experts, legislative advisors, and budget committee chairmen. National and comparative papers on the budgetary processes were presented by regional experts, which provided the bases for the exchange of information and experiences on the subject. Meeting of the Presidents of Congresses of the Andean Region. Bogota, Colombia, November 2000. The UPD provided technical assistance to the General Secretariat of the Andean Parliament for the organization of this meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to launch a proposal for the establishment of a regional forum of presidents of the legislative branches. The proposal was accepted and the legislative leaders agree to meet again to formally establish the Forum. Seminar on Legislative Elections in Andean Countries. Andean Parliament, Bogota, Colombia, September 28 and 29, 1999. The UPD provided technical and financial assistance for the organization of this meeting attended by parliamentarians, electoral officials and academics. Experts from the region presented national and comparative analysis of the different electoral systems, emphasizing their strengths and weaknesses and their relationship to democratic governance. They also analyzed the regulatory framework and the capacity of electoral institutions to organize electoral processes, and forwarded proposals to reform and strengthen the systems. Seminar to Present and Launch the Andean Centre for Legislative Development, Bogota, Colombia, September 1997. The UPD provided technical assistance for the design and organization of this event. Legislators from the congresses of the Andean countries, experts, academics, and representatives of international organizations attended the seminar. During the seminar, participants analyzed the processes of legislative modernization in the region, evaluated progress made, and identified the needs for



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legislative modernization in the region. At the seminar, authorities from the Andean Parliament adopted a resolution approving the establishment of the Centre. Seminar-workshop on Information Systems, Archives and Legislative Drafting, La Paz, Bolivia, December 1997. The UPD organized this Seminar with the Research Center of the Bolivian Congress (CICON for its acronym in Spanish). It brought together legislators and staff member of the Bolivian congress at the auxiliary, secretarial and directors level. The Seminar addressed issues such as legislation on the Internet (access and research of legislative material), Internet web browsing, legislative archives, and legislation drafting. Regional Seminar-workshop of Women Politicians and Parliamentarians in the Andean Community. The UPD and the General Secretariat of the Andean Parliament organized this seminar for women politicians, parliamentarians, and representatives of civil society organizations of the Andean Community. Participants shared information and experiences on policies and mechanisms to promote women representation in decision-making positions, and to eliminate legal discrimination. As a result, the participants decided to establish the Comisión de Parlamentos Andinos para la Equidad with the function of planning and coordinating policies to eliminate discrimination against women in the countries of the Andean Region, design and adopt an equal opportunities plan for the 1998-2008 decade, and establish a training school for women leaders. B.2. Central America and the Dominican Republic Working meeting of the Regional Project on Central American Legislative Action Against Terrorism. San Jose, Costa Rica, October 2002. The UPD provided technical assistance to FOPREL, ICEL, the Inter-parliamentary Committee on International Relations and the region’s parliaments for the organization of this meeting. The event was held at the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica in October 3-5, 2002. Participants included UPD and OAS specialists in international law, members of the Inter-parliamentary Committee, and ICEL representatives. During the meeting, participants reviewed and revised the project in terms of its objectives and its relation to the Inter-American Convention against Terrorism. Workshop on Evaluation and Strategic Planning for the Program to Modernize the Honduran Congress, Tegucigalpa, Honduras, february 2001. At the request of the President of Honduran National Congress (HNC), the UPD provided technical assistance to the Information and Legislative Studies Center (CIEL) for the design and organization of the Workshop. Specialists from the UPD prepared methodological instruments and thematic guidelines to measure project execution, and to identify the efforts and capacity needed to successfully develop each component of a modernization project. The workshop concluded with a Strategic Plan prepared by UPD Specialists. Participants



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included HNC authorities, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)/Honduras specialists, and project consultants Second Extraordinary Meeting of the Central American Forum of Presidents of the Legislative Branches, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, July 2001. The UPD supported this meeting sponsored by the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies of the Dominican Republic. The speakers approved a comprehensive reform of FOPREL’s charter and adopted a resolution that approves and supports the development, installation and start-up of a Central American Legislative Information Network (RILCA for its acronym in Spanish). This Network was designed by UPD experts as a regional initiative for cooperation and exchange of information. Central American Regional Seminar on Political Reform and Parliamentary Ethics. In August 2001, the UPD organized this seminar within the framework of its cooperation for the modernization program of the Honduran Congress. The seminar was co-sponsored by the Forum for Strengthening Democracy in Honduras, FOPREL, and ICEL. Experts analyzed legislative ethics and introduced proposals for framework laws on parliamentary ethics, and ethics in the civil service. These framework laws were provided as inputs for the Honduran Congress work on developing legislation parliamentary ethics. The seminar was attended by more than one hundred Honduran parliamentarians, political leaders, representatives of civil society organizations, and chairpersons of the parliamentary ethics committees of the legislative branches of Central America. Central American Regional Seminar on Ethics and Legislative Techniques. El Salvador, September 2001. The UPD, in collaboration with FOPREL, ICEL, and the University of Texas at Austin, organized this Seminar. More than seventy Salvadoran legislators and representatives from the departments that provide technical advisory services to each of legislatures of Central America and the Dominican Republic attended the Seminar. Walter Araujo, President of Panama’s Legislative Assembly, was the keynote speaker. Four international experts lectured on legislative techniques in their respective countries, and presented suggestions on how to strengthen legislative techniques. During the seminar, the UPD and the Inter-american Institute of Human Rights/Center for Electoral Promotion and Assistance (IIDH/CAPEL for its acronym in Spanish) presented and distributed the book entitled La Técnica Legislativa en Centroamérica y la República Dominicana [Legislative Techniques in Central America and the Dominican Republic]. In the second part of the seminar, a workshop was held to study the components of a parliamentary code of ethics. The results of the workshop were submitted to the Subcommittee on Ethics to support the preparation and approval of a Code of Ethics for El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly.



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First Central American Summit to Combat Drug Trafficking and Corruption, February 2000. The UPD, in collaboration with FOPREL, and its Central American Inter-parliamentary Committee against Corruption and Drug Trafficking (CICONA), provided technical and financial assistance for the organization of this Central American Summit. This meeting participants included legislators and experts from Central American and officials from the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD for its acronym in Spanish), and the OAS Secretariat for Legal Affairs. Second National Forum on Parliamentary Ethics, Panama, May 2000. The UPD provided technical support to the Legislative Assembly of Panama, and its Parliamentary Ethics and Honour Committee for the organization of this Forum. International Conference on legislative strengthening, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA, June 2000. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) organized working sessions on legislative strengthening. The UPD supported the participation of members of FOPREL’s Central American Inter-parliamentary Committee for Legislative Modernization, and organized meetings between Central American legislators attending the event, and USAID and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) representatives. Central American Regional Seminar on a University–based Technical-Assistance Model for Legislative Modernization, Dominican Republic, August 2000. The UPD organized the seminar in cooperation with the Legislative Development Center (CEDEL for its acronym in Spanish) of the University of Texas at Austin and the Dominican Congress. CEDEL and the UPD presented the university-based technical assistance model for legislative modernization of the bill drafting process. Regional Seminar on Legislation for the Reconstruction of Central America, Tegucigalpa, Honduras, February 1999. Under the framework of the cooperation agreement with FOPREL, and in cooperation with the Honduran congress, the UPD organized this event, which enabled Central American parliamentarians to discuss the emergency caused by Hurricane Mitch, and the legislative needs in this area. The parliamentarians asked the collaboration of the UPD for the elaboration of a draft framework law to prevent damages and respond properly to natural disasters. Based on this UPD contribution, the legislatures of Honduras and Nicaragua adopted in 1999 their respective legislation on this matter. First Meeting of FOPREL with Donor Countries’ Representatives and Cooperation Agencies. San Jose, Costa Rica, November 1999. The UPD provided technical support for the organization of this meeting, and the preparation of proposals for funding. FOPREL presented a series of projects that required funding, including RILCA; a project to strengthen FOPREL executive secretariat; a project on Legislatures and Decentralization; and a project for the first Central American Summit against Corruption and Drug Trafficking.



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Meeting to Establish FOPREL’s Central American Inter-parliamentary Committee for Legislative Modernization, Guatemala City, Guatemala, November 1999. The UPD provided technical assistance for the organization of this event. Chairpersons and secretaries of the committees to modernize the legislative branches of the region attended the event. During the Seminar, FOPREL presented a proposal to strengthen cooperation for the legislative modernization processes in Central America, a Central American Manual on Legislative Techniques, and a strategic agenda for the committee’s work. This committee, which will be housed in the Guatemalan congress, requested the UPD assistance to continue with the fundraising efforts to develop RILCA, and to do additional research on key issues for parliamentary modernization. Sixth Meeting of the Inter-parliamentary Committee against Corruption and Drug Trafficking, San Jose, Costa Rica, November 1999. Based on a Memorandum of Understanding with FOPREL (June 1999), the UPD discussed with members of FOPREL the progress made in providing technical assistance for the drafting of the codes of ethics for the civil service, parliament and business, in the studies for ways to apply the specifications of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption, in the planning for the First Central American Summit against Corruption and Drug Trafficking. Seminar to present Research on Parliamentary Election Systems and their Link to Democratic Governance, Panama City, Panama, June 1998. At this event, legislators, experts, officials and advisors from the region’s legislatures discussed the studies presented, and strengthened the findings with their ideas and suggestions. Seminar to Present the Central American Legislative Information Network, San Salvador, El Salvador, December 1998. This Seminar was sponsored by the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador and FOPREL. The activity replicated the experience of the Andean Region and received UPD technical support to channel the information provided by each parliament. This enabled FOPREL to develop and administer an interactive electronic network. Seminar on Legislative Modernization Processes in Central America and the Dominican Republic, San Jose, Costa Rica, November 1997. The UPD organized this event in cooperation with the IIDH. The Seminar showcased successful experiences in the modernization of the region’s parliaments, and reinforced the political commitment to foster cooperation and the exchange of lessons learned. Legislators, officials and technicians of the modernization committees from congresses of the region and other parts of the Americas, academics, and legislative experts attended the event. This Seminar confirmed the usefulness of employing a uniform terminology throughout the region (legislative dictionary), and the need to develop a Central American Parliamentary Information Network. This Network would serve as a tool of inter-parliamentary cooperation to strengthen the process of legislative modernization, and to improve the quality and legal security of laws.



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Seminar-workshop on Legislative Techniques and Information Systems in Central America and the Dominican Republic, Antigua, Guatemala, December 1997. The UPD collaborated with FOPREL to bring together staff member in charge of legislative modernization projects in Central America and the Dominican Republic to analyze and share their experiences in the modernization of legislative techniques and information systems, and explore ways of linking the congresses through RILCA. Technical experts, and academics from Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Peru attended the meeting. IDB and World Bank representatives also participated in the event. The discussion centered on topics such as legislative techniques as a tool for the approval of laws, legislative techniques and governance, legislative information systems, electronic files, document flow and organizational modification (Iris System), and virtual archives as a tool for knowledge management. B.3. English-Speaking Caribbean Workshops on Legislative Drafting for Participants from the English-speaking Caribbean. The UPD, in cooperation with the Law School of the University of the West Indies, has organized these annual workshops from 1997 to 1999. These workshops helped train the region’s human resources in the theoretical and practical aspects of legislative drafting. B.4. Southern Cone Seminar on Modernization of the Argentine Legislative System. Santa Fé, Argentina, August 2001. The UPD collaborated with the Congress of Santa Fe province to organize this seminar. It was held on August 2001 in the city of Santa Fé, Argentina. Legislators and legislative officials from 19 provinces of the country attended the event. During the seminar, the UPD presented its program to support legislative institutions; participants evaluated the functioning of the provincial legislatures, and exchanged ideas on the quest for common policies to improve the legislative system of Argentina. The seminar was sponsored by the Chamber of Deputies of Argentina. National Workshops on The Role of MERCOSUR Parliaments in Democracy and Integration. During 2002, the UPD, in close coordination with the Legislative Studies Program of CLAEH, Uruguay, and the national sections of the Joint Parliamentary Committee, held national seminars to discuss recent research on the subject. Legislators members of the national sections of the CPCM, experts and officials working in this area attended the workshops.



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Regional Seminar on the Role of the CPCM in the Internalization of Regional Rules and the Institutional Consolidation of MERCOSUR. Florianópolis, Brazil, December 2000. Within the framework of the annual meeting of the authorities of the Joint Parliamentary Committee, the UPD provided technical assistance to the Permanent Secretariat of the Joint Parliamentary Committee for the presentation of studies on the topic and the Manual of Operation of the Inter-Parliamentary Legislative Information Network of MERCOSUR (RIIL for its acronym in Spanish). Legislators, advisors and officials of the Committee attended the event. International Seminars and National Workshops on the Role of Parliament in the Budgetary Process and in MERCOSUR Integration Process 1999. With the support of the UPD, these activities were coordinated by the Legislative Studies Program of the CLAEH, Uruguay. During these events, several studies on the topics were presented. Legislators from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, members of the CPCM, and experts and academics specializing in legislative affairs participated in the events. Seminar for the Presentation of the Proposal to Establish a Prototype for the Inter-parliamentary Legislative Information Network of MERCOSUR, Montevideo, Uruguay, 1999. At the request of the CPCM, the UPD, in cooperation with the Legislative Studies Program of CLAEH, presented a prototype of the network to the authorities of CPCM. The RIIL is intended to function as an instrument for information exchange and for facilitating communication and interaction amongst the parliaments of the sub-region. Legislators, information systems experts, advisors from the national sections of the CPCM (Congresses of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay), and officials from the CPCM Permanent Secretariat attended the Seminar. The legislators authorized the next steps to complete the design and implement the network with the assistance of the UPD. Seminar on Parliamentary Relations with Civil Society, Valparaíso, Chile, October 1998. This seminar was held at the House of Representatives of Chile. Chilean parliamentarians, legislators from the MERCOSUR countries, political authorities, and academics attended the Seminar. Participants examined, discussed, provided inputs to the study prepared by a team of professionals from the Center for Development Studies and Management (CEGADES for its acronym in Spanish) of Chile, under the sponsorship of the Chilean Library of Congress. The UPD sponsored the study and the seminar. Seminar on Parliamentary Technical Advisory Services in Latin America. Santiago de Chile, 1997. With the support of the UPD, this meeting, held at the Chilean Congress, presented the results of studies, analyses, and workshops on the subject. Academics, experts and legislators attending the meeting discussed and enriched the results. These studies were completed by the Legislative Advisory Program of Corporación Tiempo 2000 of Chile with the support from the UPD.



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Seminar-workshop on Information Systems in the Legislative Branch, Santa Fe, Argentina, November 1996. The UPD collaborated with the Legislative Studies and Cooperation Centre (CECOL for its acronym in Spanish) of the provincial congress of Santa Fe, Argentina, to organize the workshop, which offered a training session in information systems to legislators, advisors and officials from the provincial legislatures of Argentina. B.5. Hemispheric activities Establishment of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas (FIPA for its acronym in Spanish). Ottawa, Canada, March 2001. The UPD provided technical assistance to FIPA authorities and the Canadian parliament for the organization of the inaugural meeting, in Ottawa, Canada, March 2001. More than 111 parliamentarians from Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, St. Lucia, Suriname, the United States, Uruguay and Venezuela attended the meeting. Participants unanimously approved the regulations and structure of FIPA. In addition, participants discussed and approved a document with conclusions and recommendations on the substantive issues discussed, including corruption and good government, drugs and drug trafficking, free trade, external debt reduction, poverty alleviation, and sustainable development. This document was presented at the Summit of Heads of State and Government held in April 2001, in Quebec City, Canada. FIPA regulations established that the OAS, through the UPD, will support its Technical Secretariat. FIPA will be organized as follows: Chair: Bill Graham, Canada; Executive Committee: For the Caribbean, Grenada (1 year) and Barbados (2 years); for Central America, El Salvador (1 year) and Guatemala (2 years); for North America, Canada (1 year), and Mexico (2 years); and for South America, Colombia (1 year), and Argentina (2 years). International Seminar on Political Communication Strategies, Washington, DC, June 2001. This event was held between May 31 and June 2 in Washington D. C. The Seminar was organized by the UPD and the Graduate School of Political Management of The George Washington University. Political consultants and experts dealt with subjects such as strategies for political communication, the use of Internet in politics, the use of polls in political campaigns, techniques of personal political communication, the use of the media in politics and others. It was attended by some ninety participants from several Latin American countries, including political consultants, campaign managers, media specialists, government officials, and others.



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Parliamentary Network of the Americas, Washington, DC., March 2000. The UPD provided technical and logistical support for the meeting of chairpersons of the foreign relations committees of its member States parliaments. Fifty-seven parliamentarians from 30 out of 34 member States’ parliaments participated in the meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss topics on the hemispheric agenda, with the idea of establishing a Parliamentary Network. Participants in the meeting agreed to establish the Inter-parliamentary Forum of the Americas, and decided to launch it on March 2001 in Canada. Meeting of Legislative Leaders of the Americas, Dominican Republic, November 1998. The UPD collaborated with the Inter-American Dialogue, a nongovernmental organization based in Washington D.C. to organize this meeting. The meeting explored the possibility of establishing an informal network of legislative leaders to exchange opinions and seek a common ground that would allow greater inter-parliamentary cooperation, and an increased by the legislatures in addressing hemispheric challenges. C. ADVISORY SERVICES UPD advisory services or technical assistance support the institutional and organizational modernization of parliaments as well as their efforts to cooperate with each other. Advisory services also foster interaction with development agencies and international organizations that collaborate with the UPD to promote inter-parliamentary cooperation and legislative modernization. C.1. Andean Region Technical Assistance to establish an Inter-American Training Network on Legislative Management (RIF-GEL for its acronym in Spanish). Lima, Peru, August 2002. The UPD, in collaboration with the COLAM/OUI, Canada, held a meeting to evaluate the establishment of RIF-GEL. The meeting was held in Lima, Peru, on August 2002, The UPD presented a methodology for implementing a university-related technical-assistance program for drafting legislation. The participating academic institutions of the Andean region agreed to promote the model with Legislatures of the region and explore the possibility to offer the first on-line course on legislative management as soon as it can be developed.



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Design of a Program for De-legislation and Depuration of the Ecuadorian Legal Framework.Quito, Ecuador, 2001. At the request of the Vice-president of the Ecuadorian Congress in 2001, a UPD technical mission advised the congressional authorities on designing a program for de-legislation and depuration of the legal framework. The program designed includes a database containing a secure and reliable national register of laws; a proposal for the establishment of a de-legislation Unit; the organization and systematization of national laws; and the design of a methodology to identify outdated legislation. Implementation of the Andean Legislative Information Network (RAIL for its acronym in Spanish). Bogota, Colombia, 2001. During 2001, the UPD completed its technical assistance to the Secretariat of the Andean Parliament for the design and implementation of the RAIL. The network was fully transferred to the Andean Parliament headquarters located in Bogota, Colombia. The RAIL purpose is to function as a information and interaction mechanism amongst the legislatures and parliamentarians of the region. Technical mission to the Ecuadorian Congress to Support the Process of Institutional Modernization. Quito, Ecuador, 2000. In response to an official invitation by the Vice-President of the Ecuadorian Congress, a UPD technical mission paid a visit to the Congress of Ecuador during the year 2000. The mission evaluated the feasibility of implementing a program of institutional modernization. UPD specialists met with the chairman and vice-chairman of the Congress, Dr. Hugo Moreno Quevedo and Dr. Jose Cordero, respectively, and with political parties representatives, legislative staff, and multilateral organizations’ officers. UPD specialists drafted and presented to the congressional authorities a preliminary needs assessment and a master plan for the project. Technical Assistance for the establishment of the Andean Center for Legislative DevelopmentBogota, Colombia, September 1997. With UPD’s technical assistance for the design and presentation of the Centre, the XII Regular Session of the Andean Parliament held in Bogota, Colombia, approved the establishment of the CADEL in September of 1997.



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C.2. Central America and the Caribbean Support for the Parliamentary Work of FOPREL and ICEL. Panama City, 2002. The UPD provided assistance for the organization of a working meeting amongst advisors to the Presidents of the Congresses of Central America and the Dominican Republic to design FOPREL;s work plan for the year. The meeting was held in Panama City. It was inaugurated by the President of the Panamanian Legislative Assembly, Dr. Rubén Arosemena. The UPD agreed to provide technical assistance to ICEL for research in topics such as political control and budget oversight, relations between the media and the parliament, and relations between parliaments and political parties. Technical Assistance to the Comisión Interparlamentaria Centroamericana de Asuntos Internacionales, Económicos, Integración Regional y Paz, 2002. The UPD, in close coordination with FOPREL and ICEL, provided technical assistance to the Committee in the development of a regional project to strengthen the role of the legislative branch in the fight against terrorism. This Committee coordinates the implementation of key components of the Central American Regional Legislative Action against Terrorism. OAS/IDB Joint Support Program to the Guatemalan Congress. Guatemala City, February 2001. The UPD carried out a technical assistance mission in Guatemala to assess the tasks and activities necessary to conclude the third phase of the project to provide legal support to the Guatemalan congress. The UPD coordinated on the ground with the IDB technical assistance mission preparing a Profile II of a comprehensive program for the modernization of the Congress. The UPD designed a critical path that includes assessing the capacity of the Congress to implement the program, the establishment of an executing unit, the preparation of a study of potential problems and risks in the implementation of the program, and the design of a citizen participation component. Support for the New Political Agenda of the Central American Presidents of Legislative Branches. San Jose, Costa Rica, April 2001. The UPD provided technical assistance for the strategic planning meeting of FOPREL, and ICEL. The meeting was held in San Jose, Costa Rica. Senior officials from FOPREL and ICEL attended the meeting and adopted a political agenda as the general framework for the preparation of comparative studies to generate new knowledge on issues related to legislative modernization of the second generation. Implementation of the University Technical Assistance Model for Legislative Modernization in the Dominican Republic. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, June 2001. At the request of the Liaison Secretariat between the Executive and Legislative branches of the Dominican Republic, and the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM for its acronym in Spanish) the UPD provided



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technical assistance for the implementation of the University Technical Assistance Model. The Model is designed to promote cooperation between academia and the legislative branches, by setting up a team of university professors as mentors and university students who work together with legislators and their staff in the preparation of historical and comparative background material studies for drafting legislation on issues of interest to legislators. The Model was presented to the Bicameral Committee on Legislative Modernization in June 2001, which adopted it as a pilot program. Strategic planning session of the Central American Forum of Presidents of the Legislative Branches and its Committees. January 2000. The UPD presented a Strategic Planning Manual to the Board of Directors of ICEL, and to FOPREL members and chairs of its Inter-parliamentary Committees on International Relations and the Fight against Corruption and Drug Trafficking. Technical Assistance to the Information and Legislative Studies Centre of the Honduran Congress. Tegucigalpa, Honduras, August 2000. The UPD provided technical assistance to CIEL to organize a workshop on “Legislative Techniques in Honduras.” As a result of this technical assistance, CIEL held the workshop and published the “Honduran Manual on Legislative Techniques.” Organizational and institutional analysis of the Central American Parliament. At the request of the President of the Central American Parliament, the UPD supported in 2002 the preparation of a study that reviewed the administrative, organizational, regulatory, institutional, and legislative procedures of this regional body.

Support for the Modernization Plan of the Information Systems of El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly. San Salvador, El Salvador, 1999. At the request of the Legislative Assembly, a UPD technical mission assessed the legislative information and presented to the Legislative Assembly a Prototype for Tracking Bills and its Users’ Manual. The Prototype installed in the Legislative Assembly became the first information systems program that directly supports the work of legislators under the Modernization Plan. In response to a request of the Information Systems Unit of the Legislative Assembly, the UPD prepared a draft of a Comprehensive Modernization Plan for the information systems to facilitate the implementation of this component under the Modernization Project financed by the IDB.

Memorandum of Understanding between the UPD/OAS and the Central American Forum of Presidents of Legislative Branches . June 1999. The UPD signed this Memorandum as a framework to provide technical advisory services and financial support for FOPREL’s activities that promote inter-parliamentary cooperation and legislative modernization of Central American legislatures. Those activities may include research, seminars, publications, courses, and on-line networks on legislative information and cooperation.



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Modernization of the Honduran Congress and identification of areas of cooperation. Tegucigalpa, Honduras, October 1999. In response to a request by the President of the Honduran congress, the UPD –in collaboration with the IDB- appointed a technical mission in October 1999 to assess the requirements for the introduction of a computerized information program to systematize the legislative process in the Honduran congress. C.3. Southern Cone Implementation of the Inter-Parliamentary Legislative Information Network for MERCOSUR. On July 2002, the design and implementation of RIIL was completed and adopted by the authorities of the CPCM. With the establishment of RIIL, the UPD fulfilled the Committee’s request to create an information and interaction mechanism that fosters communication between the parliaments of the region and CPCM’s national secretariats. Technical assistance to the Paraguayan Section of the CPCM and CPCM Permanent Parliamentary Administrative Secretariat (SAPP for its acronym in Spanish). Asunción, Paraguay, 2002. Within the framework of RIIL, and at the request of the Paraguayan Section of CPCM and SAPP, the UPD provided technical and financial assistance to obtain technical resources (computer, printer and Internet access) for RIIL. Program to Modernize the Legislature of Cordoba, Argentina. Córdoba, Argentina, December 2001. Pursuant to the request made by the Under-secretariat for Relations among Provinces of the Argentinean Ministry of Economy, an UPD technical mission prepared and presented to authorities from the Ministry and Cordoba’s legislature the preliminary draft of a Comprehensive Program for the Modernization of the Legislature. The President of the Legislature and authorities from the Ministry of Economy agreed to proceed with program proposal that was to be funded by an IDB loan and supported by the OAS Inter-American Agency for Cooperation and Development (IACD). However, the modernization program remains on hold because of the political changes that took place in December 2001. C.4. Hemispheric Activities Support for the First Plenary Meeting of FIPA. Mexico City, March 2002. FIPA’s first plenary meeting was held in March in Mexico City. More than 100 participants from 24 legislatures of the hemisphere attended the meeting. The UPD provided technical assistance in the preparation of the meeting, the coordination with OAS technical advisors to support the working committees, and the design of the first phase of the "Virtual Parliament of the Americas."



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Support to FIPA’s Executive Committee. August and November 2001. The UPD assisted FIPA executive committee’s evaluation and follow-up meetings of the inaugural session. These meetings were held on August and November 2001. Key issues discussed included follow-up of FIPA activities, the functioning of the technical secretariat, the establishment of a hemispheric legislative information network, the organization of the First Plenary Meeting to be held in Mexico City, and the establishment of relations with other institutions or regional parliaments. During both meetings, members of the executive committee publicly acknowledged UPD technical assistance and its contribution for the establishment of the Forum. In addition, the Committee expressed its interest in the UPD continued participation in the meetings of the executive committee, and UPD technical assistance for the development of the Forum and follow-up activities. The executive committee granted the UPD the technical responsibility for the hemispheric legislative information projects, known as "Virtual Parliament of the Americas," and the coordination of activities financed by international cooperation agencies. Technical Assistance for the establishment of FIPA. During 2000, the UPD provided technical assistance to the Canadian parliament for the organization of the inaugural meeting of the Forum. D. STUDIES AND PUBLICATIONS The UPD support for studies and publications on legislative subjects is intended to contribute to the creation of knowledge, and to promote the analysis of issues related to strengthening the role of parliaments in democracies and integration, and to contribute to the training of experts in legislative affairs. The work is also intended to encourage studies in this field in universities and academic centres in the region. Research is usually presented at regional events in which parliamentarians, officials, authorities and experts in the field participate, discuss the studies, and enrich them for subsequent publication. D.1. Andean Region Publication: Reforma Política del Estado: El Rol de los Partidos Políticos y los Congresos [Political Reform: The Role of Political Parties and Congresses] (2002). This publication is the result of the seminar held in Bogota, Colombia, in September 2001 on the same subject. It contains the presentations made during the event by experts and keynote speakers, as well as the reports presented by the rapporteurs from the Universidad del Externado of Colombia.



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Studies: [The Role of the Andean Region Legislative Branches in the in the Budgetary Process and in the Development of the Political Control and Oversight function.] (2002). Several studies throughout Latin America are being conducted on this subject under the coordination of the Political Science Department of Pontificia Universidad Javeriana of Colombia. The purpose of these studies is to contribute to the generation of new knowledge and help develop regional experts on this significant role of the legislative branch. Publication: El Poder Legislativo, Democracia e Integración [The Legislative Branch, Democracy and Integration] (2001). Compilers: Adriana Delgado, Ronny Rodríguez and Marcelo Alvarez. Bogota, Colombia. UPD/OAS and Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. This book includes the best lectures and essays presented during the first Andean regional course on the legislative branch, democracy and integration. Publication: Modernización y Desarrollo Legislativo en los Países de la Comunidad Andina [Report of the Seminar on Legislative Modernization and Development in the Andean Community Countries], (1999). Bogota, Colombia. This book includes the studies presented at the seminar-workshop on parliamentary modernization held in Bogota in October 1997. During this seminar, the Andean Parliament, with the cooperation of the UPD, launched CADEL. Publication: Sistemas Electorales en los Países Andinos [Electoral Systems in the Andean Countries], (1998). Bogota, Colombia: UPD/OAS and the Andean Parliament. For this publication, the Andean Parliament, with the support from the UPD, coordinated national studies on electoral systems and their linkage to parliamentary representation and governance. These studies were presented at a regional seminar held at the Andean Parliament. Publication: Congresos y Democracia en los Países de la Región Andina. Deficiencias y Estrategias [Congresses and Democracy in the Countries of the Andes Region. Shortcomings and Strategies], (1997). Bogota, Colombia: UPD/OAS and Universidad de los Andes. This book was the result of the support provided by the UPD for the International Studies Centre of the University of the Andes in Colombia to conduct a comparative study on the functioning of congresses in the Andean region. It contains an extensive analysis of the role and activities of these legislative institutions, making an important contribution to the generation of new knowledge and the training of experts in modernization of the legislative branch. Publication: Leyes de Partidos Políticos, Leyes Electorales y Reglamentos de los Congresos de la Comunidad Andina [Laws on Political Parties, Electoral Laws and Regulations of the Congresses of the Andean Community]. (1997). Bogota, Colombia: UPD/OAS and the Andean Parliament. The General Secretariat of the Andean Parliament published this book with support from the UPD. This book includes a comparative analysis of the topic.



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D.2. Central American and the Dominican Republic Research: “ Political Parties and Parliamentary Modernization" (2002). In cooperation with FOPREL and ICEL, the UPD is providing technical and financial support for a regional study on the institutional situation of political parties in the region, the regulatory framework governing them, and their internal organization and functioning. The study examines the political party system, the electoral system, and the way in which candidates are selected that directly or indirectly affect the functioning of legislative branches. The study will provide the guidelines for developing new legislation that would help strengthen the political parties. Research on "Parliamentary control and oversight in the legislative branches of Central America and the Dominican Republic" (2002). This study is being carried out jointly with FOPREL and ICEL. It includes an analysis of parliamentary rules and practices based on the different instruments permitted by law to govern the exercise of political and budgetary control. The study identifies comparative advantages of the different congresses, examines the balance of powers, and proposes a series of reforms and policy guidelines to improve this function. The research is expected to produce a description of the existing situation, a comparative analysis, and a proposal to strengthen institutional regulations and democratic governance in each of the countries of the region. Studies on “Parliament and the Media" (2002). In cooperation with FOPREL and ICEL, the UPD provided support for a series of national studies in the Central American region. Studies on “The Legislative Branch and Civil Society” (2002). In cooperation with the Executive Secretariat of FOPREL, support was provided for a series of national studies on this topic in the Central American region. Publication: Los Parlamentos de Centroamérica en la Lucha Contra la Corrupción [Central American Parliaments in the Fight against Corruption].(2001). Editor : Ronny Rodriguez Chang. This publication financed by the UPD, in collaboration with FOPREL and CICONA, includes a series of studies on Central American legislation (Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama). These studies identify the legal changes needed to strengthen preventive measures in the fight against corruption as established by the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption. They also propose the legislative actions that are needed in the different congresses to control corruption, including the strengthening of political control and parliamentary oversight as a tool to prevent corruption. The publication also contains a comparative analysis that identifies a common legislative critical path needed to facilitate cooperation between countries of the region, and to ensure the effectiveness of preventive measures. Model legislation on parliamentary ethics, ethics in the public service and in business are included in the annexes.



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Research on “Human Rights Ombudsmen and Parliaments: Their role in the Strengthening of Democracy and Defence of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights” (2001). The UPD initiated a series of national studies on the applicability and exercise of economic, social and cultural rights in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. The purpose of this research is to provide the Central American Council of Human Rights Ombudsmen and FOPREL with up-to-date information to guide political and legislative decisions on adapting rules and action strategies, which will be discussed afterward at a high-level regional round table. These studies detail relations and joint working methods shared by the ombudsmen and parliaments. Furthermore, the studies take a broad view on the subject of human rights, shedding light on the special features of this relationship and its impact on the effectiveness, and positive outcomes of the work of the Office of the Ombudsman as an institution with links to the parliament. Publication: El Poder Legislativo en la Democracia y la Integración, [The Legislative Branch in Democracy and Integration] (2001). Editors: Marcelo Alvarez and Ronny Rodriguez. UPD/OAS and PARLACEN. This book, published as part of the joint project with the Central American Parliament, compiles the main academic and technical studies presented by regional experts at the first Central American regional course on the legislative branch in democracy and integration. Publication: Ética Parlamentaria en Centroamérica y la República Dominicana, [Parliamentary Ethics in Central America and the Dominican Republic] (2001). San Jose, Costa Rica: UPD/OAS and IIDH/CAPEL. This book, which contains studies on parliamentary ethics in each of the legislative branches in the region, was published in conjunction with IIDH/CAPEL and the region’s congresses. Publication: Sistemas de Elecciones Parlamentarias y su Relación con la Gobernabilidad Democrática en la América Central y la República Dominicana [Parliamentary Election Systems and their Relationship to Democratic Governance in Central America and the Dominican Republic], (2000). San Jose, Costa Rica: UPD/OAS and IIDH/CAPEL. Publication: Manual Centroamericano de Técnica Legislativa [Central American Manual on Legislative Techniques]. (2000). Hugo Alfonso Muñoz. San Jose, Costa Rica: UPD/OAS and Inter-parliamentary Committee on Legislative Modernization of FOPREL.



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Publication: Experiencias de Modernización Legislativa en América Central y la República Dominicana [Experiences in Legislative Modernization in Central America and the Dominican Republic], (1999). Guatemala City: UPD/OAS and IIDH/CAPEL. This book, published with the cooperation of IIDH/CAPEL, includes essays and lectures presented at the seminars on parliament and governance in Central America (December 1996), and processes of legislative modernization in Central America and the Dominican Republic (December 1997). It contains various experiences with modernization of the legislative branches in Central America, the Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru. It also analyzes the role of regional parliaments in legislative modernization processes. Research on “Relations Between the Legislative Branch and the Executive Branch in Guatemala and Costa Rica” (1999). This project concluded in June 1999 and was carried out by the Central American Program for Sustainability (PROCESOS) with the cooperation of IIDH/CAPEL, and the sponsorship of the UPD. It analyzes formal and informal relations between the two branches of government, the rules governing those relations, and their importance for governance. It presents a detailed proposal for establishing legislative liaison programs, as a form of institutionalizing and facilitating relations between the two branches. D.3. Southern Cone Studies on "Models and proposals for Facilitating the Establishment of a Regional Parliament as a part of Comprehensive Institutional Development of MERCOSUR" (2002). At the request of the CPCM, the UPD provided the substantive guidelines and funding to begin this study. The study is being carried out in cooperation with CLAEH Regional Legislative Studies Program and with the participation of Torcuato Di Tella University, the University of Brasilia, and experts from Paraguay. Publication: El Poder Legislativo y los Nuevos Desafíos de la Democracia en el MERCOSUR [The Legislative Branch and the New Challenges for Democracy in MERCOSUR]. (2001). Editor. Alejandro Vial Saavedra. This work was published in conjunction with Americana University of Paraguay and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. It is a collection of lectures and essays by speakers and participants in the second MERCOSUR regional course held in November 2000 in Asunción, Paraguay. The text includes an analysis of the role of parliament in democracy and in integration processes and is an important reference book for legislative studies in the region.



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Studies on “Information Systems and the Internet in Politics” (2001). In cooperation with CLAEH’s Legislative Studies Program and the Political Science Institute of the Universidad de la República of Uruguay, a series of investigations was begun on the subject, which will serve as educational materials for the modules on this subject in regional courses on democracy and political management offered by the UPD for young political leaders. Publication: MERCOSUR: El Poder Legislativo en la Democracia y la Integración [The Legislative Branch in Democracy and Integration] (2000). Compilers: Beatriz Grosso and Alejandra Svetas, Buenos Aires, Argentina: UPD/OAS. This publication contains the best lectures by the professors and experts who participated in the first MERCOSUR regional course on the legislative branch in democracy and integration. Publication: La Dimensión Parlamentaria en la Re-institucionalización del MERCOSUR [The Parliamentary Dimension in the Re-institutionalization of Mercosur] (2000). Compilers: Gerardo Caetano and Ruben M. Perina. This study was published in cooperation with CLAEH’s Legislative Studies Program. It is the result of research and national and regional workshops by experts from the region associated with the program, the Torcuato Di Tella University of Argentina, the University of Brasilia, and the Catholic University of Asuncion, in support of MERCOSUR congresses and the Mercosur Joint Parliamentary Committee. Publication: MERCOSUR y Parlamentos: El Rol de los Congresos en la Democracia y la Integración [MERCOSUR and Parliaments: The role of Congresses in Democracy and Integration] (2000). Compilers: Gerardo Caetano and Ruben M. Perina. This book contains research supported by UPD and carried out by MERCOSUR’s legislative studies network of academic institutions on the role of national congresses in the legislative treatment of budgets, and legislative support for the integration process. Publication: Parlamento y Democracia: Las Asesoría Legislativas en América Latina [Parliament and Democracy: Legislative Advisory Services in Latin America], (1998). Santiago de Chile: UPD/OAS and Corporacion Tiempo 2000. This publication is the result of research on the subject concluded in 1997. This research, supported by UPD, was carried out under the academic coordination of the Legislative Advisory Program of Corporación 2000 of Chile. Publication: Gestión Parlamentaria y Sociedad Civil [Parliamentary Management and Civil Society], (1998). Santiago de Chile: UPD/OAS and CEGADES. This book is the outcome of research on the relationship between parliament and civil society carried out in 1998 by CEGADES of Chile, under the auspices of the Library of Congress of Chile. The research and publication was supported by the UPD.



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Publication: Parlamento y Presupuesto. La Tramitación Legislativa del Presupuesto en el Congreso Uruguayo [Parliament and Budget. Legislative Treatment of the Budget in Uruguay’s Congress] (1998). Montevideo, Uruguay: UPD/OAS and CLAEH. This publication is the outcome of research on the elaboration and evaluation of the national budget in the legislative branch, which concluded in 1998, under the support of the UPD, and in cooperation with CLAEH’s Legislative Studies Program. Publications: La Crisis de la Representación Política y el Poder Legislativo [The Crisis in Political Representation and the Legislative Branch], (1995) and Fortalecimiento del Poder Legislativo [Strengthening the Legislative Branch], (1997). Santa Fé, Argentina: UPD/OAS and Centre for Studies and Legislative Cooperation. These books were the outcome of the studies carried out between 1995 and 1997 by the Centre for Studies and Legislative Cooperation of Santa Fé, Argentina. D.4. Hemispheric Studies and Publications Study on ‘Best practices for legislative modernization" (2002). The UPD is providing substantive guidelines and financing for the preparation of these studies, which will generate new knowledge and information on legislative modernization. They will also serve as the basis for regional seminars on legislative modernization, and will provide the substantive background for carrying out technical missions on the matter. Publication: Manual de Relaciones con la Prensa [Press Relations Manual] (2002). This work, completed in collaboration with the State Legislative Leaders Foundation of the United States, is being translated, adapted and edited for publication. It is intended to provide parliamentarians with a useful and flexible tool for managing their press relations. Publication: Estrategias de Comunicación para Gobiernos [Communications Strategies for Governments] (2001). Compilers Christopher Arterton, Roberto Izurieta and Rubén M. Perina. Washington, D.C.: UPD/OAS and GSPM/GWU. This book contains a series of studies conducted last year with the cooperation of the Graduate School of Political Management of George Washington University. Publication: Sistema Interamericano y Democracia [The Inter-American System and Democracy] (2000). The result of support from the UPD for the International Studies Centre of the University of the Andes, Colombia for a series of studies on this subject.



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Acronyms*

CADEL Centro Andino para el Desarrollo Legislativo

[Andean Centre for Legislative Development] CECOL Centro de Estudios y Cooperación Legislativa

[Legislative Studies and Cooperation Centre] CEDEL Centro para el Desarrollo Legislativo

[Legislative Development Centre] CEGADES Centro de Estudios y Gestión para el Desarrollo

[Center for Development Studies and Management] CICAD Comisión Interamericana para el Control del Abuso de Drogas

[Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission] CICON Centro de Investigación del Congreso Nacional de Bolivia

[Research Centre of the Bolivian Congress] CICONA Comisión Interparlamentaria Centroamericana contra la Corrupción y la

Narcoactividad [Central American Inter-Parliamentary Committee Against Corruption and Drug Trafficking]

CIEL Centro de Informática y Estudios Legislativos [Information and Legislative Studies Centre]

CLAEH Centro Latinoamericano de Economía Humana [Central American Centre for Humane Economics]

COLAM/OUI College of the Americas/Inter-American Organization for Higher Education [Colegio de las Américas/Organización Universitaria Interamericana]

CPCM Comisión Parlamentaria Conjunta del MERCOSUR [Joint Parliamentary Committee of MERCOSUR]

FIPA Foro Interparlamentario de las Américas [Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas]

FOPREL Foro de Presidentes de los Poderes Legislativos de Centroamérica [Central American Forum of Presidents of the Legislative Branches]

GSPM/GWU The Graduate School of Political Management/The George Washington University

HCN Honduran National Congress IACD Inter-American Agency for Cooperation and Development ICAP Instituto de Capacitación Parlamentaria

[Parliamentary Training Institute] ICEL Instituto Centroamericano de Estudios Legislativos

[Central American Institute for Legislative Studies] IDB Inter-American Development Bank

* Each acronym in Spanish includes a translation to English in brackets.



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IIDH/CAPEL Instituto Interamericano de Derechos Humanos/Centro de Asesoría y Promoción Electoral [Inter-American Institute of Human Rights/Center for Electoral Promotion and Assistance]

INCEP Instituto Centroamericano de Estudios Políticos [Central American Institute of Political Studies]

ITAM Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México MERCOSUR Mercado Común del Sur

[Common Market of the South] OAS Organization of American States PAFIL Programa de Apoyo al Fortalecimiento Democrático

[Program to Support the Strengthening of Legislative Institutions] PARLACEN Parlamento Centroamericano

[Central American Parliament] PROCESOS Programa Centroamericano para la Sostenibilidad

[Central American Program for Sustainability] PUCMM Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra UPD Unit for the Promotion of Democracy RAIL Red Andina de Información Legislativa

[Andean Legislative Information Network] RIF-GEL Red Interamericana de Formación en Gestión Legislativa

[Inter-American Training Network on Legislative Management] RIIL Red Interparlamentaria de Información Legislativa del MERCOSUR

[Inter-Parliamentary Legislative Information Network of MERCOSUR] RILCA Red de Información Legislativa para Centroamérica y la Cuenca del Caribe

[Central American Legislative Information Network] SAPP-CPCM Secretaría Administrativa de la Comisión Parlamentaria Conjunta del

MERCOSUR [Parliamentary Administrative Secretariat- Join Parliamentary Committee of MERCOSUR]

SUNY State University of New York UNDP United Nations Development Programme USAID United States Agency for International Development



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Contacts

Elizabeth Spehar Executive Coordinator

[email protected] Tel. (202) 458-3585 Fax. (202) 458-6250

Rubén M. Perina, Ph.D.

Coordinator, Strategic Programs [email protected]

Tel. (202) 458-6293 Fax. (202) 458-6482

Jorge Calderón Consultant


[Costa Rica]

Ana Matilde Pérez Katz Consultant


Website: http://www.upd.oas.org

OAS - Unit for the Promotion of Democracy · 2008-06-24 · media, universities, and civil society...

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