Definition of the Democratic Charter

The countries that make up the Organization of American States (OAS) are committed to the democracy. This commitment was embodied in an official document that was signed in Lima in 2001, specifically in the Inter-American Democratic Charter or CDI.

Based on this document, which has a political but not legal value, it is intended to combat any possible attempt at democratic involution in the American continent.

The CDI is a political instrument to collectively defend democracy

The different articles of the ILC address the following contents: the value of democracy, the human rights, the fight against poverty, the need to promote democratic culture in the region, electoral processes and the preservation of democratic institutions.

For these sections to be effective, the CDI incorporates specific mechanisms of democratic control (for example, the missions of observation electoral). On the other hand, among the contents of the Charter, we must highlight the importance given to the relationship between democracy and human rights and to the dissemination of the values ​​of democracy.

When in an OAS member state the separation of powers weakens and the state of right is questioned, it is possible to activate the Democratic Charter in order to overcome this situation.

It should be noted that the Charter does not contemplate the intervention direct from a force foreign to reestablish democratic order in a nation integrated into the OAS. These types of measures cannot be adopted as they are against the principle of non-interference and the international right.

The CDI obeys a historical need of the peoples of America

Throughout the nineteenth century, most of the nations that now make up the OAS achieved independence. Since then, the American continent, especially Latin America, has been immersed in antidemocratic processes of all kinds (military coups, dictatorial regimes, etc.).

Even in the recent history of Latin America there have been episodes contrary to democratic values ​​(for example, the crises in Peru and Guatemala in the early 1990s). In this way, the creation of the CDI has represented a significant advance in consolidating democracy.

In recent years, especially in 2017, Venezuela is in a process of economic conflict, politics And social. In this context, a debate is taking place in relation to the possible application of the Democratic Charter for Venezuela to definitively regain the path of democracy.

Photos: Fotolia - sakura / ufotopixl10