SUMMITS OF THE AMERICAS BULLETIN * Vol. 1 * No. 3 * June 2002 Civil Society and the Summit Process Introduction Jaime Aparicio Otero* This new edition of the Summits dates back to the first years of its exist- are taken by way of democratic processes of the Americas Bulletin is dedicated to ence, it is only with the establishment of that in general allow for more direct and the issue of civil society participation in the Summits of the Americas that this is- continuous interventions of those diverse the countries of the region, as well as within sue has been integrated into the inter- social sectors affected by such decisions. the Summits of the Americas process and American agenda. A year after Quebec National reform and multilateral negotia- the Organization of American States City, the opportunities for civil society par- tion take into consideration more and more (OAS). ticipation are ever-increasing: on the ne- voices of citizens from throughout the re- In the case of the OAS, while the gotiations for the Democratic Charter; on gion. relationship between non-state actors and issues such as hemispheric security, indig- This participation has a different the Organization in some technical areas enous peoples, social corporate responsi- bility and political parties; and in the Com- mittees on Inter-American Summits Man- agement and the Participation of Civil “...it is a question of Society in OAS Activities. The OAS ac- constructing a new TABLE OF CONTENTS creditation process for non-governmental hemispheric model of organizations (NGO) is also in effect, as governance that is defined Introduction 1 is the annual meeting of NGOs with Min- Jaime Aparicio isters of Foreign Affairs at each General by dialogue.” Assembly. - Francine Jácome Civil Society and the 2 In the preparatory process for and Summit Process: A Search for Consensus during the actual Quebec City Summit, Francine Jácome there were institutional spaces of partici- nature than that of political actors, since pation that allowed for the incorporation Civil Society Participation 3 its effective legitimacy is not in its repre- in the Summit Process of various concerns of non-state actors sentative character but in its role as reaf- Andrea Sanhueza from distinct sectors of society into its Plan firming the new reality of societies of in- of Action. Also underway is a vast follow dividuals, of citizens with rights and of a The participation of 3 up and consultation process among civil Indigenous Peoples after multiplicity of particular and collective in- Quebec City society on the Summit process, which in- terests. As a consequence, it has been Secretariat for the Summit Process cludes the participation of over 800 NGOs endowed with instruments of pressure and from sixteen countries. OAS creates Summit 4 resistance that serve to limit the exces- Secretariat These new possibilities for non- sive power of the state, from within soci- OAS News state actors in national public matters and ety to within its own political structure. multilateral processes reflect profound That being understood, the re- changes in the very structure of the state cently created Executive Secretariat for and in the work of international institutions. Today decisions that affect our societies (continued on next page) 1 SUMMITS OF THE AMERICAS BULLETIN (Introduction) the Summit Process, which is responsible, history – and the greatest difficulty is Civil Society and the Summit within the OAS General Secretariat, for rooted in the fact that this kind of partner- Process: A Search for Consensus supporting the participation of non-state ship goes against the epistemological logic Francine Jácome* actors in the Organization’s activities and of the concept of power, the real motiva- The social organizations and in the Summit process, seeks to promote tor in politics. Effectively, there is a vis- networks of the hemisphere have designed a balanced, open and intelligent relation- ible contradiction between the nature of different participation mechanisms for the ship between the diverse non-state actors, the political system and its link to the idea Summits of the Americas process that governments and international institutions. of power in juxtaposition with a civil soci- have depended upon perspectives Its objective is to articulate a new rela- ety that has as its vocation precisely that formulated around this process and tionship between the state and civil soci- of limiting this power, affecting decisions, association strategies that are developed ety in light of a new social agenda that opening processes of transparency and demands the cooperation of both parties. imposing transactions and commitments. This agenda can only be made a reality if In highly institutionalized countries everyone takes part in its fulfillment. The and with the exercise of power influenced “A year after Quebec City, experience demonstrates that joint activ- effectively by other powers and lobbying ity is essential for the reduction of pov- groups, opening spaces for civil society is the opportunities for civil erty, for education and health and in the not so difficult. However, in institution- society participation are fight against corruption, among other is- ally weak countries, which have a long au- ever-increasing.” sues, and is an instrument for the strength- thoritarian and caudillista tradition, as well - Jaime Aparicio ening of democracy and an antidote to as rigid and closed off governmental totalitarian or populist temptation. mechanisms, this process is much more Today the ability of citizens to difficult to carry out. That being said, there mobilize themselves for public causes is is no doubt that this process is well under- as a result of these perspectives. On one growing. In Latin America it was effec- way, and there is nothing to indicate its hand, a series of initiatives has been tive in resisting military regimes and pro- slowing down. The Summit process has developed based upon the concept that it moting democratic processes. It is there- favored a genuine transition towards le- is necessary to generate contributions that fore within the governments’ own inter- gitimizing new avenues of participation and not only allow for the deepening of civil ests to foster this partnership with non- towards more open and transparent soci- society participation in inter-American state actors in order to generate effective eties, both of which are good for the sta- processes but also add to, through a series solutions for the urgent social and cultural bility and health of democracy in the XXI of national and regional consultations, the concerns of our time. Century. creation of proposals and This is not easy, since it requires * Jaime Aparicio was the Bolivian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs recommendations. In this way, one of the the development of a different culture, a and is currently Executive Director of the objectives sought has been to ensure that change in mentality and a true rupture from Executive Secretariat for the Summit Process integration agendas incorporate social, political and cultural issues, so that their present-day trade and economic emphases can be overcome. On the other hand, there has been progress in joint activities and schemes founded upon a For more information on civil society participation in deep uncertainty about the Summit the Summits of the Americas process, please see: process and, more specifically, the http://www.summit-americas.org/eng-2002/civil-society.htm establishment of the FTAA. In this latter case, there has been progress through a For more information on civil society participation in strategy of confrontation. the OAS, please see: That being said, in spite of http://www.civil-society.oas.org divergences that reflect the existing heterogeneity within civil society, there also exist commonalities that could mark the beginning of a permanent dialogue that ends with the search for minimal points of consensus, which could strengthen its (this article is continued on page 4, column 2) 2 SUMMITS OF THE AMERICAS BULLETIN Civil Society Participation in the Summit Process The Participation of Indigenous Peoples after Quebec City Andrea Sanhueza* Executive Secretariat for the Summit Process Civil society participation has Following the objectives specified at the Santiago Summit of the been increasing over the past ten years. Americas, the Quebec City Plan of Action recognizes the necessity of creating It could be said that its formal origins bridges of dialogue between governments and indigenous organizations, began in 1994 when, with the initiative of communities and peoples. It asks governments to continue to develop the United States’ government to create processes that will ensure the full participation of indigenous peoples in the consultative groups for each agenda issue Inter-American system, including in the negotiations on the Draft American and ad hoc groups consisting of Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. government, civil society and private In compliance with these Summit objectives, as well as those of a sector representatives, the mandate of civil XXXI OAS General Assembly mandate that was approved shortly after society was included as a part of Miami Quebec City (AG/RES. 1780 (XXXI-O/01) American Declaration on the Summit Plan of Action. At that time, as Rights of Indigenous Peoples), a Working Group to Prepare the Draft well, a coordinator was designated within American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People was established the SIRG to be responsible for civil society and is currently being chaired by the Ambassador of Peru to the OAS, Eduardo issues, and the Civil Society Task Force Ferrero Costa. This group organized Special Sessions on March 11-15, 2002, was formulated as the group to promote in order for Member State representatives to field the comments and opinions civil society in the Summit process. of indigenous leaders on the Draft Declaration. Canada, the United States From these beginnings, and Finland contributed funds to ensure the broad participation of indigenous participation has continued, so much so representatives in these sessions.