May 14, 2008

Sponsor: NED

New York Democracy Forum Lecture Series

José Miguel Insulza  
"Advancing Democracy in Latin America: The Role of the OAS"

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José Miguel Insulza was elected to the post of Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) in May of 2005. At the beginning of his five-year term as Secretary General, he pledged to strengthen the Organization's "political relevance and its capacity for action." A lawyer by profession, Insulza began his career in academia and as Political Advisor to the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Following the coup that brought General Augusto Pinochet into power, Insulza went into exile for 15 years, first in Rome (1974-1980) and after that in Mexico (1981-1988), where he taught at Mexico's National Autonomous University and the Ibero-American University.

Insulza's lecture focused on how the OAS is taking the lead in strengthening democratic development and advancing democratic practices throughout the hemisphere. In particular, he will speak about three key areas of emphasis for the OAS: promoting democracy, good governance, and crisis prevention and response.

This event was presented by:

• Foreign Policy Association
• National Endowment for Democracy
• The Americas Society/Council of the Americas