Latin America and the Caribbean Program Highlights (2008)

Notwithstanding the advance and relative stability of democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean, important democratic deficits still exist, particularly in the area of rule of law. This weakness leads to widespread impunity and corruption, lack of transparency and accountability in government, and ineffective public policies. Together, these elements play upon each other to bring about one of the region's most serious challenges: amplified violence and domestic and international crime.

Over the course of 2008, support for democracy varied throughout the region and five countries experienced democratic declines. In Bolivia, the prolonged confrontation that marked the constitutional process and the debate over territorial autonomy resulted in acute polarization and internal conflict, leading to a number of dead and wounded in the department of Pando. In Colombia, despite impressive advances in fighting guerrillas and narcotraffickers, internally displaced populations and extrajudicial killings increased.

Nicaragua experienced intense political polarization, further concentration of power in the executive, and reduced autonomy in the other branches of power, as well as attacks against independent civil society organizations and the media. The November local elections were marred by harassment and disqualification of opposition candidates and parties and credible allegations of widespread, government-instigated fraud.

In Mexico, both the state and citizens are confronting unprecedented levels of violence and crime associated with narcotrafficking and criminal gangs, which caused more than 6,000 violent deaths in 2008. In Venezuela, the rule of law further deteriorated due to corruption, personalistic rule, a lack of division of power, and restrictions on freedom of expression and assaults upon journalists. The November regional elections were stained by the politically-motivated disqualification of opposition candidates and the massive use of public resources to favor government candidates.

The most prominent democratic progress in 2008 took place in Paraguay. In the country's first truly competitive elections, current President Fernando Lugo and his coalition defeated the ruling Colorado Party- ending over 60 years of continuous rule, including 35 under the dictatorship of General Alfredo Stroessner. This shift invigorated Paraguayan society and raised hopes for a more pluralistic, free, and fair society.

Almost half of NED-supported core institute and discretionary programs were carried out in the Andean region. In Bolivia, NED programs aimed to diminish political, regional, and ethnic polarization by: improving dialogue and conflict resolution; providing objective and pluralistic information on constitutional reform efforts; enhancing the accountability of local governments and improving relations with civil society; and fostering the rights and participation of under-represented sectors such as indigenous youth and women.

In Colombia, grants were awarded to strengthen civil society’s capacity to promote government accountability and transparency at the national, regional, and local levels; to improve good governance at the municipal level; to bolster civic participation and protections of human rights, focusing on under-represented sectors such as Afro- Colombians and victims of the internal armed conflict; and to foster freedom of expression and access to information.

NED programs in Ecuador focused on improving transparency, accountability, and citizen participation at the local level; promoting inclusion and political participation of Afro- Ecuadorian communities, women, refugees, and indigenous youth; bridging the regional and political divide through national and cross-regional dialogue and consensus building; and promoting informed participation of political parties, NGOs, and citizens in the constitutional reform process.

Programs in Peru promoted good governance and transparency; enhanced participation of under-represented sectors such as Afro-Peruvians, indigenous women, and youth; bolstered the independence of the judiciary; and encouraged political parties and regional organizations to develop pro-poor public policies.

In Venezuela, grants were awarded to advance dialogue, consensus building, and conflict resolution between political parties, community leaders, and citizens to overcome political polarization; strengthen civil society organizations and civic participation to bolster civilian oversight of government; advance protection of human rights and promote the rights and participation of indigenous communities, women, and youth; and defend freedom of expression and support independent media.

In Mexico and Central America, NED awarded grants in El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Nicaragua. In Mexico, programs focused on boosting citizen participation and good governance at the sub-national level; supporting efforts to improve citizen security; promoting the rights and political inclusion of traditionally marginalized sectors such as indigenous communities and women; and defending freedom of expression.

In Guatemala, programs were aimed at advancing citizen security, combating impunity, and enhancing access to justice; bolstering participation and leadership of women and youth; and strengthening the capacity of local and national government institutions, improving their effectiveness and transparency through civil society oversight.

In Nicaragua, NED grants focused on promoting citizen participation and coalition-building at the local level; encouraging government transparency and accountability through citizen oversight; conducting trainings on democratic values and the rule of law; and promoting the rights and participation of under-represented populations, such as indigenous communities of the Atlantic Coast. NED supported programs in El Salvador to improve the transparency and credibility of the 2009 municipal, legislative, and presidential elections and to strengthen the capacity of political parties to respond to citizen concerns.

In the Caribbean, NED supported programs in Cuba and Haiti. Cuba-related programs focused on breaking the information blockade imposed by the regime by supporting the production and dissemination of timely journals, providing independent radio programming and promoting pluralistic debates; fostering international solidarity and supplying humanitarian aid to activists, dissidents, and political prisoners and their families; and strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations and activists such as independent workers, journalists, educators, and Afro-Cubans.

Programs in Haiti are empowering local-level and grassroots civil society organizations serving as interlocutors with the international community and governments authorities; improving relations between local elected officials and civil society groups; and reinforcing citizen security through trainings in conflict prevention, human rights, and peace building in conflict-ridden communities.

In the Southern Cone, NED awarded grants in both Argentina and Paraguay. In Argentina, programs supported civil society organizations and politicians in the provinces; enhanced checks and balances both inside the provincial governments and between the provincial and national governments; and promoted the rights and participation of citizens in poor neighborhoods of Buenos Aires. In Paraguay, NED-supported projects encouraged citizen participation and the development of new civil society organizations; promoted transparency, accountability, and citizen oversight of government; and improved access to justice.

NED paid special attention to regional issues, supporting programs addressing all of the following:

• training in human rights law and using the Inter-American System for Human Rights;
• promoting transparency and independence of the judicial branch;
• strengthening the oversight capacity of civil society in civil-military relations, defense, and security;
• promoting a democratic social agenda to tackle inequality and poverty;
• consolidating a network of civil society organizations and activists to support democracy;
• providing an effective voice to civil society in regional forums such as the Organization of American States and the Summit of the Americas
• assessing local government accountability and transparency;
• defending freedom of expression and access to information;
• strengthening democratic unions;
• promoting regional think tanks and good governance corps, and;
• consolidating regional party networks and leadership programs.