Peru's new congresswomen participate in a July 2006 seminar, co-sponsored by International IDEA, which gave impetus to the creation of the country's first Women’s Parliamentary Caucus. The transitional government of Valentín Paniagua (2000–2001) and the subsequent administration of Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006) made significant progress, particularly in the restoration of civil liberties, the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and economic growth and stability. The election of President Alan García, (2006-2011), marked a second consecutive democratic transition of power and in 2011 Ollanta Humala was elected President.
Nevertheless, general citizen dissatisfaction and the ongoing political marginalization of large sectors of the population demonstrate that Peru’s democratic system continues to face a number of challenges.
Currently in Peru, International IDEA is working on:
- Assistance to political parties, with an emphasis on programme proposals, especially those for addressing poverty and inequity.
- Promoting dialogue, consensus building among political and social leaders
- Strengthening of capacities for political activists around the country.
- Assistance to Congress and Parlamentarian groups.
- Promoting a new National Consensus on the State, Democracy and Development, with an intercultural approach.
- Debate on proposals for legislation to ensure gender mainstreaming and the inclusion of ethnic minorities. Assistance to electoral and other public institutions to improve their technical, regulatory and oversight capabilities, especially with regard to gender equality..
- Empowerment of female political party members and parliamentarians, building their skills so they can compete with more opportunities.
International IDEA’s activities in Peru since 2002
International IDEA began sponsoring activities in Peru during the early days of the transitional government and opened a national programme office in the country in 2002.
One of International IDEA’s first actions was to join forces with several national and international organizations to publish the State of Democracy report, outlining the challenges facing Peru’s democratic system. From 2002-04, International IDEA supported the creation and activities of a Citizens for Good Governance group, which analyzed the main challenges for democracy in the country and drafted specific reform proposals.
International IDEA also supported the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, co-sponsoring a seminar entitled, “From Denial to Recognition,” which brought together experts and truth commission members from various countries around the world to discuss issues related to truth, justice and reconciliation, and releasing a publication on truth commission experiences in other countries and regions. With its Peruvian partner, Transparencia, International IDEA also sponsored meetings in seven cities around the country to gather local input from citizens for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s work.
Throughout its tenure in Peru, International IDEA has worked to ensure that policy debate on political parties and electoral reform were fully informed by gender analysis to ensure that proposals helped increase women’s political representation.
In 2002–2003, International IDEA and local partner Transparencia focused on Peru’s first-ever political party law, facilitating an Inter-Party Roundtable to assist the process. In 2004-2006, International IDEA and Transparencia initiated a project to strengthen political party systems in Peru and other Andean countries through technical cooperation, dialogue, networking and applied research. More than 1,270 political and civic leaders also participated in a training programme.
The second phase of this training began in August 2008, with four parallel programmes for active members of national and regional parties nationwide. These new programmes developed strategies to promote multi-party political dialogue and consensus building and improve the parties’ internal agendas.
This new phase involves longer-term programmes providing web-based support for participants to reinforce what they have learned, using a virtual platform: www.evirtual.com.pe/idea.
The programme also contained a built in: participants themselves become equipped to train other active members of their political organizations. By the time the second phase of the training programme ended in December 2009, more than 3,500 people had benefited directly or indirectly. At least four political organizations had also implemented party training programmes using International IDEA’s methodologies and training materials.
In 2010 and 2011, seminars and discussion and dialogue sessions were held with candidates for regional and municipal elections to enhance their government plans and create opportunities for dialogue and discussion about regional agendas.
In 2009, International IDEA launched a new initiative to strengthen parliamentary groups with research on the cohesion of party caucuses. Subsequently, it helped organize strategic planning workshops for two groups, providing important input for parties’ internal analysis. International IDEA is promoting initiatives to strengthen Congress as an institution, through debate over a multi-party proposal for congressional reform; development of a handbook for public hearings; and support for the ad hoc commission responsible for streamlining the development of legislation. International IDEA has also worked with Congress to develop proposals for legislation on electoral issues (assistance to the Constitutional Commission and Decentralisation Commission and the offices of several legislators). It has also helped political parties improve their institutional practices, inclusiveness and equality. In 2008, with assistance from International IDEA, one party became the first in Peru with statutes establishing parity.
In 2010, International IDEA implemented a technical assistance program for political parties to help them improve their programmatic proposals (government plans), within the framework of the 2010 regional and municipal elections and the 2011 national elections. IDEA also supported efforts to build consensus on regional and national goals for addressing poverty, which was spearheaded by the Consensus Round Table for the Fight against Poverty.
