Celebrating the Inter-American Democratic Charter: Advancing Democracy and Prosperity in the Americas

International IDEA, the Embassy of Switzerland to the United States and The Organization of American States (OAS), convened a high-level gathering on 31 October 2025 in the Hall of the Americas of the OAS to commemorate 24 years of the Inter-American Democratic Charter and 30 years since the founding of International IDEA. The event, “The Inter-American Democratic Charter: The Promise of Democracy and Prosperity for the Western Hemisphere,” brought together senior officials, diplomats, academics, and policy leaders in Washington DC for a focused discussion on the nexus between democratic resilience and shared prosperity.

Opening remarks were delivered by OAS Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin, Chile’s Permanent Representative and Chair of the Permanent Council Ambassador Tomás Ignacio Pascual Ricke, and Minister Adrian Hauri, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Swiss Embassy. Their statements underscored the Charter’s continued significance and reaffirmed the collective responsibility to strengthen democratic governance across the hemisphere.

The keynote address, “The Democratic Prerequisite: Building Resilient Institutions for Shared Prosperity,” was delivered by Nobel laureate and MIT professor Daron Acemoglu. Moderated by Gerardo de Icaza, Director of the OAS Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation, the discussion highlighted how institutional quality, accountability, and inclusive political systems shape economic and social outcomes. Dr Acemoglu emphasized that democracies thrive when citizens trust institutions and when governance structures are designed to deliver measurable improvements in people’s lives. When that does not happen, people tend to lose trust in democracy.  

Following a brief intermission, a panel titled “Delivering on Democracy: Pathways to Inclusive Growth and Institutional Resilience” brought together Jason Marczak of the Atlantic Council, Ana María Ibáñez of the Inter-American Development Bank, and Guatemala’s Permanent Representative, Ambassador Claudia Escobar Mejía. Moderated by OAS Assistant Secretary General Laura Gil, the session explored strategies to reinforce democratic institutions, address inequality, and counteract rising disinformation and political fatigue in the region.

Closing remarks were delivered by Annika Silva-Leander, Head of North America and Permanent Observer to the UN for International IDEA, and Sebastián Kraljevich, OAS Secretary for Strengthening Democracy. Silva-Leander stressed that democracy remains the strongest foundation for human development and equality, citing International IDEA’s latest data showing democracies outperforming non-democracies on basic welfare, equality, and corruption indicators. She called for renewed investment in democratic institutions, civic education, and digital resilience, emphasizing that democracy functions as critical societal infrastructure requiring constant care and modernization.

Collectively, the event reaffirmed the Charter’s vision: that democracy and prosperity are inseparable, and that a stronger democratic future for the Americas depends on inclusive institutions capable of delivering tangible progress for all citizens.