Carter Center Sends Political Mission to Observe Bolivia's Constitutional Referendum

(Read in Spanish)

 
Jan. 21, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:
In Atlanta, Deborah Hakes,  404-420-5124 or dhakes@emory.edu
In Bolivia, Hugo Quintana, 591-77553849 or moe.centrocarter@gmail.com
 

The Carter Center will deploy a small political mission to observe Bolivia's constitutional referendum on Jan. 25. The group includes former Foreign Minister of Ecuador Maria Isabel Salvador, former Judge of the Electoral Tribunal of Brazil Torquato Jardim, Vice President of Carter Center Peace Programs John Stremlau, and other expert observers. Jennifer McCoy, director of the Americas Program at The Carter Center, is head of mission and special envoy of former U.S President Jimmy Carter.
 
The mission, which responds to an invitation made by the National Electoral Court (CNE), is limited in its role and will not make a comprehensive observation, which would require long-term observers in the country. The group will monitor whether the referendum follows the country's electoral code and observe overall transparency, impartiality, and integrity of the process, as well as the political climate. Upon its completion, the mission will issue a final report to the CNE, the Bolivian people, and the international community.
 
Since September 2007, The Carter Center has had a field office in Bolivia to provide assistance in conflict-management training and media relations.  The Center has provided training in conflict management to approximately 3,000 participants from different civic organizations, social groups, departmental authorities, and young political leaders across the country. The Center's permanent representative in Bolivia, Alejandro Nato, also participated in the observation of the National Dialogue in October 2008. 
 
The Carter Center conducts election observation activities in a nonpartisan, professional manner in accordance with applicable law and international standards for election observation as set forth in the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation. The Center coordinates closely with other international and domestic observer delegations and publishes its statements on its Web site: www.cartercenter.org.

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A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in more than 70 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; improving mental health care; and teaching farmers in developing nations to increase crop production. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.

Referéndum Constitucional
25 de enero de 2009, República de Bolivia
Misión Internacional de Observación
Electoral enviada por Jimmy Carter