GFDD and FUNGLODE Hold OAS Lecture on the Present and Future of the Hemisphere

OAS representatives addressed a wide audience on the Present and Future of the Hemisphere, on a discussion panel held at FUNGLODE auditorium on March 6, 2006.

Mrs. Irene Kingler, OAS External Relations Director, made a presentation on the New Priorities of the OAS, while Mrs. Bertha Santoscoy, OAS Representative in the
Dominican Republic, talked on the Interamerican System for Human Rights Protection. Mrs. Elizabeth Spehar, Director of the Department of Democracy Promotion of the OAS, focused her presentation on the Election Observing Missions and the Haitian experience; Mr. Steven Griner, talked on Strengthening of Democracy and Good Governance; and Ambassador Roberto Alvarez, Chief of the Dominican Mission to the OAS, gave a lecture on how the OAS Permanent Council works.

Mrs. Natasha Despotovic, Executive Director of Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), moderated the discussion that followed the lectures. In her approach to the audience, Mrs. Despotovic highlighted the achievements attained through alliances with international organizations as the OAS, and the Ministries of Education
and Higher Education, Science and Technology in the Dominican Republic. Within this ongoing collaboration, GFDD/FUNGLODE have spearheaded several projects implemented by the OAS, like training of in-service teachers and the adoption of electronic government that favors transparency and better practices in the procurement process and cuts redtape in the relationship between the administration and citizens in general.