On December 1, the Congress of the Republic of Peru awarded NDI with an honorary diploma in recognition of NDI’s contribution to the strengthening of democracy in Peru. Luis Iberico Núñez, the head of Parliament, presided over the ceremony, which took place in the Peruvian house of congress. NDI Resident Director Victor Rojas received the award on behalf of NDI. NDI Chair Madeleine Albright provided the following statement:

As Chair of the National Democratic Institute, it is with great honor and appreciation that NDI accepts this diploma of recognition for support to democratic activists and institutions in Peru. For more than 30 years, NDI has worked with national partners in 132 countries and territories, bringing together individuals and groups to share ideas, knowledge, and experiences to address common challenges and to build more effective, responsive and inclusive democracies. NDI began its work in Latin America by supporting the successful Chilean free election movement, which stopped efforts to extend Pinochet's rule in the 1988 referendum. Since then, NDI has worked with political parties, legislatures and civil society organizations to strengthen electoral processes and address the need for improved accountability, citizen participation and transparency in governance throughout the region.

NDI is especially grateful for the opportunity to work in support of these objectives in Peru over the past 15 years. Beginning in 1994, NDI began sharing ideas and comparative international experiences that contributed to the formation of Transparencia, the first Peruvian independent nonpartisan national election observation group. In 2000 and 2001, NDI collaborated with The Carter Center to conduct election observation missions in Peru during the government of Alberto Fujimori. For the 2001 electoral process, the presence of NDI and The Carter Center helped contribute to establishing the necessary conditions and international support for credible elections. I was pleased to have led one of these many pre-election and election day observation missions during a critical juncture in Peru’s democracy.

Peru was an active participant in NDI’s Regional Political Leadership Program aimed at strengthening the skills of emerging young political leaders across the democratic ideological spectrum. Many of the Leadership Program graduates from Peru have since gone on to serve as elected officials, in government and as party leaders. NDI has also worked with legislators and political parties to advance governing accords on important policy issues including, poverty reduction, health care, electoral transparency and citizen security. Peruvian political and civic leaders have also actively supported NDI democracy-strengthening programs in other countries, generously sharing their knowledge and experience with others facing similar challenges.

NDI is deeply honored to receive recognition today from the Congress. It has been a privilege to have worked in partnership with Peruvian civic groups to strengthen their democracy during many historic periods. These groups, such as Transparencia and Reflexión Democratica, are equally deserving of recognition for their hard work and dedication to advancing democracy in Peru.

As U.S. President John F. Kennedy once said: “Democracy is never a final achievement. It is a call to an untiring effort.” As Peruvians press forward with the task of consolidating and strengthening their democratic institutions and processes, NDI hopes to remain a steady partner and resource in this on-going endeavor. Thank you again for this recognition. 

Published on December 14, 2015.