Commemorating Jimmy Carter’s Legacy in the Americas
Channel: United States Institute of Peace
Date: 2023-06-24

How President Carter Advanced Democracy and Human Rights in the Region

Democracy is in decline across the Americas, as governments are undermining civil liberties and the institutions meant to protect them. How can human rights defenders protect and promote the most fundamental democratic freedoms amid this challenging environment? Drawing inspiration from history, this event will explore President Carter's response to a similar crisis during his tenure, highlighting his pioneering approach of incorporating the defense of human rights into foreign policy.

Coinciding with the Organization of American States’ (OAS) General Assembly, USIP, the Carter Center, the Inter-American Dialogue, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and the U.S. Permanent Mission to the OAS hosted a discussion of the Carter administration’s legacy defending human rights throughout the Americas and what it can teach today’s policymakers and human rights defenders.

Through a series of discussions, expert panelists analyzed the Carter administration's policies and initiatives; discussed successful interventions and lessons learned; and provided insights into the diplomatic, economic and legal tools employed by the administration to advance human rights in the Americas. By learning from history, we can pave the way for a more effective and impactful defense of human rights in the Americas today.

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/commemorating-jimmy-carters-legacy-americas

Speakers:

Luis Almagro 
Secretary General of the OAS 

Roberta Clarke
2nd Vice-President of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and Rapporteur on the Rights of LGBTI Persons, OAS, Rapporteur for the United States

Tom J. Farer  
Professor of International Relations at the Josef Korbel School, University of Denver 

Samuel Lewis 
Former Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama 

Jennie K. Lincoln
Senior Advisor for Latin America and Caribbean, The Carter Center   

Juan Mendez  
Professor of Human Rights Law, American University – Washington College of Law 

Maricarmen Plata 
Secretary for Access to Rights and Equity, OAS 

Enrique Roig
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, U.S. State Department 

Mark L. Schneider 
Senior Adviser, Americas Program and Human Rights Initiative, CSIS 

Juan Gabriel Valdés 
Ambassador of Chile to the United States   

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The United States Institute of Peace is a national, nonpartisan, independent institute, founded by Congress and dedicated to the proposition that a world without violent conflict is possible, practical and essential for U.S. and global security. In conflict zones abroad, the Institute works with local partners to prevent, mitigate, and resolve violent conflict. To reduce future crises and the need for costly interventions, USIP works with governments and civil societies to build local capacities to manage conflict peacefully. The Institute pursues its mission by linking research, policy, training, analysis and direct action to support those who are working to build a more peaceful, inclusive world. Learn more about USIP: https://www.usip.org/about