Germany Supports OAS on New Project Worth $200,000
As part of its longstanding cooperation with the Organization of American States (OAS), Germany is supporting a new project to integrate a gender perspective into OAS electoral observation missions. The project will receive funding amounting to approximately $200,000 in 2009 and 2010. The main objective is to promote the equal participation of women and men in the political process within OAS member states. By analyzing and developing the methodology of election monitoring, the project will place a special emphasis on the needs of women during the election process. Their role as voters, candidates, and within the electoral bodies and political parties shall be examined to identify and remedy shortcomings.
The OAS is a multilateral institution in which the countries of the Western Hemisphere have coalesced to promote democracy, human rights, security, and development in the American states. An important part of its activities entails supporting electoral systems and institutions as well as assisting in democratic elections through, among other ways, the deployment of electoral observation missions.
Germany has been a permanent observer at the OAS since 1972. In the past years, Germany has increasingly supported OAS projects. German contributions in 2008 increased 163 percent relative to the previous year. Germany was also the third largest donor of the OAS in 2008, with a total contribution amount of nearly $2.5 million.
