Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy

Since two years, a group of political youth representatives have been involved in a series of meetings in the country with the purpose of multiparty dialogue. The programme “Democratic dialogue for the youth” consisted of 27 workshops and trainings in the nine departments of Bolivia. During these sessions, youth representatives of different political parties were trained to conduct a dialogue with a view to overcome political differences and foster appreciation of ethnic and regional diversity in Bolivia.

The event, which was attended by a delegation of NIMD staff and Director Roel von Meijenfeldt, started with a presentation of the video, which provided an impression of the dialogue sessions. Youth project coordinator Yerko Rodríquez Flores emphasized the importance of creating a democratic culture of dialogue in Bolivia: “The current political generation recovered democracy 27 years ago, and now it is our responsibility, the next generation, to make this democracy work”.

The need for dialogue

In his speech, NIMD Director Roel von Meijenfeldt underscored the need for dialogue in Bolivia, a country that has faced many political conflicts on national and regional level. A democratic culture is not only created by voting, but by talking and accepting diversity. He concluded suggested that “in order to be a democrat, you have to organize and make your dreams come true, and never allow yourself to accept violence and corruption.”With this programme, Mr von Meijenfeldt concluded, the political youth of Bolivia have demonstrated a great interest in contributing to democracy.

In the coming years, the youth programme will set out to focus on the renovation of the political system in Bolivia. In January 2009, a new Constitution was approved by a majority of around 60% of the population. In December 2009, presidential and parliamentary elections will take place, after which the new Constitution will come into effect.

Youth parliament

Making use of the newly introduced right of public participation in law-making, the youth programme will develop proposals for a new law on political parties and a law on education. The programme will also seek to establish a National Youth Parliament, start a training programme for young political leaders, and initiate activities aimed at improving the political participation of women. Finally, it will continue its series of democratic dialogue on issues that particularly involve the youth.

The multiparty youth programme is an initiative of the Bolivian Foundation for Multiparty Democracy (FBDM) in La Paz, Bolivia. Founded by NIMD in 2003, has come to serve as a nonpartisan platform for democratic dialogue, governed and owned by the political parties themselves.