Nov. 9, 2004	Press Contact: William Harms (773) 702-8356 w-harms@uchicago.edu
Center for Latin American Studies presents Venezuela and the Social Charter of the Americas     Additional Contact: Contact: Patrick Eccles clas@uchicago.edu 773-702-8420   What: Mr. Fermín Toro, Venezuela’s Ambassador to the United Nations; and Mr. Jorge Valero, Venezuela’s Ambassador to the Organization of American States, will be in the city of Chicago on November 18 to participate in a panel discussion on Venezuela and the proposed Social Charter of the Americas at the University of Chicago. Prof. Alicia Menendez, University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy will provide comment and moderate discussion of the presentation. Venezuela's internal political situation, the country's recent efforts to promote Latin American integration, and its role in the rebuilding of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), has been the matter of discussion in U.S. economic, academic and government circles. When: Thursday, November 18, 2004 6:30 pm Where: University of Chicago International House Home Room 1414 E. 59th Street Background on the Social Charter of the Americas: The Organization of American States (OAS) has recognized through its Inter-American Democratic Charter that poverty, illiteracy and low levels of human development have a negative effect in the consolidation of democracy in the Americas. To address those issues, Venezuela put forward the initiative to draft a Social Charter aimed at implementing social and economic policies in each member country, to meet the Millennium Development Goals adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in September 2000 for the reduction of extreme poverty by the year 2015. The Social Charter of the Americas was proposed to the 34th General Assembly of the OAS by Venezuela’s Ambassador to the OAS, Jorge Valero in June 2004. The Charter should reflect contributions from civil society groups, and not just from the governments of the member countries. Human rights groups, union representatives, farmers, students and non-governmental organizations are holding meetings throughout the Americas aimed at submitting proposals to be included the Charter. The resulting document will be submitted to the OAS. A draft can be downloaded at http://www.venezuela-oas.org/SocialCharteroftheAmericas.htm. Both Ambassadors will be available for interviews on the Social Charter and Venezuela’s current political and economic situation. To arrange for interviews, please contact: Consulate General of Venezuela in Chicago ATT: Consul Isannia Delgado 20 N Wacker Dr. Suite 1925 Chicago, IL 60606 Tel: (312) 236-9655 / (312) 236-9659 Fax: (312) 580-1010 Email: venechic1@netzero.net   http://www-news.uchicago.edu/releases/04/041109.venezuela.shtml Last modified at 11:14 AM CST on Tuesday, November 09, 2004.
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