Democracy is much more than just periodically going to vote and electing authorities. It is about collectively building a society and a political system based on respect for diversity, without violence, where it is acknowledged that the path to development goes hand in hand with the defense of democratic institutions. In these elections, let’s keep in mind 40 years of learning as a society. Let’s not throw away the democracy we have worked so hard to achieve.
Over the past 40 years, in Argentina we have learned to respect differences, to value the plurality of voices, to prefer dialogue to violence. This democratic compact was embodied in Nunca Más (Never Again), and from there – albeit with obstacles and many pending issues – we have made progress in more rights for more people. This society voted in 30 elections that reliably reflect the will of the electorate. It is an electoral system we can trust.
Today, the undersigned civil society organizations are concerned about how the electoral contest is taking place amidst offensive and discriminatory propositions, hate speech and political violence.
This kind of rhetoric is unacceptable and promotes a departure from the democratic compact that we have worked so hard to uphold. The idea, which we thought was outdated, that a political adversary is an enemy takes us back to our worst times and can only bring chaos and violence to our daily lives.
There is no doubt that Argentina’s democracy has debts to pay. As such, our new democratic compact – the one for the next 40 years – must incorporate a solid foundation to foster development and, in addition, promote practices that bring public institutions closer to citizens in order to improve life for everyone. Democracy is improved with more democracy.
Abogadas y abogados del Noroeste Argentino en Derechos Humanos y Estudios Sociales (Andhes)
Amnistía Internacional Argentina
ARDA (Asociación de Reducción de Daños de Argentina)
Asociación Conciencia
Asociación Pensamiento Penal
CAREF
Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS)
Centro de Implementación de Políticas Públicas para la Equidad y el Crecimiento (Cippec)
Democracia en Red
Equipo Latinoamericano de Justicia y Género (ELA)
Escuela de fiscales
Fundación Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (FARN)
Fundación Cambio Democrático
Fundación Huésped
Fundar
Fundeps
Greenpeace Argentina
INECIP
Intercambios
Nuestra Mendoza
Poder Ciudadano
Proyecto Educar 2050
RACI
Red por los Derechos de las Personas con Discapacidad (REDI)
Reset, políticas de drogas y Derechos Humanos
Salta Transparente
Xumek Mendoza