Peace Programs

Why does the Americas Program focus its work in four countries: Ecuador, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Venezuela?

The Carter Center has worked in many countries in the region but has a history of engagement with four countries in particular: Bolivia since 2002, Ecuador since 1998, Nicaragua since 1989, and Venezuela since 1998. The Americas Program continues to be engaged in these countries because of the rapid changes their societies are experiencing.

All four focus countries are led by elected leaders seeking to transform their countries to address poverty and inequality within a reformulated democratic framework. They each claim to represent previously marginalized sectors of society and in some cases represent a fundamental shift in power relations of their societies. As their countries undergo potentially contentious constitutional reform and debate over the very meaning of democracy and how to organize it to be inclusive, representative of diverse populations, and efficient, the Americas Program hopes to help them do so in ways that are peaceful and tolerant and that respect human rights.