Promote research and publications on electoral matters, taking advantage of the possibility of including them in the different electoral bodies and in publications that can be channeled through CAPEL; and, the improvement of the Electoral Network was promoted in order to establish computerized connection channels through the web pages of the member bodies.

Topics discussed in the sessions:

• Electoral Observation and International Technical Assistance. Lessons Learnt

In order to learn about the diversity of voting modalities, it was agreed to systematize this information for the benefit of all UNIORE members. Furthermore, in order to strengthen relations among member countries, it was agreed to review cooperation initiatives and adopt a standard framework of reference based on the development of best practices, an implementation methodology and evaluation mechanisms.

Topics discussed in the sessions:

• New forms of exercising voting as an evolution of the rules of political participation

In order to have protocols and instruments that help to foresee conflictive situations derived from electoral results, the initiatives for the exchange of information on electoral jurisprudence were expanded through the contribution of databases and the planning of academic activities.

Topics discussed in the sessions:

• Electoral Organizations as agents of change, within the framework of their legal and constitutional competencies

Emphasizes the central role that education plays as an instrument for confronting the challenges that globalization and national realities present to the countries of the Americas. The creation of an Inter-American Data Bank with the constitutional, legal and regulatory norms on political parties was suggested and promoted - with a view to carrying out a comparative analysis of their internal democratization processes and mechanisms.

Topics discussed in the sessions:

• Citizenship and Political Culture in a Globalized World
• Quality of Democracy and Political Actors
• The Political Party System and the Validity of Democracy
• Dilemmas in the Search for the Quality of Democracy
• Challenges for and Strengthening of the Political Parties

Affirming the central role of education in and for democracy in future plans to consolidate the continent's political systems, it was agreed to contribute to the design of local and regional programs for the development of civic education. Also, it was agreed to use the technical resources of the Ibero-American Integrated Information System (SIII) to create specialized modules on electoral justice.

Topics discussed in the sessions:

• Challenges and perspectives of democracy towards the 21st century
• Electoral Reform in Latin America. Analysis of Cases
• Political Parties as Mediators between Popular Demand and Power

Adopt the necessary legal and administrative measures to facilitate the full exercise of suffrage to all those persons with some type of physical disability; and, the sum of efforts for the development of an Integrated Ibero-Inter-American Information System (SIII), for the service of UNIORE members, with the incorporation of databases containing the following information: electoral legislation of the Ibero-American countries, information on electoral and civil statistics and political-electoral, social, economic and human rights information, with emphasis on political rights.

Topics discussed in the sessions:

• Financing of Political Parties and Candidates
• Expenditure Control and Verification. Accountability
• Conflict Prevention and Resolution

In order to provide horizontal cooperation, it was agreed to establish a Bank of Electoral Experts made up of officials specialized in the different technical areas of the Electoral Bodies. It was also reiterated the need to continue with training programs for electoral officials in order to give continuity to a system that contributes to the institutional strengthening of the members of the Union and, as a legal guarantee for their professionalization, to promote in each of the member countries the enactment of a Career Law for Electoral Officials.

Topics discussed in the sessions:

• The trilogy: system of government, electoral system and party system
• Limitations of constitutional engineering
• Democratic order from a comparative perspective