What are the OAS’s nine recommendations for Rodrigo Paz’s government?

The Organization of American States has presented Bolivia’s government with nine recommendations after its high-level mission visited the country at the end of July.

The proposals begin with a call for a broad agreement supporting democratically established mandates and Bolivia’s constitutional order. Social demands, the recommendations say, should be pursued without violence or attempts to alter democratic institutions and their mandates.

The OAS also calls for a permanent, plural dialogue mechanism linking the state with Indigenous, rural, labor, business and civil society organizations. An inclusive process should help prevent social conflicts early, strengthen the rule of law and democratic institutions, and protect both the right to protest and the movement of essential goods and services.

The recommendations seek effective participation by Indigenous and rural organizations in laws and public policies that directly affect them. They also call for protection of peaceful protest while safeguarding other people’s rights to life, health, food, freedom of movement and access to essential services. Proposed measures include protecting critical infrastructure and establishing humanitarian and logistical corridors during future protests.

On the economy, the OAS urges measures to support recovery, including regulations that attract investment and strengthen the resilience of productive, commercial and service sectors. It also recommends stronger guarantees for journalism and freedom of expression, including an access-to-public-information law consistent with inter-American standards.

The final recommendations call for deeper investigations into violence during the period of conflict, with due process and respect for victims and defendants. They also propose strengthening the ombudsman’s monitoring, mediation, prevention and crisis-management capabilities, while considering a reform to make Bolivia’s justice system more transparent.