The LVIII legislative body of the H. Congreso de la Unión (the Honorable Union Congress of the Mexican Republic), through the Comisión de Participación Ciudadana (Citizen Participation Commission) of the Chamber of Representatives, in coordination with the Presidency of the Republic, through the Secretaría de Gobernación (Ministry of the Interior) and the Centro Nacional de Desarrollo Municipal (National Centre for Municipal Development), and the Universidad de las Américas-Puebla invite you to participate in the First International Forum of Social Participation, to be held at the Cancún Convention Centre, on September 12th and 13th, 2002.

The main objective of this event is to explore concepts, experiences and the social participation culture in Mexico, as well as to consider propositions for the Mexican State's future reform to encourage a truly Participating Democracy. The forum will serve as a setting for discussions by important personalities from the political and academic worlds, and from civil society, at a national and international level, to come together to exchange and analyze their experiences in order to enhance the legislative system and offer suggestions for the design of public policies related to civic participation.

The First International Forum of Social Participation is a platform to promote the mechanisms of citizen participation and recognize local actors as the most important base for balanced regional development, national unity and the promotion of public administration efficiency. This unique event will give the participants the opportunity to exchange experiences and track the trends in participating democracy in the world. Moreover, the analysis, the discussions and the results of this encounter will promote the concept of citizen participation as a factor that strengthens the necessary conditions to sustain democratic governance and accountability in Mexico.

The forum is focused on reaching municipal presidents, local legislators, state government officials, political parties, members of civil and academic organizations, all of whom as a result of their participation in Cancun in September will contribute to the maturity of the democratic process in Mexico. The conference program will be divided into four main work areas: Organized Civil Society, its participation and relation with the State; Civic Participation Structures in Municipalities; Education for Civic Participation; and The State's Reform for Participating Democracy.