A crusade has begun in the country for the configuration of a Culture of Legality that will make it possible to confront the evils that have afflicted us in recent years. To this end, it is important to point out some areas in which the Culture of Legality can have an impact:
The first has to do with the strengthening of identity, understood as a complex process composed of cultural, historical, social and political aspects. This process has to do with a continuous and dynamic construction that requires the active participation and commitment of the whole society.
Among the aspects that contribute to the strengthening of a country's identity are civic education, cultural diversity, heritage preservation, promotion of cultural tourism, respect for human rights, democracy, social justice, the construction of narratives, pluralistic dialogue, among others. In addition to this, basic principles such as the rule of law, accountability, cooperation and common welfare are added; fundamentals that allow a cohesive functioning of a society, common welfare and peaceful coexistence.
A second area to highlight in relation to the Culture of Legality has to do with democracy. A democratic system is strengthened to the extent that respect for the rule of law is guaranteed, individual rights and freedoms, justice and equality are protected, corruption and abuse of power are prevented, thus encouraging citizen participation in democratic life.
In the legislative arena, the concept of open parliament refers to a focus on transparency, citizen participation and accountability. This concept opens the doors of the legislative process to the citizenry, allowing greater participation in decision-making and greater oversight of parliamentary activities to ensure that policies and laws reflect the interests and needs of society as a whole.
When referring to the strengthening of democracy, trust in institutions is a central element, since the country is going through hard times, as a result of corruption and the incursion of organized crime. The Culture of Legality seeks to generate confidence in government institutions and the judicial system as guarantors of citizens' rights and freedoms. The establishment of shared norms and values that unite citizens around a democratic and just system of government will allow for a cohesive society, generating a sense of belonging and solidarity, thus strengthening national identity.
A third area linked to the Culture of Legality is that of communication. In the era of collaboration, this set of values, norms and attitudes takes on greater importance due to global interconnection and the spread of technologies that facilitate collaboration between individuals, organizations and countries. This implies being clear about respect for international rules and regulations, the protection of data and privacy, compliance with contracts and agreements, the prevention of cybercrime and fraud, and the promotion of ethics in research and project development.
Communication then becomes a determining instrument for strengthening the Culture of Legality by providing information, promoting ethical values, encouraging citizen participation, increasing transparency and accountability, denouncing corruption and promoting justice and equality through awareness campaigns, the generation of documentaries, investigative reports and testimonies. In this sense, it is essential to use communication tools in a strategic and ethical manner in order to build fairer, safer and more democratic societies.
The path towards a Culture of Legality requires a comprehensive approach that addresses various social, institutional and educational aspects, through concrete actions such as raising awareness through educational programs, training public officials in ethics, strengthening transparency and access to information, strengthening the judicial system by guaranteeing its independence in the application of the law, citizen participation through the creation of councils, oversight committees and public consultations on government policies and decisions.
In addition, the promotion of ethics in the private sector through the adoption of business codes of conduct, the implementation of compliance programs and collaboration with civil society organizations. Also, the fight against corruption through the strengthening of effective control mechanisms and a culture of accountability; the promotion of individual responsibility and respect for laws and social norms through public awareness campaigns, ethical leadership programs and the recognition of good citizen practices.
The construction of a Culture of Legality is essential to promote a better social coexistence by fostering respect for the rules, preventing conflicts, promoting justice and equality, strengthening trust in institutions, promoting individual responsibility and encouraging citizen participation.
The crusade to strengthen the culture of legality deserves the support of all citizens who seek a solution to the hard times our society is going through. The implementation of a new system of values will allow us to build safe, inclusive and prosperous communities in the medium and long term. For all these reasons, contributing with concrete actions towards a Culture of Legality is and will be a task for all of us.
Universidad Espíritu Santo (UEES), began its academic activities in 1994 as a private, self-financed, non-profit institution. Its spirit of commitment and constant innovation are present in the quality of the service it offers to its community.
