Civil Society Handbook-English - OASEnglish).pdf · 2010. 6. 16. · civil society to inform and respond to critical issues in the inter-American system and contribute to the initiatives

Manualfor CivilSociety

Participationin OAS

Activities

Organization of American States

OAS Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Manual for civil society participation in OAS activities.p. : ill. ; cm.

ISBN 978-0-8270-5425-7

1. Organization of American States. 2. Civil society—America—Handbooks, manuals, etc. 3.Non-governmental organizations. 4. Political participation—America. 5. Responsibility—Political aspects. 6. Responsibility—Social aspects. I. Organization ofAmerican States. Department of International Affairs.JZ5340.M36 2010 (E)

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The text contained in this publication does not necessarily represent the views of theMember States or their representatives.

Abbreviations 2Preface 3

The Organization of American States and Civil Society 4Bodies of the OAS 5

General Assembly 5Councils of the OAS 5General Secretariat 6

Pillars of the OAS 7Strengthening Democracy and Access to Justice 7Promotion and Protection of Human Rights 10Multidimensional Security 11Integral Development 13

Specialized Organizations and Other Entities 16

Principles and Means of Civil Society Participation in OAS Activities 18Civil Society Participation in OAS Activities 18Registration of Civil Society Organizations in the OAS 20

Requirements for CSO Registration 20Benefits of Registration 20Registration Procedures 21

Mechanisms of Civil Society Participation in OAS-related Meetings 22Participation in Meetings of the Permanent Council, CIDI, and their Subsidiary Bodies 22

Procedures for Civil Society Participation in OAS-related Meetings 23Cooperation Agreements 24

Procedures for Cooperation Agreements between Civil Society Organizations and the OAS 25

Summits of the Americas and Civil Society 26Summit Follow-Up Mechanisms 27Opportunities for Civil Society Participation in the Summits Process 27Civil Society in the Summits of the Americas 28

First Summit of the Americas – Miami, Florida, United States 28Summit on Sustainable Development – Santa Cruz, Bolivia 28Second Summit of the Americas – Santiago, Chile 28Third Summit of the Americas – Quebec City, Canada 29Special Summit of the Americas – Monterrey, Mexico 29Fourth Summit of the Americas – Mar del Plata, Argentina 30Fifth Summit of the Americas – Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago 30

Table of Contents

MANUAL FOR CIVIL SOCIETY PARTICIPATION IN OAS ACTIVITIES

MANUAL FOR CIVIL SOCIETY PARTICIPATION IN OAS ACTIVITIES2

OAS DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

OAS Organization of American StatesCSO Civil Society Organization(s)CIDI Inter-American Council for Integral Development of the OASCAJP Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs of the Permanent Council of the OASCAAP Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Affairs of the Permanent Council of the OASCHS Committee on Hemispheric Security of the Permanent Council of the OASCISC Committee on Inter-American Summits Management and Civil Society Participation in OAS

Activities of the Permanent Council CEPCIDI Permanent Executive Committee of the Inter-American Council for Integral DevelopmentDIA Department of International Affairs SER Secretariat for External RelationsSPA Secretariat for Political AffairsDECO Department of Electoral Cooperation and ObservationDSDSM Department of Sustainable Democracy and Special MissionsDSMG Department of State Modernization and GovernanceSLA Secretariat for Legal AffairsREMJA Meetings of Ministers of Justice or of Ministers or Attorneys General of the AmericasIACHR Inter-American Commission on Human RightsSMS Secretariat for Multidimensional SecurityCICAD Inter-American Drug Abuse Control CommissionMEM Multilateral Evaluation MechanismOID Inter-American Observatory on DrugsCICTE Inter-American Committee against TerrorismCIFTA Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms,

Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related MaterialsDPS Department of Public SecuritySEDI Executive Secretariat for Integral DevelopmentFEMCIDI Special Multilateral Fund of the Inter-American Council for Integral DevelopmentDHDEC Department of Human Development, Education and CultureDEDTT Department of Economic Development, Trade and TourismSICE Foreign Trade Information SystemIIN Inter-American Children’s InstituteCIM Inter-American Commission of WomenJSCA Justice Studies Center of the AmericasMESICIC Inter-American Program for Cooperation and the Follow-up Mechanism for the

Implementation of the Inter-American Convention against CorruptionDSD Department of Sustainable DevelopmentIIHR Inter-American Institute of Human RightsCJI Inter-American Juridical CommitteeCITEL Inter-American Telecommunications CommissionPCC Permanent Consultative CommitteesCIP Inter-American Committee on PortsCARICOM Caribbean CommunityPAHO Pan American Health OrganizationIICA Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on AgricultureIDB Inter-American Development BankECLAC UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the CaribbeanCAF Andean Development CorporationSIRG Summit Implementation Review GroupJSWG Joint Summit Working GroupCABEI Central American Bank for Economic IntegrationCDB Caribbean Development BankIOM International Organization for MigrationILO International Labor OrganizationICA Institute for Connectivity in the Americas

Abbreviations

Article 6 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, underscores that “it is theright and responsibility of all citizens to participate in decisions relating to theirown development” and that “promoting and fostering diverse forms ofparticipation strengthens democracy.” Similarly, Article 26 of the Charterestablishes that the Organization of American States (OAS) will consult andcooperate on an ongoing basis with Member States to take into account thecontributions of civil society organizations (CSOs) working in those fields.

As a result, the OAS continues to carry out programs and activities designedto promote democratic principles and practices and strengthen a democraticculture in the Hemisphere. The Organization has created spaces for dialogue forcivil society to inform and respond to critical issues in the inter-American systemand contribute to the initiatives set forth by the OAS General Assembly and bythe Heads of State and Government in the Summits of the Americas, as well asMinisterial and other high-level meetings.

The purpose of this Manual for Civil Society Participation in OAS Activities,prepared by the Department of International Affairs, is to clarify themechanisims through which CSOs can participate in OAS activities andcontribute to the formulation of hemispheric policies. In addition, the Manualprovides a summary of the structure and work areas of the Organization as wellas the guiding principles for CSO participation.

This Manual is an on-going effort by the OAS to reach out to CSOs andstrengthen their involvement in the formulation and implementation of the inter-American agenda, the Summits of the Americas, and the goals of the OAS.We hope that you find the Manual useful.

José Miguel InsulzaSecretary General

Organization of American States

3MANUAL FOR CIVIL SOCIETY PARTICIPATION IN OAS ACTIVITIES


Modern societies require the participation of all actors to confront the complex challenges in the

world. Civil society fulfills a fundamental role in public policies. The generation of democracy is

enriched when all parties involved actively participate in the decisions that affect their futures.

—José Miguel Insulza

Preface


The Organization of American States(OAS) is the foremost political forum inthe Hemisphere for multilateral dialogueand the establishment of the inter-American agenda. The OAS plays afundamental role in promoting peace,democracy, justice, and solidarity,strengthening cooperation, and defendingthe sovereignty, territorial integrity, andindependence of its Member States. TheOrganization’s vision is based onconsensus, dialogue, and cooperation forthe economic, social, and politicaldevelopment of the region.

The First International Conference ofAmerican States, inaugurated on October2, 1889 in Washington, D.C., founded theInternational Union of AmericanRepublics and its Commercial Bureau,which served as Secretariat until 1910,until it became the Pan-American Union.For half a century, the Pan-AmericanUnion was the forum in which agreementsand conventions were concluded toinstitutionalize legal, economic, social,and cultural cooperation in the Americas.

At the Ninth International Conferenceof American States, held in Bogotá onApril 30, 1948, 21 nations of theHemisphere adopted the Charter thattransformed the Pan-American Union intothe OAS. That conference confirmedsupport for the Organization’s commonprinciples and respect for the sovereigntyof each Member State. Since that time,

the OAS has expanded to include Canadaand the Caribbean states.

The OAS Charter has been amendedfour times through the Protocol ofBuenos Aires (1967), the Protocol ofCartagena de Indias (1985), the Protocolof Washington (1992), and the Protocol ofManagua (1993). The Protocol of BuenosAires established the Organization’spresent structure and the Protocol ofCartagena de Indias strengthened theOrganization’s political role in theHemisphere. Later, additionalamendments were introduced throughthe Protocol of Washington, whichprovides that one of the essential aims ofthe OAS is to promote, throughcooperative action, the economic, social,and cultural development of MemberStates and help to eradicate extremepoverty in the region. Finally, the Protocolof Managua established the Inter-American Council for IntegralDevelopment (CIDI) whose function is tofacilitate cooperation among MemberStates on economic and social issues.

The Inter-American DemocraticCharter was adopted on September 11,2001 by a special session of the GeneralAssembly of the Organization ofAmerican States, held in Lima, Peru. TheDemocratic Charter is the most importantinstrument for strengthening andupholding democratic institutions in thenations of the Americas. The Charter,


The Organization of American States and Civil Society


which is binding for all OAS MemberStates, defines democracy and specifieshow it should be defended when it isunder threat.

The Inter-American DemocraticCharter refers to the importance of civilsociety participation in Articles 6 and 26of its text. Recognizing the importantrole of the OAS on this matter, Article 26provides that “the OAS will continue tocarry out programs and activitiesdesigned to promote democraticprinciples and practices and strengthena democratic culture in the Hemisphere,bearing in mind that democracy is a wayof life based on liberty and enhancementof economic, social, and culturalconditions for the peoples of theAmericas. The OAS will consult andcooperate on an ongoing basis withMember States and take into accountthe contributions of civil societyorganizations working in those fields.”

Bodies of the OAS

The OAS carries out its activities by wayof the General Assembly; the Meeting ofConsultation of Ministers of ForeignAffairs; the Councils (the PermanentCouncil and the Inter-American Councilfor Integral Development); the GeneralSecretariat; the Inter-American JuridicalCommittee; the Inter-AmericanCommission on Human Rights (IACHR);the specialized conferences; thespecialized organizations; and otherentities established by its governingbodies.

General Assembly

The General Assembly is the supremeorgan of the Organization. It gathers theMember States each year in a regularsession, and also holds special sessionsunder particular circumstances. AllMember States of the Organization arerepresented in the General Assemblyand have the right to one vote.

The General Assembly decides uponthe general action and policy of theOrganization, determines the structureand functions of its organs, adopts itsprogram-budget, fixes the quotas, andconsiders any matter relating to friendlyrelations among the Member States.

Councils of the OAS

The OAS has two Councils that aredirectly subordinate to the GeneralAssembly: the Permanent Council andthe Inter-American Council for IntegralDevelopment (CIDI). Each Council hasthe authority granted to it in the OASCharter and other inter-Americaninstruments, as well as the functionsassigned to it by the General Assemblyand the Meeting of Consultation ofMinisters of Foreign Affairs.

Permanent Council

The Permanent Council is composed ofone representative of each MemberState, appointed with the rank ofAmbassador. The purpose of thePermanent Council is to considermatters entrusted to it by the GeneralAssembly or the Meeting of Consultation



It is the right and responsibility of all citizens toparticipate in decisions relating to their owndevelopment. This is also a necessary condition forthe full and effective exercise of democracy.Promoting and fostering diverse forms ofparticipation strengthens democracy.

—Article 6, Inter-American Democratic Charter

of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and alsosees to the maintenance of relationsbetween the Member States, contributesto the peaceful settlement of disputes,and serves as the PreparatoryCommittee of the General Assembly.

The Permanent Council establishedfive Permanent Committees: the GeneralCommittee, the Committee on Juridicaland Political Affairs (CAJP), theCommittee on Administrative andBudgetary Affairs (CAAP), theCommittee on Hemispheric Security(CHS), and the Committee on Inter-American Summits Management andCivil Society Participation in OASActivities (CISC). If necessary, thePermanent Council establishes ad hoccommittees or working groups, such asthe Special Committee on MigrationIssues and the Joint Working Group ofthe Permanent Council and CEPCIDI onthe drafting of the Social Charter of theAmericas.

Inter-American Council for IntegralDevelopment

The Inter-American Council for IntegralDevelopment (CIDI) was established in1996 by the Protocol of Managua withthe principal purpose to promoteintegral and sustainable development in

the Americas, and its mandates arelinked to the technical capacity of theGeneral Secretariat.

CIDI is composed of representativesof Ministerial rank appointed by theMember States in light of the topicsaddressed. The OAS General Secretariatcomprises the supporting structure ofCIDI and concentrates on policyformulation and design, sharingexperiences, and developing cooperationnetworks and partnerships with otherinstitutions to craft and executeprojects.

The Permanent Executive Committeeof CIDI (CEPCIDI) is composed of theMember States. The purpose of CEPCIDIis to adopt decisions and makerecommendations for the planning,programming, budgeting, managementcontrol, follow-up and evaluation ofcooperation projects and activitiesexecuted in the CIDI.

General Secretariat

The General Secretariat of the OASexecutes the programs and policiesadopted by the General Assembly andthe other policymaking bodies. It isheadquartered in Washington, D.C. andhas offices in most Member States. TheSecretary General and AssistantSecretary General are responsible forthe organization of the Secretariat andsupervising its staff.

The Secretary General is elected bythe General Assembly for a five-yearterm. The Secretary General may not bere-elected more than once, nor besucceeded by a person of the samenationality. The Secretary General is thelegal representative of the GeneralSecretariat and participates, without theright to vote, in all the meetings of theOrganization.

The Secretary General may bring tothe attention of the General Assembly orthe Permanent Council any matter that,in his opinion, might threaten the peace



With regard to civil society participation in theOAS, the Permanent Council approved thefollowing resolutions:

• CP/RES.759 (1217/99), “Guidelines for theParticipation of Civil Society Organizations inOAS activities”

• CP/RES. 840 (1361/03), “Strategies forIncreasing and Strengthening Participation byCivil Society Organizations in OAS Activities”

• CP/RES. 864 (1413/04), “Specific Fund toSupport the Participation of Civil SocietyOrganizations in OAS Activities and in theSummits of the American Process”


and security of the Hemisphere or thedevelopment of the Member States.

The Assistant Secretary General actsas the Secretary of the PermanentCouncil. The Assistant Secretary Generalserves as advisory officer to theSecretary General. During the temporaryabsence or disability of the SecretaryGeneral, the Assistant Secretary Generalperforms the duties of the SecretaryGeneral.

In the event that the office ofSecretary General becomes vacant, theAssistant Secretary General shallassume the duties of that office until theGeneral Assembly elects a newSecretary General for a full term, anduntil the newly-elected SecretaryGeneral assumes office.

The structure of the GeneralSecretariat includes:

• Secretariat for Political Affairs• Executive Secretariat for Integral

Development• Secretariat for Multidimensional

Security• Secretariat for Administration and

Finance• Secretariat for Legal Affairs• Secretariat for External Relations

The Department of InternationalAffairs (DIA) of the Secretariat forExternal Relations (SER) is responsiblefor advising the Secretary General on allmatters relating to civil society anddeveloping and executing activities andstrategies designed to promote civilsociety participation in all of theactivities related to the work of theOrganization. DIA also directs andcoordinates activities in this area with allthe dependencies of the GeneralSecretariat; provides secretariatservices and technical support to theCISC of the Permanent Council, andcoordinates the Registry of civil societyorganizations (CSOs) in the OAS.

Pillars of the OAS

The structure of the OAS allows for thedevelopment of different activities thatfacilitate consensus-building andcooperation among Member States anddifferent international organizations,inter-American agencies, CSOs, theprivate sector, academia, and otherstakeholders in the following fields:

• Strengthening democracy and access to justice

• Promotion and protection of human rights

• Multidimensional security

• Integral development

Strengthening Democracy and Accessto Justice

The Inter-American Democratic Charterrecognizes that representativedemocracy is vital for the stability, peaceand development of the region, and thatone of the objectives of the OAS is topromote and consolidate democracywith respect to the principle of non-intervention.



If you would like information regardingcivil society participation in OAS

activities, please contact:

Department of International AffairsSecretariat for External RelationsOrganization of American States17 St & Constitution Ave, NWWashington, DC 20006 - USA

www.civil-society.oas.orgTelephone: 202-458-6072Fax: 202-458-6319Email: [email protected]


Secretariat for Political Affairs

The OAS promotes these values with thesupport of the Secretariat for PoliticalAffairs (SPA) whose mission it is tostrengthen political processes in theMember States and to supportsustainable democracy as the bestoption for ensuring peace, security, anddevelopment.

SPA consists of the Executive Officeof the Secretary for Political Affairs andthe following dependencies:

• Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation

• Department of Sustainable Democracy and Special Missions

• Department for State Modernization and Good Governance

Department of Electoral Cooperationand Observation

The Department of ElectoralCooperation and Observation (DECO)offers professional electoral observationservice for Member States based on thecontinual improvement andstrengthening of procedures andpractices in this field. This Department isresponsible for organizing, coordinating,and executing electoral observationmissions, electoral technology missions,and related missions, at the request ofMember States. DECO also facilitatesand supports discussions, mutualsupport, and collective learning amongelectoral bodies in the Hemisphere.

This Department carries out itsactivities through three work areas:

• Electoral Technical Cooperation Section

• Electoral Observation Section • Electoral Studies and Projects

Section

Department of Sustainable Democracyand Special Missions

The Department of SustainableDemocracy and Special Missions(DSDSM) advises and formulatesrecommendations, provides informationand offers technical support on mattersof crisis and conflict prevention,management, and resolution as well ascoordinates special missions andpolitical observation missions. TheDepartment administers the OAS PeaceFund and programs for the peacefulresolution of territorial disputesexecuted under the auspices of the Fund,in coordination with the Secretariat forMultidimensional Security and theExecutive Secretariat for IntegralDevelopment.

DSDSM is comprised of the followingsections:

• Political Analysis and ScenariosSection

• Special Missions Section• Fund for Peace Section

Department for State Modernization andGovernance

The Department for State Modernizationand Governance (DSMG) is composed bythe following sections:

• Support to Legislative Institutions Section

• Transparency and GovernanceSection

• Decentralization Section• Public Administration Support

Section• E-Government Section• Civil Registry Support Section

Through its different sections, DSMGpromotes the adoption of instrumentsand means of citizen participation indecision-making. The Department





supports measures to improve systemsof representation of all sectors of thepopulation through the various branchesof government and contributes totransparency and confidence-building ingovernment institutions.

This Department promotes politicaldialogue and supports the strengtheningof democratic governance at the locallevel as well as its institutional capacitythrough the use of information andcommunication technologies ingovernment. In addition, DMEG supportsthe creation and accessibility of civilregistries in order to contribute to theuniversalization of civil identity andmake effective the right to identity.

Secretariat for Legal Affairs

In order to promote and facilitate accessto justice in the Americas, the OAScreated the Secretariat for Legal Affairs(SLA). This secretariat develops,promotes, and implements the Inter-American Program for the Developmentof International Law; provides advisoryservices concerning international lawand the development and codification ofinter-American law; supports the follow-up mechanisms for certain inter-American conventions; serves as adepository and source of information forinter-American treaties and theagreements of the OAS and its organs;disseminates information on the legalinstruments and programs of the OAS;and provides other services related tointer-American legal cooperation.

SLA is comprised of the ExecutiveOffice of the Secretary and the followingdependencies:

• Department of International Law• Department of Legal Cooperation • Department of Special Legal

Programs

Department of International Law

The Department of International Lawadvises the General Assembly, theMeeting of Consultation of Ministers ofForeign Affairs, the Permanent Council,the General Secretariat, and other organs,agencies, and entities of the OAS onmatters of public and private internationallaw and the statutory and regulatoryaspects of the functioning of thosebodies.

This Department also providessecretariat support to: the Inter-AmericanJuridical Committee; the Working Groupto Examine the Progress Reports of theStates Parties to the Protocol of SanSalvador in accordance with theStandards for the Preparation of PeriodicReports pursuant to Article 19 of theProtocol of San Salvador on Economic,Social, and Cultural Rights; subjectsrelating to indigenous peoples; and theWorking Group to Prepare the Draft Inter-American Convention against Racism andAll Forms of Discrimination andIntolerance. In coordination with otherbodies of the Organization and withgovernmental institutions, such as theInter-American Juridical Committee, andnon-governmental organizations, theDepartment promotes courses, meetings,and seminars on legal topics of interest tothe Hemisphere.

Department of Legal Cooperation

The Department of Legal Cooperationprovides advisory and technicalsecretariat services to the Meetings ofMinisters of Justice or other Ministers orAttorneys General of the Americas(REMJA) and the Conference of StateParties.

This Department also coordinates theInter-American Program for Cooperationand the Follow-up Mechanism for theImplementation of the Inter-AmericanConvention against Corruption (MESICIC),as a means of strengthening national law,



supporting institutions that fightcorruption, civil society participation, andinternational organizations to follow upon, evaluate, and report corruption in theregion. This program was establishedafter the Inter-American Conventionagainst Corruption was signed in 1996.

The Department of Legal Cooperationalso advises the Consultative Committeeof the Inter-American Convention againstthe Illicit Manufacturing of and Traffickingin Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, andOther Related Materials (CIFTA) as well ascarries out projects to promote theratification, legislative implementation,and application of inter-American juridicaland judicial cooperation treaties, infulfillment of the resolutions of theGeneral Assembly.

Department of Special Legal Programs

The Department of Special LegalPrograms advises the specialized organsand entities of the OAS on mattersrelating to persons with disabilities;children, adolescents, and youth; andconsumer rights.

The Department provides technicalsupport to the Technical Secretariat forthe Implementation of the Program ofAction for the Decade of the Americas forthe Rights and Dignity of Persons withDisabilities and the Committee of theConvention for the Elimination of AllForms of Discrimination against Personswith Disabilities. The Departmentsupports the establishment andoperations of mechanisms for follow-upon conventions on matters in its area ofcompetence.

Promotion and Protection of HumanRights

The Inter-American Human RightsSystem promotes justice and providesresources to people in the Americas who

may have suffered alleged violations oftheir human rights. The pillars of thesystem are the Inter-AmericanCommission on Human Rights (IACHR),created in 1959 and based in Washington,D.C., and the Inter-American Court ofHuman Rights, established in 1979 andlocated in San José, Costa Rica.

Inter-American Commission on HumanRights

The Inter-American Commission onHuman Rights (IACHR) is composed ofseven independent commissionerselected by the Member States to promotethe observance and defense of humanrights. The IACHR receives, analyzes andinvestigates over one thousand individualpetitions annually, and since 1959, morethan 13,000 cases have been processed.

One of the key functions of the IACHRis to consider petitions from individualswho claim that the State has violatedtheir rights and that they have beenunable to find justice. The Commissionmay bring together the petitioner and theState to explore a “friendly settlement.” Ifsuch an outcome is not possible, theIACHR may recommend specificmeasures to be carried out by the Stateto remedy the violation. If the countryinvolved is one of the twenty-one whichhas accepted the Inter-American Court’sjurisdiction, the case may be submitted tothe Court.

The Commission has the autonomyand technical capacity to monitor thehuman rights situation in the MemberStates and publishes an annual report,which has been highly effective indocumenting and challenging abuses inspecific countries. Since 1961,commissioners have completed morethan 100 visits throughout the region toreview human rights policies andpractices and have published over 50special reports based on those visits.




The Commission is comprised of sevenRapporteurships that monitor and reporton human rights of vulnerable groups,thus generating stronger commitments toprotect them, as well as improvingdomestic laws, policies and practices onpriority human rights issues in the region.The Rapporteurships are:

• Special Rapporteurship for Freedom of Expression

• Rapporteurship on the Rights ofWomen

• Rapporteurship on the Rights of Migrant Workers and their Families

• Rapporteurship on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

• Rapporteurship on the Rights of Persons Deprived of Liberty

• Rapporteurship on the Rights of Afro-Descendants and against Racial Discrimination

• Rapporteurship on the Rights of the Child

Inter-American Court of Human Rights

The Inter-American Court of HumanRights, established in 1979, is anautonomous judicial institution of theOAS whose mission is the applicationand interpretation of the Inter-AmericanConvention on Human Rights and otherrelated treaties. The Court’s goal is touphold the basic rights and freedoms ofmen and women of the Americas. TheCourt consists of seven judges from theOrganization’s Member States elected inan individual capacity from amongjurists of the highest moral authority andof recognized competence in the field ofhuman rights, who possess thequalifications required for the exerciseof the highest judicial functions underthe law of the State of which they arenationals or of the State that proposesthem as candidates.

Multidimensional Security

The mission of the Secretariat forMultidimensional Security (SMS) is tocoordinate cooperation among theMember States to fight threats tonational and citizen security, and to workto mitigate the harmful effects of thosethreats on the health and well-being ofcitizens and societies in the MemberStates and to prevent the abuse ofpsychotropic substances, crime, andviolence; capacity-building; legal andlegislative assistance; and the promotionof health and education.

SMS consists of the followingdependencies:

• Executive Secretariat of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission

• Secretariat of the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism

• Department of Public Security

Executive Secretariat of the Inter-American Drug Abuse ControlCommission

The Inter-American Drug Abuse ControlCommission (CICAD), agency under thecoordination of the Secretariat forMultidimensional Security, wasestablished by the General Assembly in1986 to promote cooperation amongMember States to control trafficking,production, and abuse of controlledsubstances, in accordance with the 1986Inter-American Program of Action of Riode Janeiro.

The Executive Secretariat of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commissionis comprised of the following sections:

• Section on Demand Reduction• Section on Supply Reduction• Section on Institutional Strengthening• Anti-Money Laundering Unit• Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism • Inter-American Observatory on Drugs




CICAD’s objectives include promotingprograms to strengthen drug abuseprevention and treatment in MemberStates, fighting money laundering andthe production and trafficking of illicitdrugs, and promoting research,information-sharing, specialized training,and technical assistance to fight thisscourge.

In 1999, the Multilateral EvaluationMechanism (MEM) was established as aninstrument to assess the anti-drugactivities of the Member States ofCICAD throughout the Hemisphere.CICAD conceived this instrument inresponse to a mandate of the SecondSummit of the Americas. Its four majorfocuses are anti-drug strategies, demandreduction, supply reduction, and controlmeasures. The MEM is not only anevaluation mechanism but also a meansof cooperation among countries, withlong-term continuity. The instrument isavailable to the public for information onthe current drug situation, on positiveand negative developments, and onareas in which work is needed or specificactivities need to be reinforced.

The Inter-American Observatory onDrugs (OID) is CICAD’s statistical,information and scientific researchbranch. Informed by an evidence-basedpicture of the drug problem, bothnationally and at the hemispheric level,Member States can better understand allthe dimensions of the drug problem, anddesign and implement policies andprograms to address them. TheObservatory helps countries to improvethe collection and analysis of drug-related data by promoting theestablishment of national observatoriesand the use of standardized methodsand data; and by providing scientific andtechnical training for, and the exchangeof experiences among, professionalsworking on drug issues.

Inter-American Committee againstTerrorism

The Inter-American Committee againstTerrorism (CICTE) serves as thepreeminent organization within theinter-American system for thecoordination of efforts to protect thecitizens of the Member States fromterrorism.

CICTE’s objectives include improvinginformation exchange among competentnational authorities; creating andupdating an inter-American database onterrorism matters; formulating aproposal to help Member States draftappropriate antiterrorism legislation;and compiling bilateral, sub-regional, andmultilateral treaties and agreementssigned by the Member States on thissubject. CICTE also promotes universalaccession to international antiterrorismconventions, increases cooperation inborder areas and security measuresrelated to travel documents, andimplements training and crisismanagement activities.

Department of Public Security

The main functions of the Department ofPublic Security are to observe thefulfillment of resolutions approved bypolitical organs of the OAS in the areasof its competence in demining,trafficking in persons, organized crimeand gangs, small arms and lightweapons, and the security of small islandstates.

The Department is comprised of thefollowing dependencies:

• Office of Humanitarian Mine Action• Public Security Policies Security • Section against Transnational

Organized Crime

This Department offers support andtechnical advice to the Member States inthe theme of humanitarian action




against mines, including the humaneremoval of mines; and education on therisk of the mines for the affectedpopulations.

The Department carries out effortsagainst trafficking in persons in theHemisphere, keeping in mind theperspective of gender and children,organizes training seminars andworkshops, provides technicalassistance to governments, andpromotes the exchange of informationand international dialogue.

The Department also provides legaland technical aid to the Member Statesin their fight against organized crime,implements the mandates of the GeneralAssembly on firearms, ammunition andexplosives, reinforces the objectives andmandates of the ConsultativeCommittee of the Inter-AmericanConvention Against the IllicitManufacturing of and Trafficking inFirearms, Ammunition, Explosives, andother Related materials (CIFTA) and isresponsible for coordinating the Plan ofAction against Transnational OrganizedCrime. Lastly, the Department providessupport to small states in the area ofpublic security according to GeneralAssembly Resolution AG/RES. 2112(XXXV-O/05), “Special SecurityConcerns of the Small Island States ofthe Caribbean.”

This Department is responsible forthe planning and development ofMinisterial and other high-level meetings

in the areas of public security, such asthe Meeting of Ministers of PublicSecurity of the Americas and theMeeting of National Authorities onTrafficking in Persons.

Integral Development

The Executive Secretariat for IntegralDevelopment (SEDI) coordinates theimplementation of advancing programsof horizontal cooperation, regionalministerial meetings and the SpecialMultilateral Fund of CIDI (FEMCIDI).SEDI consists of the followingdepartments:

• Department of Human Development, Education and Culture

• Department of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism

• Department of Social Development and Employment

• Department of Sustainable Development

Department of Human Development,Education and Culture

The Department of Human Development,Education and Culture (DHDEC) supportsOAS Member States in their efforts toensure quality education for all and toprotect and draw on their rich culturalheritage to promote economic, socialand human development. TheDepartment carries out this missionthrough four main strategies: fosteringpolicy dialogue; promoting capacitybuilding; creating and strengtheningnetworks and alliances; and facilitatingtechnical cooperation. In terms ofculture, the Department works todevelop projects to address thepreservation and protection of culturalheritage; culture, identity and diversity;culture, economics and development,and cultural information systems.DHDEC provides technical secretariatservices for Ministerial and inter-




American committee meetings in theareas of education and culture.

Additionally, the Department isresponsible for promoting academic andprofessional development of studentsand young professionals in the Americas.DHDEC administers scholarships foracademic studies and professionaldevelopment promoting access to highereducation and professional advancementin the Member States. The Departmentcarries out technical cooperationactivities for the Member States for theapplication of information andcommunication technologies in humanresource programs.

Department of Economic Development,Trade and Tourism

The Department of EconomicDevelopment, Trade and Tourism(DEDTT) supports the efforts of the OASMember States to expand tradeopportunities, increase competitivenessand foster economic integration.

DEDTT is in charge of the followingdependencies:

• Office of Trade;• Office of Tourism;• Office of Competitiveness ;• Office of Science, Technology, and

Innovation• Foreign Trade Information System

(SICE) Section

This Department offers technicalassistance to Member States on issuesrelating to economic integration,specifically that of small economies, inthe design, programming, and executionof cooperation projects. The Departmentalso maintains the Foreign TradeInformation System (SICE), whichcentralizes information on trade policy inthe Americas, agreements in force for

OAS Member States, new and ongoingtrade policy developments, informationon national trade-related legislation,links to international, regional andnational sources of trade policyinformation.

DEDTT provides support to MemberStates in the area of tourism services asthey relate to trade, competitivenessand sustainable development as well asoffers support to other areas of theGeneral Secretariat engaged in activitiesrelated to tourism. Likewise, theDepartment provides technical inputsfor the planning and programming ofMinisterial meetings (Ministers and ViceMinisters of Trade, Ministers of Tourism,and others) in the areas of trade andtourism.

The Department also supports OASMember States in the formulation ofpolicies in science and technology topromote and guide the socioeconomicdevelopment of the countries in thehemisphere, build national capacitiesand institutional strengthening throughthe promotion of engineering andinnovation in order to improve thecompetitiveness of companies, with anemphasis on the production sector tocreate new sources of employment,reduce poverty and strengthendemocratic governance. ThisDepartment offers technical support inthe planning and programming ofministerial meetings in the areas ofscience and technology.

Department of Sustainable Development

Following the Summit of the Americason Sustainable Development, held inSanta Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, in 1996,the General Secretariat established theDepartment of Sustainable Development(DSD). The mission of this Department isto support Member States in the design




and implementation of policies,programs and projects oriented tointegrate environmental priorities withpoverty alleviation, and socio-economicdevelopment goals. DSD supports theexecution of projects in integrated watermanagement, renewable energy, land-titling, natural hazards-climate changeadaptation, biological diversity,environmental law and policy, andtransparency and public participation.

DSD is comprised of five sectionsincluding:

• Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Mitigation Section

• Risk Management and Adaptation to Climate Change Section

• Sustainable Biodiversity and Land Management Section

• Environmental Law Policy and Good Governance Section

• Integrated Water Resources Management Section

The Department achieves its missionthrough the formulation and executionof technical cooperation projects, theexchange of information on sustainabledevelopment in the region, thepromotion of civil society participation indecision-making on environmentalmanagement, and assisting countriesand regions in the preparation ofinvestment projects for consideration byregional and international financingmechanisms. DSD offers technical inputsfor the planning and development ofministerial meetings, sectoral meetings,and meetings of the Inter-AmericanCommittee on Sustainable Development.

Department of Social Development andEmployment

The Department of Social Developmentand Employment (DDSOCE) providesassistance to Member States in theirefforts to advance on development withequity, through the promotion of policiesand programs of poverty reduction,decent work and employment creation.The Department fulfills its strategicobjectives through the promotion of aninter-American dialogue on socialdevelopment, labor and employment; thepromotion of partnerships fordevelopment, especially horizontalcooperation activities based on theexchange of knowledge and experiencesin planning and implementation of publicpolicies; and the coordination of actionswith other international organizations,scholars, private sector and civil society.

This Department is the TechnicalSecretariat of the Joint Working Groupin charge of the drafting of the SocialCharter of the Americas. DDSOCE is alsoresponsible for the planning anddevelopment of ministerial, sectoral,and/or inter-American committeemeetings in the areas of socialdevelopment and employment, such asthe Inter-American Conference ofMinisters of Labor, and supportscooperation mechanisms, such as theSocial Network of Latin America and theCaribbean and the Inter-American LaborAdministration Network and the Inter-American Social Protection Network.




Specialized Organizations andOther Entities

Inter-American Children’s Institute

The purpose of the Inter-AmericanChildren’s Institute (IIN) is to improvethe living standards of children and theirfamilies. The IIN serves as a social actioncenter and conducts programs in theareas of health, education, sociallegislation, social services andinformation.

The Institute offers technicalassistance to governmental and non-governmental organizations that serveat-risk children and their families. Itsadvisory services focus on thedevelopment, monitoring, and evaluationof programs and projects designed toimprove management in homes thatcare for children and in nationalagencies that coordinate such homes.The IIN provides technical assistance inpolicy formulation and the planningneeded for proper multi-sectoralassistance to children and their families.

Inter-American Institute for HumanRights

The Inter-American Institute of HumanRights (IIHR) is an independent,international academic institution,created in 1980, with its headquarters inSan Jose, Costa Rica. The mission ofIIHR is to promote and strengthenrespect for the human rights set forth inthe American Convention on HumanRights and to contribute to theconsolidation of democracy througheducation, academic research, politicalmediation, training programs, technicalassistance and the dissemination of

knowledge by means of specializedpublications. IIHR cooperates with theInter-American Court of Human Rightsand the Inter-American Commission ofHuman Rights, and it works with allsectors of civil society, Member States,as well as with internationalorganizations.

Inter-American Commission of Women

The Inter-American Commission ofWomen (CIM) is the principal forum forhemispheric policy to advance women’srights and gender equality. Establishedin 1928, CIM was the first officialintergovernmental agency in the worldcreated expressly to ensure recognitionof the civil and political rights of women.

One of its accomplishments has beenthe creation of the Inter-AmericanConvention for the Prevention,Punishment and Eradication of Violenceagainst Women, which was adopted in1994 by the OAS General Assembly inBelem do Pará, Brazil, and has beenratified by 32 Member States of theOAS. During the last decade, theConvention has contributed to a betterawareness that violence against womenconstitutes a human rights violation,which has led to positive changes inlegislation and policies for the protectionof women.

CIM promotes and protects women’srights, and supports the Member Statesin their efforts to ensure full exercise ofcivil, political, economic, social, andcultural rights that will make possibleequal participation by women and menin all aspects of society.




Justice Studies Center of the Americas

The Justice Studies Center of theAmericas (JSCA) created in 1999 andlocated in Santiago, Chile, conductstraining activities, studies and empiricalresearch projects in order to developinnovative approaches to judicial reform.JSCA promotes cooperation and theexchange of experiences among keyjustice sector actors, and disseminateslegal instruments to improve the qualityof justice in the Americas.

Inter-American Juridical Committee

With headquarters in Rio de Janeiro,Brazil, the Inter-American JuridicalCommittee (CJI) serves as the legaladvisory body to the OAS. TheCommittee is made up of 11 membersdesignated by the Member States andelected by the General Assembly. Topicscovered include: hemispheric security;administration of justice; laws regardinginformation and personal data; humanrights and biomedicine; illicitenrichment; transnational bribery; andcooperation against terrorism. The Inter-American Juridical Committee supportsthe preparation of the Draft Inter-American Convention against Racism,Discrimination and Intolerance. The OAS’Department of International Law acts asthe technical secretariat to theCommittee. The Committee has thecapacity to submit independent legalopinions regarding the themes of theinter-American agenda.

Inter-American TelecommunicationCommission

The Inter-American TelecommunicationCommission (CITEL) was established bythe OAS General Assembly in 1993 asthe region’s principal forum in whichrepresentatives of Member States andthe telecommunications private sectormeet to coordinate ongoingdevelopment in this sector.

CITEL has Permanent ConsultativeCommittees (PCC) and is composed of all the Member States and ofassociate members representingtelecommunications private enterprises and organizations,permanent observers, and regional and international organizations.

Inter-American Committee on Ports

Since its inception in 1998, the missionof the Inter-American Committee onPorts (CIP) is to serve as a forum forMember States to strengthencooperation and development of theport sector with the active collaborationand participation of the private sector.CIP acts as the advisory body of theOAS and Member States and isresponsible for proposing and promotingpolicies that respond to the commonneeds of the port sector in theHemisphere.




The OAS 1948 Charter establishes, as afunction of the General Assembly, thepossibility of concluding agreements ormaking special arrangements with“other American agencies of recognizedinternational standing.” For over 61 yearsof the life of the OAS, the variousorgans, agencies, and entities of theOrganization have developed, in thecontext of their institutional objectives,various types of linkages with nationaland international institutions. Thisprocess has enriched and given rise toespecially important innovations inintergovernmental organizations.

The OAS has made great strides interms of civil society participation, suchas arranging opportunities for dialogue;developing mechanisms for civil societyparticipation in political forums, projectexecution, cooperation and partnershipprogram development; and the sharingof experiences and information in effortsto make public policy formulationresponsive to needs and realities inAmerican societies.

In 1999, the Organization, with theadoption of Resolution CP/RES. 759(1217/99) of the OAS Permanent Council,“Guidelines for the Participation of CivilSociety Organizations in OAS Activities,”defined these organizations as anynational or international institution,organization, or entity made up ofnatural or juridical persons of anongovernmental nature.

Wishing to increase civil societyparticipation in its activities, theOrganization, through its dependencies,adopted various initiatives andresolutions enlarging the role of CSOs atthe OAS, particularly:

• CP/RES. 759 (1217/99), “Guidelinesfor the Participation of Civil Society Organizations in OAS Activities”

• CP/RES. 840 (1361/03), “Strategies for Increasing and Strengthening Participation by Civil Society Organizations in OAS Activities”

• CP/RES. 864 (1413/04), “Specific Fund to Support the Participation of Civil Society Organizations in OAS Activities and in the Summits of the Americas Process”

Civil Society Participation inOAS Activities

Civil society inputs aid in the design ofpolicies consistent with the needs ofcommunities in the Member States.These organizations have the option ofdeveloping and strengthening the



Principles and Means of Civil Society Participation in OAS Activities



exchange of information and knowledgewith the public sectors at the regionaland international levels and promotingand implementing a culture ofdemocratic participation throughtraining and the formation of strategicassociations to support, monitor, andevaluate public policy, for the benefit ofsociety in the American Hemisphere.

This interaction was promoted byresolution CP/RES. 759 (1217/99)“Guidelines for the Participation of CivilSociety Organizations in OAS Activities,”which defined the process by whichCSOs can request to apply to participatein the activities of the Organization. Thisnorm includes:

• The activities that CSOs can participate

• The creation of a CSO registry within the OAS

• Responsibilities of CSOs once they are registered in the Organization’s system

In resolution CP/RES. 840 (1361/03),“Strategies for Increasing andStrengthening Participation by CivilSociety Organizations in OAS Activities,”the Organization established strategiesthat expand the opportunities for civilsociety participation, including:

• Having knowledge of and access toactivities on the hemispheric agendain the subject areas defined by theMember States

• Developing and executing projectswith the OAS General Secretariat toformulate public policy to benefitfrom the economic, social, andcultural development in the Americas

• Promoting strategic alliancesbetween civil society, the OAS, andprivate-sector enterprises in thedevelopment of the various thematicareas entrusted to the GeneralSecretariat and its technical bodies,in order to provide technicalassistance, training, and reciprocalservices for better practices

• Establishing organized, legitimate,and broad participation by CSOs inthe region and the inter-Americansystem

• Devising proposals for the design andexecution of public policy

• Institutionalizing direct dialogue withgovernments and variousorganizations and bodies of the inter-American and international system

• Participating in virtual consultations,through the Internet, withgovernment agencies and CSOs, toidentify challenges and initiatives inthe various areas of endeavor of theOAS

Resolution CP/RES. 864 (1413/04)established the “Specific Fund toSupport the Participation of Civil SocietyOrganizations in OAS Activities and inthe Summits of the Americas Process.”This Fund aims to provide financialsupport to facilitate participation byregistered CSOs in the activities of thepolitical bodies of the OAS, such as theGeneral Assembly and the PermanentCouncil, through the Committee onInter-American Summits Managementand Civil Society Participation in OASActivities (CISC), the SummitImplementation Review Group (SIRG),appropriate ministerial meetings, andother OAS activities.

Of the five Committees of thePermanent Council, CISC was created to



establish procedures to ensure that theinteraction between CSOs and thepolitical bodies of the OAS. Suchparticipation views CSOs asstakeholders and supervisors of theirown development.

The General Secretariat performs thefunctions and duties entrusted by theGeneral Assembly, the Meeting ofConsultation of Ministers of ForeignAffairs, or the Councils. The Departmentof International Affairs (DIA) of theSecretariat for External Relations isresponsible for developing and executingstrategies and activities designed topromote and broaden civil societyparticipation in all of the activitiesrelated to the work of the Organization.

In compliance with AG/RES. 2395(XXXVIII-O/08), DIA prepared acoordinated strategy for civil societyparticipation. The Draft Strategy toStrengthen Civil Society Participation inOAS Activities was distributed toMember States, for their consideration,in May and November 2009. TheStrategy underscores the importance ofaccess to information, promoting clearand transparent procedures for civilsociety and expanding opportunities forcivil society participation. The Strategytook into consideration the points ofview of OAS Member States, civil societyorganizations, and the GeneralSecretariat and reinforces and proposesexisting and new methods ofcommunication and access to the policy-making process within the framework ofthe OAS.

Registration of Civil SocietyOrganizations in the OAS

Registration, as set out in PermanentCouncil resolution CP/RES. 759 (1217/99),provides CSOs with an opportunity to bepart of the hemispheric network oforganizations working in the variousthematic areas of interest to theMember States and to have access toinformation on political, economic, andsocial processes under way in the OAS,which are part of the inter-Americanagenda.

Registration facilitates the exchangeof information and experiences thatenrich the design of governmentalpolicies by means of organizedparticipation and dialogue among CSOs,governments, and inter-American andinternational organizations.

Requirements for CSO Registration

Resolution CP/RES. 759 (1217/99)establishes the following conditions for acivil society organization to be becomepart of the registry of CSOs in the OAS:

• The CSO shall be of recognizedstanding within its particular field ofcompetence and shall be of arepresentative nature

• The CSO shall have an institutionalstructure that includes appropriatemechanisms for holding its officersaccountable and subject to itsmembers, a legal representative, anexecutive officer, as well asestablished headquarters

• The CSO must have an institutionalstructure that is transparent andaffords it a degree of independencein managing the financial resourcesobtained from its affiliates orindividual members

• The CSO must conduct its activitiesin some of the OAS Member States


The OAS established three mechanisms tofacilitate civil society participation in itsactivities, including:

• The Civil Society Registry• Participating in OAS-related Meetings • Cooperation Agreements





Benefits of Registration

The following benefits are provided toCSOs registered in the OAS:

• Participation in public meetings ofthe Permanent Council, the Inter-American Council for IntegralDevelopment (CIDI), and theirsubsidiary bodies

• Input by means of written documentson questions thematically relevant tomeetings of the Permanent Councilor CIDI, preferably not to exceed2,000 words (texts exceeding 2,000words must be accompanied byexecutive summaries, which theGeneral Secretariat shall distribute).Likewise, the CSO may give apresentation at the beginning of thedeliberations, with prior approvalfrom the relevant Committee of thePermanent Council or CIDI

• Access to draft resolutions and/orresolutions adopted by the GeneralAssembly and authorization tocomment on them

• Receive the resolutions adopted bythe OAS General Assembly at itsannual regular session

• With the Chair’s authorization,participate in closed meetings of thePermanent Council and CIDI and theirpolitical bodies

• Receipt of documents in advance ofthe meetings of the working groupsor specialized groups of thePermanent Council or CIDI. With priorauthorization, the CSO may make a

statement and have it distributed toMember States in order to considerthe issue

• Apply for funding from the SpecificFund to Support the Participation ofCivil Society Organizations in OASActivities and in the Summits of theAmericas Process

Registration Procedures

CSOs interested in becoming part of theRegistry of CSOs in the OAS shoulddirect a letter to the OAS SecretaryGeneral, with a copy to the Departmentof International Affairs:

Secretary GeneralOrganization of American StatesMNB – 2017th St & Constitution Ave, NWWashington, DC 20006USA

DirectorDepartment of International AffairsOrganization of American StatesMNB – 1317th St & Constitution Ave, NWWashington, DC 20006USA

Fax: 202-458-6319Email: [email protected]

The letter should be accompanied by thefollowing information:

• Official name, address, and date ofestablishment of the organizationand the name(s) of its directors andlegal representative(s)

• Primary areas of activity and theirrelationship to the activities of theOAS organs, agencies, and entities inwhich it wishes to participate

• Reasons why it believes its proposedcontributions to OAS activities wouldbe of interest to the Organization


• Identification of the OAS work areasin which it proposes to supportongoing activities or to makerecommendations on the best way toachieve OAS objectives

Additionally, the request shall beaccompanied by copies of the followingdocuments:

• Charter or Constitution and Statutesof the CSO (notarized copy)

• Most recent annual report of theactivities of the organization

• Institutional mission statement(signed by a director or the legalrepresentative)

• Financial statements for the previousfiscal year, including reference to anypublic and private sources offinancing (signed by the financialofficer or the public accountant ofthe organization)

Mechanisms of Civil SocietyParticipation in OAS-relatedMeetings

Registered civil society organizationsmay participate in the activities of theOAS, make presentations, provideinformation, and, at the request of theorgans, agencies, and entities of theOAS, provide expert advice, inaccordance with resolution CP/RES. 759(1217/99).

Participation in Meetings of thePermanent Council, CIDI, and theirSubsidiary Bodies

Registered CSOs may designaterepresentatives to attend, as observers,public meetings of the PermanentCouncil, CIDI, and their subsidiarybodies. Non-registered CSOs may alsoattend, as observers, public meetings ofthe Permanent Council, CIDI, and theirsubsidiary bodies as long as they fulfillthe requirements specified in CP/RES.759 (1217/99).


1. Send letter to the SecretaryGeneral with supporting

documentation

2. Review application

package

3. Analysis byDepartment ofInternationalAffairs (DIA)

4. DIA submits

analysis to the CISC

5. CISC reviews theanalysis and makesrecommendations to

the PermanentCouncil

6. PermanentCouncil considers

application

7. CSO registered with the

OAS

Civil SocietyRegistration Process

in the OAS

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Meetings held under OAS auspicesare generally open to the public but, canbe closed under exceptionalcircumstances by decision of theChairman of the meeting due to thenature of the matter. Likewise, it shouldbe noted that each political body,specialized organization, or committeeof the OAS can establish specific criteriafor civil society participation in itsactivities.

In the case of meetings ofcommittees of the Permanent Council orof CIDI, registered CSOs may distributewritten documents in advance, inaccordance with article 13.c of CP/RES.759 (1217/99), and, with prior approvalfrom the committee in question, maygive a presentation at the beginning ofthe deliberations. Civil societyorganizations may not participate indeliberations, negotiations, or decisionsadopted by Member States.

In the case of meetings of expertgroups and working groups of thePermanent Council or of CIDI, registeredCSOs that have special competence inthe issue to be discussed shall receivethe relevant documents in advance and,with the prior approval of the meeting,

may present a statement at thebeginning of the deliberations, the textof which may be distributed in advanceto the Member States. With suchapproval, they may also give apresentation once the consideration ofthe issue has concluded. Civil societyorganizations may not participate indeliberations, negotiations, or decisionsadopted by Member States.

Procedures for Civil SocietyParticipation in OAS-related Meetings

Another mechanism for participation isrequesting to be invited to a meeting,conference, or ministerial-level meeting.Under this option, the CSO would send aletter, 30 days prior to the event,indicating that it wished to participate ina meeting or special conference. Shouldits request be approved, theorganization in question would begranted observer status and beclassified as a “special guest.”

Any CSO wishing to attend the annualOAS General Assembly, independent oftheir registration status, must send aletter to the Secretary General, with acopy to the Department of InternationalAffairs at least 45 days in advance of theopening session, indicating their interestto observe the proceedings under thecategory of “Special Guests.” Theindicated time period is necessarybecause the Secretary General shouldsubmit a final list of organizations to thePermanent Council for approval at leastthirty (30) days prior to the GeneralAssembly. Additionally, theorganizations on the list must beauthorized by the host country. Thisprocess is independent of other CSOparticipation processes in the OAS.

Article 13.c of CP/RES. 759 (1217/99)

A registered civil society organization may presentwritten documents, not exceeding 2,000 words,preferably in two of the official languages of theOAS, on questions that fall within its particularsphere of competence and appear on the agenda ororder of business for the meeting. These documentsshall be distributed by the General Secretariat toMember States, insofar as possible, in two of theofficial languages of the OAS. Texts exceeding 2,000words shall be accompanied by executive summariesin two of the official languages of the OAS, which theSecretariat shall distribute sufficiently ahead of time.The complete text of the document may bedistributed in its original language or languages, thecost to be borne by the civil society organization inquestion.


In the case of CSOs not registered inthe OAS, once it has sent a letter ofrequest together with the correspondingdocuments, and the request has beenapproved by the Permanent Council, theCSO will receive identification giving itaccess to the meeting as a “specialguest.”

Cooperation Agreements

Resolution AG/RES. 57 (I/O-71),“Standards on Cooperative Relationsbetween the Organization of AmericanStates and the United Nations, ItsSpecialized Agencies, and OtherNational and InternationalOrganizations,” authorizes the SecretaryGeneral to sign cooperation agreements.The OAS General Secretariat and itsdepartments, offices, and technicalsecretariats, can sign cooperationagreements on the development andimplementation of activities in all workareas of the Organization. Cooperationagreements with the OAS may beclassified as follows:

• General cooperation agreements:Those intended to provide advisoryservices to the OAS organs, agencies,and entities and disseminateinformation on its activities andprograms

• Special cooperation agreements:

° Agreements on the development oftechnical, administrative, orfinancial programs in order toconduct specific programs in OASareas of activity

° Agreements relating to inter-American specializedorganizations and coordinatedthrough the OAS

° Agreements established directly bythe Secretary General


PROCEDURES FOR CIVIL SOCIETY PARTICIPATION

IN OAS-RELATED MEETINGS

To participate in an OAS meeting or activity, aCSO must send a letter of request to the OASSecretary General, taking the following intoconsideration:

• If the CSO is registered, it need only send aletter expressing its interest in participating,its name, the title of the meeting in which itwishes to participate, and the name of therepresentative who will attend

• If the CSO is not registered, the followingdocuments must be attached to the letter ofrequest:

° Official name and date of establishmentof the organization, and the names of itsdirectors and legal representative

° Statutes and Charter or Constitution

° Institutional mission statement

° Most recent annual report and financialstatements for the previous fiscal year





Procedures for CooperationAgreements between Civil SocietyOrganizations and the OAS

A CSO wishing to establish a cooperationagreement with the OAS must firstidentify the Department of the GeneralSecretariat that handles the thematicarea in question. Second, theorganization must submit a proposalwith clearly defined objectives anddetermine the type of agreement itwould like to conclude (whether generalor specific). Likewise, the CSO must alsorealize that, under a cooperationagreement with the OAS, it is required tohave the economic resources andsufficient staff to fulfill and follow up asnecessary on the obligations andstipulations set forth in the agreement.If it meets the aforementionedrequirements, the CSO may proceedwith its request and transmit copies of

the following documentation to theOrganization:

• Charter or Constitution and thosedocuments certifying it as a CSO

• The names of its directors andofficers during the previous threeyears

• The names of its major contributors(provided that this is not in violationof any confidentiality agreements)

If, after submission of the documents, apreliminary agreement is reachedbetween the General Secretariat and theCSO, a document will be drawn up forthe Secretary General’s approval andsignature.

1. IdentifyOAS

technicalarea

2. Identifytype of

agreement

3. Submitproposal

4. Review proposal byOAS ProjectEvaluationCommittee

5. Submission of supporting

documentation

6. Discussionswith respect

to the contentand text ofagreement

9. Delegationof authorityfor signature

10. Signatureand

registration of cooperation

agreement

8. Review of agreement

prior to signature

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Procedures for Cooperation Agreements between Civil Society Organizations and the OAS


The Summits of the Americas Process isthe intergovernmental forum in whichthe Heads of State and Government ofthe Member States define and discussthe inter-American agenda. Presidingover this process is the government ofthe country that is to host the nextSummit. The process is guided by sharedvalues and by commonly establishedinstitutional mechanisms.

The Summits of the Americas includeAmerican countries that havedemocratically elected governments,free market economies that conductmultilateral international negotiations onan egalitarian basis, and take decisionsby consensus. The institutionalmechanisms are charged with leadingthe process, decision-making, andimplementation and follow-up of Summitmandates.

At the Summit of the Americas inQuebec in 2001, the Heads of State andGovernment recognized the central rolethe OAS plays in supporting theSummits process, as its technicalsecretariat and institutional memory.The Summits of the AmericasSecretariat was established in the OASto give formal shape to that function.

The Summits of the AmericasSecretariat coordinates follow-up onimplementation of Summit mandatesand supports the SummitImplementation Review Group (SIRG),the SIRG’s Steering Committee andExecutive Council, the ministerialmeetings, and the OAS Permanent

Council’s Committee on Inter-AmericanSummits Management and Civil SocietyParticipation in OAS Activities (CISC).Likewise, the Secretariat coordinateswith the host country and the varioustechnical areas of the OAS onpreparations for upcoming Summits ofthe Americas and the participation ofdiverse social actors in the SummitProcess. The Summit Process is presidedby the Joint Summit Working Group(JSWG), a group of international andinter-American bodies that coordinatefollow-up on Summit mandates.


MEMBERS OF THE JOINT SUMMIT

WORKING GROUP

° Organization of American States (OAS)

° Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)

° Inter-American Institute for Cooperation onAgriculture (IICA)

° Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)

° Economic Commission for Latin America andthe Caribbean (ECLAC)

° World Bank

° Andean Development Foundation (CAF)

° Central American Bank for EconomicIntegration (CABEI)

° Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)

° International Organization for Migration(IOM)

° International Labor Organization (ILO)

° Institute for Connectivity in the Americas(ICA)

° United Nations Development Program(UNDP)

Summits of the Americas and Civil Society




Summit Follow-Up Mechanisms

The SIRG was established in 1995 and ischaired by the Member States, as hostcountries of the Summits. The hostcountries have been United States, Chile,Canada, Argentina, and Trinidad andTobago. Since September 21, 2009,Colombia has chaired the Process inpreparation for the VI Summit of theAmericas that will take place in 2012.

The SIRG is composed ofrepresentatives of the democraticallyelected governments of the Hemisphere,represented by their nationalcoordinators—usually the Deputy ForeignMinister or person in charge of WesternHemisphere affairs at the ForeignMinistry. The SIRG is responsible formonitoring progress on fulfilling themandates issued in the various Summitsand negotiating the text to be approvedat future Summits. The SIRG meetsroughly three times a year, with at leastone of its meetings at the Ministerial-level in the framework of the OASGeneral Assembly.

The SIRG has a Steering Committeecomposed of the future and past Summithosts. Its function is to assist the chairof the Summit process in preparing formeetings of the SIRG Executive Council.

The SIRG Executive Council wascreated in the Quebec City Plan ofAction (2001) as a regionallyrepresentative group of membercountries whose role is to support thework of the SIRG and assess and

strengthen the follow-up of Summitinitiatives and preparations for futureSummits. The members of the ExecutiveCommittee include the host countries ofthe Summits, such as the United States,Chile, Canada, Mexico, Argentina,Trinidad and Tobago, and Colombia; arepresentative of CARICOM; arepresentative of the AndeanCommunity; Brazil; a representative ofthe Rio Group; and the country thatpresides over the Central AmericanIntegration System (SICA).

Another focus of the SIRG ExecutiveCouncil is to deepen partnerships andcoordination between the Summitprocess and its partner institutions,which are members of the JSWG.

Opportunities for Civil SocietyParticipation in the SummitsProcess

The Summits of the Americas processhas established that CSO participation isa valuable and significant means ofincluding social actors in efforts to bringabout economic and social development,strengthen democratic institutions, andattain good governance. TheDeclarations of the Summit of theAmericas recognize the important roleof civil society and have sought to createopportunities for a continued andsustained interaction between civilsociety and Member States. In order toexchange views on policy design and thefulfillment of Summit mandates, thediscussions between CSOs and high-ranking national officials from ministriesof foreign affairs has becomeinstitutionalized aspect of each Summit.

The OAS, through the Summits of theAmericas Secretariat and theDepartment of International Affairs,developed a number of initiatives tocreate opportunities for participationand discussion and to report on Summit policy developments in the inter-American system.


The OAS supports civil societyforums to formulate recommendationsregarding the inter-American agenda,holds special meetings with the SIRG toexchange information on the Summitprocess, and works with civil societynetworks to exchange information andprovide feedback on implementation and follow-up of Summit mandatesamong CSOs, governments, and theorganizations of the inter-American and international systems.

Civil Society in the Summits ofthe Americas

In just over a decade and a half, withfive Summits of the Americas, aSummit on Sustainable Development,and a Special Summit of the Americas,the Summit Process has demonstratedthe Member States’ commitment toengage in discussion and find commonsolutions to the problems that maintainthe Hemisphere’s status as adeveloping region and solutions thatpromote prosperity and peace.

First Summit of the Americas – Miami, Florida, United States – 1994

At the First Summit of theAmericas, the Heads of Stateand Government expressedan interest in theconsolidation and

diversification of democracies in theHemisphere in such a way as to ensuretheir sustainability. It was primarily forthat reason that they underscored theimportance of participation byindividuals, labor unions, politicalparties, academics, the private sector,and CSOs in public affairs andrecognized that public participationwas pivotal to the success of anydemocracy in a context ofaccountability and transparency.

Summit on Sustainable Development –Santa Cruz, Bolivia – 1996

At the Summit of theAmericas on SustainableDevelopment, the Heads ofState and Governmentdecided to promote increased

opportunities for groups, organizations,businesses, and individuals to expressideas and exchange information onsustainable development.

The Heads of State decided to takeinto account the recommendations ofthe Inter-American Seminar on PublicParticipation, held in Montevideo in1996, and entrusted the OAS withassigning priority to the formulation ofthe Inter-American Strategy for thePromotion of Public Participation inDecision-making. The strategy wasintended to promote the exchange ofexperiences and information amonggovernments and civil society groupson the formulation, implementation,and improvement of sustainabledevelopment programs and policies andin high-level meetings.

Second Summit of the Americas –Santiago, Chile – 1998

At the Second Summit of theAmericas, the Heads of Stateand Government recognizedthat education was “thedetermining factor for the

political, social, cultural, and economicdevelopment of our peoples,” andhighlighted the need to encourage civilsociety to participate in developingeducation. This Summit also reaffirmedthe importance of increasing activeparticipation by civil society.






Third Summit of the Americas – Quebec City, Canada – 2001

At the Third Summit of theAmericas, the Heads of Stateand Government expressedappreciation for civilsociety’s contributions to the

Quebec City Plan of Action andrecognized civil society’s important rolein the consolidation of democracy andits participation in governmentprograms, as one of the vital elementsfor the success of developmentpolicies.

The Heads of State and Governmententrusted the OAS and othermultilateral organizations anddevelopment banks with developingstrategies to enable civil society toparticipate more fully in the inter-American system. Said measures haveincreased the institutional capacity ofthe Member State governments toreceive, absorb, and act on CSO inputand advocacy.

The Heads of State and Governmentpromoted the role of CSOs, togetherwith technical and educationalprofessionals, in the development andimplementation of disastermanagement policies at both thenational and community levels.Moreover, they recognized thecontributions made by CSOs to thepromotion of national strategies for thesustainable development of agricultureand the improvement of livingstandards in rural areas.

The Quebec City Plan of Actionrecognized that democracy is a way oflife based on freedom and on improvedeconomic, social, and culturalconditions for the people of theAmericas in a context of goodgovernance, management, and values,taking into account the input of CSOs.

Special Summit of the Americas –Monterrey, Mexico – 2004

At the Special Summit of theAmericas, the Heads ofState and Governmentagreed that, through citizenparticipation, civil society

organizations should contribute to thedesign, implementation, and evaluationof public policies adopted by differentorders or levels of government.

They also recognized the role of civilsociety and its contribution to soundpublic administration and reaffirmedthe importance of continuing to forgenew partnerships that would enableconstructive ties to be built betweengovernments, nongovernmentalorganizations, internationalorganizations, and the diverse sectorsof civil society in order to work in favorof development and democracy.Likewise, they pledged to encouragecivil society participation in theSummits of the Americas Process andto institutionalize meetings with civilsociety and with the academic andprivate sectors.


Fourth Summit of the Americas – Mar del Plata, Argentina – 2005

During the Fourth Summit ofthe Americas, the Heads ofState and Government agreedthat the participation ofcitizens, communities, and civil

society will contribute to ensuring thatthe benefits of democracy are sharedby society as a whole.

During the Summit, the leadersrecognized the pivotal role that theOAS plays in the implementation andfollow-up of Summit mandates, andinstructed the General Secretariat tocontinue to act as technical secretariat;provide support for meetings of theSIRG, ministerial meetings, andspecialized conferences; coordinate theparticipation of civil society; andensure the dissemination ofinformation on the Summits Processand the commitments adopted by thecountries.

Fifth Summit of the Americas – Portof Spain, Trinidad and Tobago – 2009

At the Fifth Summit of theAmericas, the Heads of Stateand Government agreed tocontinue encouraging theparticipation of citizens,

communities, and civil society in thedesign and execution of developmentpolicies and programs, by providingtechnical and financial assistance, asappropriate, to strengthen and buildtheir capacity to participate more fullyin the Inter-American System.





The Organization of American States (OAS) brings together the nations of the Westernhemisphere to promote democracy, strengthen human rights, foster peace, security andcooperation and advance common interests.

The origins of the Organization date back to 1890 when nations of the region formedthe Pan American Union to forge closer hemispheric relations. This union later evolvedinto the OAS and in 1948, 21 nations signed its governing charter. Since then, the OAShas expanded to include the nations of the English-speaking Caribbean and Canada, andtoday all of the independent nations of North, Central and South America and theCaribbean make up its 34 Member States.

In support of all the work of all the departments of the OAS, the Secretariat forExternal Relations builds awareness of and encourages concrete support for theactivities of the OAS as the premier regional political forum in the Western Hemisphere.It strengthens institutional relations with Member States, Permanent Observercountries, regional and international organizations, civil society, academic institutions,and private sector entities in order to implement the inter-American agenda mandatedby hemispheric leaders.

The Department of International Affairs is responsible for advising the SecretaryGeneral and the OAS Secretariat, as well as the Organization’s policy-making bodies, onexternal relations and resource mobilization. Its main function focuses on strengtheningand maintaining relations with the Permanent Observers of the OAS, advising thetechnical departments on their external relations and resource mobilization activities,carrying out the monthly Lecture Series of the Americas, establishing strategicalliances with civil society, sister agencies in the UN and the Inter-American system toadvance the OAS agenda, organizing policy roundtables and briefings for diverseaudiences on OAS priorities and work, and coordinating the Model OAS GeneralAssembly for high schools and universities, in order to promote a better understandingof the Organization’s mission to improve the lives of all citizens in the Americas.

For additional information regarding civil society participation in OAS activities, pleasecontact:

Irene Klinger, DirectorDepartment of International Affairs

Organization of American States17th Street & Constitution Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20006 - USA

www.civil-society.oas.orgTelephone: 202-458-6072

Fax: 202-458-6319Email: [email protected]

Documents

Civil Society Handbook-English - OASEnglish).pdf · 2010. 6. 16. · civil society to inform and respond to critical issues in the inter-American system and contribute to the initiatives