I. ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES (OAS) A. Description_. B. OAS Charter.. C. Protocol of Amendment to the OAS Charter D. OAS Organizational Chart__ E. Special Committee for Consultation and Negotiation (CECON) F. OAS Conferences and Meetings--- 1. Pan American Conferences 1826–1972_. 2. Meetings of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, 1939– 3. Formal Peacekeeping Activities, 1948-1972_ G. Specialized Organizations of the OAS. 1. Inter-American Children's Institute__ 2. Inter-American Commission of Women. 3. Inter-American Indian Institute.. 4. Inter-American Institute of Agricultural Sciences_ 5. Pan American Health Organization--- 6. Pan American Institute of Geography and History. H. Special Agencies and Commissions of the OAS_ 1. Inter-American Defense Board__. 2. Inter-American Statistical Institute. 3. Inter-American Nuclear Energy Commission. Page 3 5 35 38 39 40 40 44 48 54 55 56 58 59 61 63 64 65 66 67 68 (1) A. DESCRIPTION OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES 17th and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. Origin and development: The origin of the concept of an InterAmerican organization can be traced to the Treaty of Perpetual Union, League and Confederation, signed in 1826 by delegates of Central and South American countries, meeting at the invitation of Simon Bolivar at the Congress of Panama, Panama City. Although the idea was discussed in several later meetings among Latin American countries, no steps were taken to found an organization until 1890. On April 14, 1890, 18 nations of the Western Hemisphere, including the United States, attending the First International Conference of American States in Washington, D.C., formed the International Union of American Republics, "for the prompt collection and distribution of commercial information." The Conference established the "Commercial Bureau of the American Republics" in Washington as its permanent representative. In 1910, the Commercial Bureau became the Pan American Union with permanent headquarters in Washington, D.C. Following World War II, a treaty basis giving permanent form to a new organizational structure for the Union was provided at the Ninth International Conference of American States, held in Bogota, Colombia, when, on April 30, 1948, the 21 American Republics signed the Charter of the Organization of American States. The Charter provided that the Pan American Union continue its functions as General Secretariat of the Organization. The OAS Charter was revised by a Protocol of Amendments adopted by the Third Special Inter-American Conference at Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1967. The amendments, which entered into force on February 27, 1970, gave emphasis to the development-oriented functions of the Organization, mainly by increasing the status within the OAS of the Inter-American Economic and Social Council and the Inter-American Council for Education, Science and Culture (formerly the Inter-American Cultural Council), which are now responsible directly to an Annual General Assembly. The Assembly, in turn, was established to provide a high-level OAS meeting at least once each year at which, in addition to approval of budget and other administrative matters, issues of importance in hemisphere relations could be discussed. Under the Charter revisions, the Pan American Union became the General Secretariat, and continued as the central permanent organ, headed by the Secretary General responsible to the General Assembly. Purpose: The purposes of the Organization of American States, set forth in Article 2 of the revised Charter, are as follows: (a) to strengthen the peace and security of the continent; (b) to prevent possible causes of difficulties and to insure the pacific settlement of disputes that may arise among the member states; (c) to provide for common action on the part of those states in the event of aggression; (d) to seek the solution of political, juridical, and economic problems that may arise among them; and (e) to promote, by cooperative action, their economic, social, and cultural development. Initial Date of U.S. Participation: 1899. Current Authority for U.S. Participation: Charter of the Organization of American States, April 30, 1948, 2 UST 2394, TIAS 2361. Membership (1972): The present government of Cuba was excluded from participation in the Inter-American system at the Eighth Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Punta del Este, Uruguay, January 1962. NOTE. For a listing of treaties with the OAS see Pt. VIII, Treaties in Force. B. CHARTER OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES 1 Signed at the Ninth International Conference of American States, Bogotá, Colombia, March 30 to May 2, 1948 In the name of their Peoples, the States represented at the Ninth International Conference of American States, Convinced that the historic mission of America is to offer to man a land of liberty, and a favorable environment for the development of his personality and the realization of his just aspirations; Conscious that that mission has already inspired numerous agreements, whose essential value lies in the desire of the American peoples to live together in peace, and, through their mutual understanding and respect for the sovereignty of each one, to provide for the betterment of all, in independence, in equality and under law; Confident that the true significance of American solidarity and good neighborliness can only mean the consolidation on this continent, within the framework of democratic institutions, of a system of individual liberty and social justice based on respect for the essential rights of man; Persuaded that their welfare and their contribution to the progress and the civilization of the world will increasingly require intensive continental cooperation; Resolved to persevere in the noble undertaking that humanity has conferred upon the United Nations, whose principles and purposes they solemnly reaffirm; Convinced that juridical organization is a necessary condition for security and peace founded on moral order and on justice; and In accordance with Resolution IX of the Inter-American Conference on Problems of War and Peace, held at Mexico City, have agreed upon the following: PART ONE CHAPTER I. NATURE AND PURPOSES ARTICLE 1 The American States established by this Charter the international organization that they have developed to achieve an order of peace and justice, to promote their solidarity, to strengthen their collaboration, and to defend their sovereignty, their territorial integrity and their independence. Within the United Nations, the Organization of American States is a regional agency. 1 As amended by the Protocol of Amendment to the Charter of the Organization of American States, "Protocol of Buenos Aires," signed at the Third Special Inter-American Conference, Buenos Aires, 1967. Entered into force on February 27, 1970 (TIAS 6847, 21 UST 607]. |