LEARN MORE ABOUT THE OAS

HISTORY OF THE OAS

MEMBERSHIP

STRUCTURE

FUNCTIONS

SPECIALIZED ORGANIZATIONS

THE OAS HOMEPAGE

PUBLIC POLITICS HOMEPAGE

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE OAS

The OAS is a decendant of the 1826 Congress of Panama. This congress, attended by Simon Bolivar, set out to invent an aparatus for an Inter-American System. An international Union of American Republics was established in 1889, the name changed to the Pan American Union in 1910.

From 1910 through 1945, many conferences were held concerning issues like commerce, external aggression, and cooperation. 1947 is a very important date in the history of the OAS, the Rio Treaty, which created a system of collective security, was signed.

A year later, in 1948, the Charter of the OAS was signed in Bogota, Colombia. The charter aggregated the principles set forth by the Inter-American system and introduced the framework that would let the OAS persue their goals. The American Treaty On Pacific Settlement of Disputes and the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man were also approved in Bogota. The Protocol of Buenos Aires created the General Assembly, this assembly was designed to meet once a year and function as the ultimate organ of the organization.

The 1967 Protocol of Buenos Aires also created three councils to oversee the administrative work: The Permanent Council, the Council for Education , Science and Culture, and the Economic and Social Council.

In 1985, the OAS amended their Charter at the Meeting of the General Assembly in Cartagena, Colombia. The amendments gavethe Secretary General more power, gave the Permanent Council more power to gather involved parties in hemispheric disputes, gave member states economic and political system versatility. Belize and Guyana were also granted membership into the organization.

The Charter was amended again in 1992. The Protocol of Washington included provisions that seek to strengthen democracy and protect human rights.

The last amendment to the Charter occured in 1993. The Protocol of Managua aims to strengthen the role of the OAS in regional integration and economic development. This Protocol also created an Inter-American Council for Integral Development (IACID), which replaces the Economic and Social, and Education, Science, and Education Councils. All of the new amendments to the Charter will go into effect once two thirds of the signatories submit their ratification.

Membership

The Cuban Government was suspended from participating in the OAS in 1962. The Cuban State cannot be excluded since there are no provisions in the Charter that address the expulsion of a member state.

The Organization of American States is a Regional Membership body. All members are official delegations of nation-states.

Structure

• General Assembly
• General Secretariat
• Meeting of Consultation of Ministers
• Permanent Council
• Inter-American Council for Integral Development
• Other Key Bodies

• Approves the agenda and budget of the organization
• Coordinates the activities of all the entities involved in the OAS
• Determines the general standards that oversee the work of the General Secretariat

The Meeting Of Consultation Of Ministers Of Foreign Affairs Can hold meetings at anytime to discuss problems of an urgent nature and of interst to all member states. The Consultaion must present all requests to the Permanent Council, who shall decide by absolute majority, whether a meeting should take place. In the event of an armed attack anywhere in the hemisphere, a Meeting of Consultation is held immediatly.

Permanent Council The day-to-day business of the OAS is overseen by this body. It is comprised of permanent representatives, each of whom hold ambassadorial rank, from each of the 34 active member states. The council meets twice a month at the OAS headquarters. Special working groups and committees complete much of the council's preparatory work.

Inter-American Council for Integral Development was created in 1993. CIDI's purpose is to promote cooperation among member states and further the agenda of CIES and CIECC. This organ of the organization discusses issues related to: eradication of unemployment and poverty incentives for economic growth and investment defense of social justice liberalization of trade scientific, educational, and cultural development

Specialized Organizations

The Inter-American Commission on Women- this commission focuses specifically on issues reguarding women. Its recent activities include the drafting of the "Inter-American Convention to Prevent, Punish, and Eradicate Violence Against Women."
The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture- this institute has projects designed to help member states evaluate and plan agricultural policies, promote rural development, improve health in rural areas, and develop and share technology.
The Pan American Health Organization promotes health care, has helped eradicate disease and improve mental and physical health.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights promotes fundamental rights and advises the OAS. It is made up of seven experts elected by th e OAS General Assembly. The Commission meets twice a year to hear presentations on specific issues, cases, and countries. This Commission also makes on-site visits and issues reports concerning their findings.
The Inter-American Defense Board This board recommends measures for hemispheric defense, strengthens military cooperation, and conducts studies. The IADB runs an academic program at the Inter-America Defense College.
The Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission promotes regional cooperation to disrupt illegal production and supply. Also, it seeks to reduce demand through educational programs
 

Functions

1. To promote and strengthen representative democracy with respect for the principles of nonintervention.
2. To provide a common action in the event of aggression.
3. To strengthen the peace and security of the hemisphere.
4. To seek the solution of political, economic, and juridical crisis that may arise among member states.
5. To prevent possible causes of difficulties between members and ensure the pacific settlements of disputes.
6. To promote cooperation in matters concerning economic, cultural, and social development.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Dent, David. Model OAS Handbook, 1997.

Vaky, Viron and Munoz, Herald. The Future of the Organization of American States, New York: Twentieth Century Fund Press, 1993.
 

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Page by Anne Marie Fitterer
Spring 1997
Towson University
Towson, Maryland