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OAS HIGHLIGHTS WORK OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE REGION

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, today underscored the importance of ensuring an ongoing dialogue and exchange of opinions between the OAS and civil society to find solutions to the region’s problems.

Insulza spoke at the opening of the Roundtable with Civil Society, which focused on “Good Governance and Development in the Knowledge-Based Society,” the central theme that will be debated by the foreign ministers of the Americas at the next General Assembly. The Secretary General called on the delegates from OAS member states and the representatives from civil-society organizations and networks from 22 countries to identify how information and communications technologies can help accelerate the tasks begun by the governments in the areas of development, strengthening democracy, transparency and governance.

Ambassador Rodolfo Gil of Argentina, Chair of the Inter-American Committee of Summit Management of the OAS Permanent Council, also participated in the opening session, along with Ambassador Roberto Alvarez of the Dominican Republic, host country of the next General Assembly, and Luis Alberto Rodríguez, Director of the OAS Summit of the Americas Department.

Insulza said he hoped to create an avenue for the permanent participation of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the tasks of the OAS, taking into account that they are very different types of entities. The OAS has its own functions and authority, as well as “the limitations implied by being an organization of the states, where fundamentally the governments of our countries are represented.” He added that both the hemispheric organization and the NGOs can complement one another very well, and emphasized that the OAS is open to civil society’s opinions about anything “that may be necessary to promote, correct, improve or strengthen the work that we do.”

“We have to advance the discussions regarding the use of these technologies, as well as in the areas of governance, the fight against corruption, economic integration, sustainable development, multidimensional security and juridical cooperation, initiatives that we have undertaken at the OAS,” the Secretary General said, referring to the contributions from NGOs in previous General Assemblies and in the Fourth Summit of the Americas. He said the OAS hopes to be able to count on civil society’s participation in implementing the resolutions that the General Assembly in Santo Domingo will adopt in June.

The issues being discussed today and tomorrow by the delegations and civil society include: good governance and development in the knowledge-based society; promotion of democracy and follow-up to the Declaration of Florida, adopted in June 2005; promotion of human rights; economic and social development and follow-up to the Declaration and Plan of Action of Mar del Plata, adopted at the Fourth Summit. The event is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Open Society Institute, Microsoft, Hewlett Packard and the Global Democracy and Development Foundation (FUNGLODE).
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On Wednesday, following the closing of the Roundtable with Civil Society, the Inter-American Committee of Summits Management and Civil Society Participation will hold a special meeting, chaired by Ambassador Rodolfo Gil, with OAS Assistant Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin speaking at the opening. Civil society representatives will be able to share ideas with the countries and present recommendations that will be used as a foundation for the dialogue between the foreign ministers and civil society that will take place on June 4, in the framework of the thirty-sixth regular session of the OAS General Assembly.

Reference: E-108/06