Media Center

Press Release

Permanent Council Receives Presentation on Creation of Fund for Network for Prevention of Violence and Crime

The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States, in its regular meeting today, heard a presentation on the creation of the Fund for the Inter-American Network for the Prevention of Violence and Crime, and authorized the General Secretariat to send invitations for the XLV General Assembly.

First, the Deputy Minister for Violence and Crime Prevention of Guatemala, Arkel Benítez, announced the creation of the fund for the Inter-American Network for the Prevention of Violence and Crime, integrated within the Department of Public Security of the Secretariat for Multidimensional Security of the OAS, and announced an initial contribution by his country of 50,000 dollars to the fund.

“We are pleased to announce that Guatemala has tried to move forward an international agenda that truly allows for the invitation of other countries to join this prevention effort,” said Deputy Minister Benítez. “We would like to offer an open invitation for countries to join this effort, and we have found that there is a great variety of good practices and lessons learned in many countries of the Hemisphere, but there is a need to consolidate all these lessons and experiences that no doubt can contribute to improving the quality of life in our countries,” added Benítez.

The Guatemalan Deputy Minister called the creation of the Network “a historic and important step,” and congratulated the Secretary General of the OAS, José Miguel Insulza “for all of the facilities he has made available so that this can go forward and of course also the Director of the Department of Public Security of the OAS, Paulina Duarte, a tireless official who has always been available on these important issues.”

On another item on the agenda, the Council also authorized the General Secretariat to send invitations to organizations both inside and outside the Inter-American system, special invitees and 541 organizations of civil society, labor, and the private sector, among others, to attend the XLV General Assembly, which will take place on June 15 and 16 at the headquarters of the Organization in Washington DC.

WHITE HELMETS

The Permanent Council also heard a presentation on the twentieth anniversary of the presence of the OAS in the “White Helmets” initiative of the Foreign Ministry of Argentina, delivered by the First Vice President of the initiative, Esteban Mahiques. Vice President Mahiques explained that the link between his organization and the OAS has its roots in resolutions approved by the General Assembly between 1995 and 1997 that support the humanitarian assistance programs of the White Helmets in the region.

In general terms, Mahiques explained that “the White Helmets initiative has been a protagonist in promoting actions and missions of international humanitarian assistance in all the corners of our planet, but always concentrating its main efforts in the Americas.” Moreover, he said that for his initiative, the OAS “is a priority and strategic ally.”

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Council observed a moment of silence in honor of the journalists killed this year to mark World Press Freedom Day, which was celebrated on May 3.

A gallery of photos of the event is available here.

The video news of the event will be available here.

For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org.

Reference: E-168/15