Civil Society status with the OAS

Civil society organizations (CSOs) are defined in the OAS as "any national or international institution, organization, or entity made up of natural or juridical persons of a non-governmental nature," according to resolution CP/RES. 759 (1217/99) "Guidelines for the Participation of CSOs in OAS Activities."

There are three ways in which CSOs can participate in OAS meetings. First, a CSO can register with the Organization of American States (OAS). Second, if a CSO would like to participate without registering, it can attend meetings of the General Assembly, the Permanent Council, the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI), and other specialized conferences of the OAS by requesting to attend as a Special Guest. The third way to participate in OAS activities is by signing cooperation agreements with the OAS General Secretariat in order to develop joint programs. 

Among the benefits received by CSOs that are registered with the OAS and approved by the Permanent Council to participate in OAS activities, they are able to:

  • Present recommendations and assist in effectively implementing the OAS resolutions adopted at each session of the General Assembly, as appropriate.

  • Receive the calendar of OAS meetings and, when possible, the themes to be discussed in the meetings.

  • Designate representatives to participate in public meetings of the Permanent Council, CIDI and their subsidiary bodies.

  • Access virtual consultations on issues and initiatives promoted by the OAS.

  • Contribute to the elaboration of the agenda of an annual meeting of the Permanent Council on a matter of special interest to registered CSOs for a broad and substantive dialogue.

  • Attend closed meetings of the Permanent Council, the CIDI, and other organs with authorization from the Chair of the meeting in question, in consultation with the participating Member State delegations.

  • Receive documents in advance of the meetings of the Working Groups and Special Committees of the Permanent Council or the CIDI.

  • Distribute written documents before meetings of the Committees of the Permanent Council or of the CIDI.

  • Present written documents, not exceeding 2,000 words, on questions that fall within its particular sphere of competence and appear on the agenda or order of business for the meetings of the Permanent Council, CIDI and their Committees. These documents shall be distributed by the General Secretariat to Member States.

  • Receive the OAS resolutions adopted at each session of the General Assembly.

The following Permanent Council resolutions and other documents establish the norms for civil society participation in the OAS:

  • Charter of the Organization of American States

  • AG/RES. 57 (I-0/71) "Standards on Cooperative Relations between the Organization of American States and the United Nations, Its Specialized Agencies, and Other National and International Organizations"

  • CP/CAJP - 962/94 "Non-Governmental Organizations with which the Organization of American States has Established Cooperative Relations"

  • CP/CAJP-1005/95 "Comparative Chart on Non-Governmental Organizations' Rights at the United Nations Conferences", 23 March 1995

  • CP/Doc.2946/97 "Report by the Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs on the Status of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the OAS"

  • CP/RES.704 (1129/97) "Status of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the OAS"

  • GETC/FORMOEA-101/99 rev. 5 "Discussion Paper, The OAS and Civil Society"

  • CP/Doc.3210/99 rev.1 "Report of the General Secretariat on NGOs and the General Secretariat of the OAS in Compliance with Resolution CP/RES.704 (1129/97)"

  • CP/CSC-3/99 “Background Information on Civil Society Participation in OAS Activities"

  • CP/CSC-18/99 "Report of the Chair to the Permanent Council on the Guidelines for the Participation of Civil Society Organizations in OAS activities"

  • CP/RES.759 (1217/99) "Guidelines for the Participation of Civil Society Organizations in OAS activities"

  • CP/DOC. 3365/00 “Request From Civil Society Organizations To Participate In OAS Activities”

  • Inter-American Democratic Charter

  • CP/CISC- 17/03 "Report on the Participation of Civil Society Organizations in the Activities of the OAS"

  • CP/CISC-35/03 "First Inter-American Meeting of Ministers and High Authorities of Culture (Document presented by the Unit for Social Development and Education and the Summits of the Americas Secretariat of the OAS)"

  • CP/CISC-30/03 rev. 1 "Report of the Chair of the Committee on Inter-American Summits Management and Civil Society Participation in OAS Activities containing the draft resolution 'Strategies for increasing and strengthening participation by 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/CISC-44/03 corr. 1 "Report on the Special Meeting of the Committee on Inter-American Summits Management and Civil Society Participation in OAS Activities"

  • CP/CISC-106/04 "Review of the Rules of Procedure for Civil Society Participation With the Organization of American States (march 2004)"

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

  • CP/CISC-314/07 "Report on Civil Society Participation in International Organizations"