Promoting Democracy

With the cooperation of Spain, Switzerland, China, the European Union, France, Italy, Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Serbia and Sweden, the OAS was able to fulfill its operational objectives by conducting Electoral Observation Missions in Haiti, Bolivia, Colombia, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Paraguay and Guyana, and carried out programs aimed at strengthening the capacity of electoral institutions in its Member States.

Since 2004, the OAS Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia (MAPP/OAS) has been successful in observing the cease fire and hostilities, the demobilization of more than 31,000 paramilitaries, and the reintegration of armed groups in Colombia. The contributions of Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Korea, have made it possible for the MAPP to focus on the implementation of the Justice and Peace as well as Land Restitution Laws.

Through the Peace Fund, created in 2000, the OAS Member States are given a mechanism that allows for conflict resolution as contemplated under the OAS Charter. The Peace Fund continues to work toward the resolution of the Belize-Guatemala border dispute through in-country education campaigns and confidence-building measures as the case moves to adjudication in the International Court of Justice. These programs received contributions from Spain, Azerbaijan, Turkey, the United Kingdom and China.

 Ensuring a Multidimensional Approach to Security

The OAS Comprehensive Demining Programs works to remove antipersonnel landmines and munitions and to implement important mine risk education and victim rehabilitation programs. More than 3 million square meters of land have been cleared, 70,000 mines have been destroyed, and thousands of landmine survivors throughout Central America and the Andean Region have been treated and given the proper education and tools to succeed. Belgium, Italy, and Norway, supported the OAS’ efforts in this program.

The Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), received support from Spain, the European Union, France and Greece. CICAD uses a multi-faceted approach to drug control, including institutional from institutional strengthening to combat money laundering and to promote alternative crop development. Through building the human and institutional capabilities of Member States and channeling the collective efforts to reduce production, trafficking and use of illegal drugs.

With contributions from Italy, the OAS was able to initiate efforts at helping Member States strengthen their institutional capacity to address public safety challenges related to organized crime at a national and transnational level.

 Fostering Integral Development and Prosperity

Spain, China, Israel, the Netherlands, the European Union, Luxembourg, Finland, and Monaco provided financial and in-kind support to integral development programs, including in the areas of professional and human development scholarships, tourism and environment, especially those relating to the protection and sustainable use of water resources and management, sustainable energy and conservation of wildlife. Cultural programs, including the Americas Magazine and the Orchestra Program for Youths at Risk in Jamaica, Haiti and St. Lucia received support from Turkey, Korea and Qatar.  

 Defending Human Rights

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) benefited greatly from the cooperation of Spain, Azerbaijan, Denmark, France, Finland, Greece, Ireland, and the Netherlands to implement its Strategic Plan 2011-2015, which aims to promote and protect human rights in the Americas through the use of such instruments as its individual case system, on-site visits, country reports, recommendations to the Member States and precautionary measures.

Through its Strategic Plan 2011-2015, the IACHR is streamlining its efforts in responding to the mandates of the OAS Member States as well as the increasing case load of the Commission, which consists of individual petitions that have a direct impact on the release of individuals who were arbitrarily detained; the reparations for the victims of disappearance and massacres; the derogation or modification of laws that limit fundamental rights; the promotion of constitutional reforms; and, advancing freedom of expression in the Americas, among others.

Switzerland also reinforced the work of the OAS Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the IACHR in carrying out its duties of disseminating and promoting the Inter-American Human Rights System through seminars, work­ing visits to OAS Member States, and presenting petitions of violations against freedom of expression to the IACHR.

 Strengthening Access and Effectiveness of Justice

The Netherlands, Spain and Italy were partners for the development of the Judicial Facilitators Program in Nicaragua, Guatemala, Paraguay and Panama. This program provided greater access to the judicial systems for populations in outlying rural areas through the establishment of mediation centers and judicial advocates. More than 4,800 judicial facilitators have been trained by the OAS and in-country specialists, who offer their voluntary services for the administration of justice in their respective areas and practice through the mediation centers administered by the Ministries of Justice.

Contributions from Germany also financed OAS programs aimed at facilitating the participation of indigenous peoples’ in the negotiations processes of the Draft American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Additionally, China supported the activities of the Inter-American Children’s Institute related to the prevention and eradication of commercial sexual exploitation and illicit trafficking of children in the hemisphere.

 Outreach

With the Lecture Series of the Americas, as well as OAS Policy Roundtables, Serbia and the People’s Republic of China made possible the realization of Lectures and Roundtables with the participation of prominent world leaders and intellectuals on key issues of the Inter-American agenda.

The OAS also celebrated the Tenth Anniversary of the Inter-American Democratic Charter through a series of outreach events, highlighted by a high-level hemispheric commemoration in Santiago, Chile, which was supported by Turkey. Spain also supported the Model OAS General Assembly (MOAS).