August - October, 2009

On October 27, 5 members of the House of Representatives of Paraguay visited the OAS and met with Ambassador Albert R. Ramdin, Assistant Secretary General. In addition, the group received a guided tour of the Historic OAS Main Building by Víctor Febre, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations.

On October 27, 32 graduate students from Université Laval visited the OAS. The group was welcomed in the Miranda Room by Darren Rogers, Counselor, Alternate Representative, Permanent Mission of Canada to the OAS. After lunch, the group returned to the Historic Main Building for a guided tour with Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations. Ambassador Adam Blackwell, Secretary, Secretariat for External Relations, gave the students an overview of the organization. Following was an overview on Québec Inter-American Affairs by Frédéric Bolduc, Head of Multilateral Affairs, Bureau of Québec, Washington D.C. Annie Mercure, Coordinator, Haiti Task Force, Office of the Assistant Secretary General, OAS, spoke about working as a young professional at the Organization. Nelly Robinson, MOAS Coordinator, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, gave the students an overview of the MODEL OAS.  The group was then escorted to the Art Museum of the Americas for a guided tour given by Adriana Ospina, Docent, Art Museum of the Americas, Department of Cultural Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations

On October 23, 3 participants of the U.S. State Department Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program received a guided tour of the OAS Historic Main Building with Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations. Sherry Stephenson, Head, Institutional Relations, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations gave an overview of the organization. After a Q & A session, the group was escorted to the Art Museum of the Americas for a guided tour with Adriana Ospina, Docent, Art Museum of the Americas, Department of Cultural Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations

On October 15, 24 students of International Law and Organizations from American University visited the OAS. Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations gave the group a tour of the OAS Historic Main Building. Sherry Stephenson, Head, Institutional Relations, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations gave the group an overview of the organization and answered questions regarding the current situation of Honduras. Mark Fleming, Human Rights Specialist, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, concluded the visit by talking to the group about the work of the commission and answered questions on the process and decisions of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights

On October 14, a group of 58 students from Prepa Tec Campus Garza Sada & Campus Ciudad de México of El Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey visited the OAS.  Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations took the students on a guided tour of the Historic OAS Main Building and gave them and overview of the organization. Héctor Ortega, Alternate Representative, Permanent Mission of Mexico to the OAS, spoke to the students and answered questions about the role of Mexico as a Permanent Member to the Organization of American States

On October 13, the OAS received a visit from 26 USAF-sponsored Latin American Cadets. Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations took the cadets on a tour of the Historic OAS Main Building. Jorge Sanin, Head, Permanent Observer Countries & Civil Society, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, gave the cadets an overview of the organization and answered questions regarding Multidimensional Security, Cuba and Honduras.

On October 5, 22 professionals from Mexico with The Washington Center for Internships visited the OAS. Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations gave the group a guided tour of the Historic Main Building. Danielle Sotomayor, gave the professionals an informative presentation on Communication and Negotiation Skills.

On October 2, 21 junior and senior students enrolled in a U.S. foreign policy course at American University visited the OAS. Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations gave the student a tour of the Historic Main Building. Sherry Stephenson, Head, Institutional Relations, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, gave an overview of the organization and answered questions regarding the present situation in Honduras.

On September 24, the 50 fall semester OAS Interns visited the OAS Main Building, the Museum of the Americas and the Columbus Memorial Library. Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, took the interns on a guided tour of the OAS Main Building. Adriana Ospina, Docent, Art Museum of the Americas, Department of Cultural Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, gave them a guided tour of the Art Museum. Beverly Wharton-Lake, Chief of the Columbus Memorial Library and Stella Villagran, Reference Librarian, gave the interns an overview of the Columbus Memorial Library.

On September 24, Audrey M. Christopher, Acting Chief of Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Suriname visited the OAS. Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, gave Ms. Christopher and members of her staff a guided tour of the Historic OAS Main Building. Subsequently, Ms. Christopher met with Ana O’Brien, Chief, Office of Protocol.

On September 21, the OAS received a very special visit from 4 members of the Wyatt family. The Wyatt’s are direct descendants of the Van Ness family, original owners of the land where the OAS Main Building presently stands. Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, was in charge of taking the family on a tour of the building and the grounds.  Fabian Goncalves, Exhibit Coordinator, Art Museum of the Americas, Department of Cultural Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations gave the group a tour of the Art Museum of the Americas.

On September 18, a group of 16 international visitors with Meridian International Center attending a session on "Administration of Justice and the Rule of Law" seminar visited the OAS. Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, gave the group a tour of the Historic OAS Main Building. Jorge Sanin, Head, Permanent Observer Countries & Civil Society, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, gave the group an overview of the organization. Mario López,  Principal Human Rights Specialist, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, gave an overview on the promotion and protection of human rights in the Americas.

On  September 17, the OAS received a visit from 12 H.S. students from Venezuela with Partners of the Americas. The students received a tour of the OAS Historic Main Building with Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations. Pablo Zúñiga, Director, Department of State Modernization and Governance, Secretariat for Political Affairs, gave an overview of the organization and spoke on the importance of the promotion of democracy. Nelly Robinson, MOAS Coordinator, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, spoke on the MOAS Program and invited the students to participate.

On Wednesday, September 16, 12 journalists from a special training program of the United Nations visited the OAS. Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, gave the group a tour of the Historic OAS Main Building. Sherry Stephenson, Head, Institutional Relations, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, gave them an overview of the organization. Adriana Ospina, Docent, Art Museum of the Americas, Department of Cultural Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, took them on a guided tour of the Art Museum of the Americas.

On Wednesday, September 16, 14 students from American University received a tour of the Historic OAS Main Building with Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations. Sherry Stephenson, Head, Institutional Relations, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, gave them an overview of the organization. Adriana Ospina, Docent, Art Museum of the Americas, Department of Cultural Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, took the group on a guided tour of the Art Museum of the Americas.

On Tuesday, September 15, a group of 25 docents from the Corcoran Art Museum received a tour of the Historic OAS Main Building and an overview on the Organization by Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations. Adriana Ospina, Docent, Art Museum of the Americas, Department of Cultural Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, took them on a guided tour of the Art Museum of the Americas.

On September 14, Jorge Sanin, Head, Relations with Permanent Observers and Civil Society, represented Dr. Irene Klinger, Director of the Department of International Affairs, and met with 17 afro-descendant leaders of civil society organizations from the Hemisphere as part of a week-long seminar organized in collaboration with Global Rights – Partners for Justice to increase knowledge of representatives of afro-descendant organizations about the OAS and its political bodies. The group received an overview of the OAS and topics discussed were the status of the Inter-American Convention against Racism and all Forms of Discrimination and Intolerance; mechanisms for civil society participation in the OAS, and the work of the OAS in terms of afro-descendants.  After the meeting, the group received a guided tour of the Historic OAS Main Building by Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations.

On Friday, September 11, the OAS received the Washington Semester International Business and Trade 2 class and the International Law and Organizations Program class with a total of  64 students from American University. Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, gave them a tour of the Historic OAS Main Building. Sherry Stephenson, Head, Institutional Relations, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, gave them an overview of the Organization. The classes were then separated.  One class stayed with Becxi Sanchez Bonilla, Trade Specialist, Department of Trade and Tourism, Executive Secretariat for Integral Development, who briefed them on trade issues and the other group adjourned to the Simon Bolivar Room and were addressed by William M. Berenson, Chief of Litigation, Department of Legal Services, International Law.

On Thursday, September 10, 30 students from The Thomas Jefferson School High School, Santiago, Chile, visited the OAS. Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, gave them a tour of the Historic OAS Main Building and an overview of the Organization. Nelly Robinson, MOAS Coordinator, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, gave them and overview of the MOAS program for high schools. Francisco Bernales, Minister Counselor, Alternate Representative of the Mission of Chile to the OAS spoke on his role and daily work responsibilities as a diplomat in the Mission of Chile to the OAS.

On Tuesday, September 8, the OAS received a visit from 47 military personnel of La Escuela Superior de Guerra de Colombia. Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, welcomed the group and escorted them on a guided tour of the OAS Main Building. Irene Klinger, Director, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, welcomed the military personnel and gave them an overview of the organization. Ambassador Alexandre Addor-Neto, Secretariat for Multidimensional Security, gave an overview on multidimensional security in the region and spoke on it's present challenges.  Juan Pablo Alban, Human Rights Specialist, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, gave an overview on the situation and progress of human rights in the region and in Colombia. Ambassador Luis Alfonso Hoyos, Permanent Representative of the Mission of Colombia to the OAS, gave concluding remarks reiterating the role of the Mission of Colombia to the OAS as a Member of the Permanent Council.

On Friday, September 4, 32 members of the U.S. Foreign Service Institute received a guided tour by Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations. Jorge Sanin, Head, Permanent Observer Countries & Civil Society, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, gave them an overview of the organization.

On Thursday, August 27, 22 Georgetown law school graduate students visited the OAS. Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, welcomed the students and gave them a tour of the Historic OAS Main Building. Jane Thery, Principal Specialist, Secretariat for External Relations gave an overview of the OAS. Mario López, Principal Human Rights Specialist, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, spoke to them on the subject of human rights issues. The visit was concluded by Adriana Ospina, Docent, Art Museum of the Americas, Department of Cultural Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, taking  them on a guided tour of the Art Museum of the Americas.

On Friday, August 14, the 62 members of the 49th Class of the Inter-American Defense College  finalized their third day OAS Seminar at Ft. Leslie McNair. Alejandro Díaz de León, Senior Specialist/Program Manager, Inter-American Committee against Terrorism, CICTE, Secretariat for Multidimensional Security, opened the morning session by speaking on the subject of terrorism. Jim Mack, Executive Secretary, Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission, CICAD, Secretariat for Multidimensional Security, followed by giving an overview on drugs, trafficking and rehabilitations programs. Alison August-Treppel, Chief, Section on Transnational Organized Crime, Department of Public Security, Secretariat for Multidimensional Security, proceeded to speak on gangs and public security. The morning session was concluded by Abraham Stein, Deputy Director, Department for the Coordination of Policies and Programs, Secretariat for Multidimensional Security, speaking on the subject of coordinating the different programs under the Secretariat for Multidimensional Security. After a 10 minute recess the group was divided into three break-out sessions for questions and answers. After lunch,  Fernando Garcia-Robles, Coordinator, Anti-Trafficking of Persons, Department of Public Security, Secretariat for Multidimensional Security, started the afternoon session with a video presentation on human trafficking and then opened the floor for questions and answers. Carlos Calderon, Consultant, Humanitarian Demining Program, Department of Public Security, Secretariat for Multidimensional Security, concluded the afternoon session with a power point presentation on the Humanitarian Demining Program and then opened the floor for questions and answers.

On Thursday, August 13, 62 members of the 49th Class of the Inter-American Defense College assembled at Ft. McNair to participate in their second day OAS Seminar. Pablo Gonzalez, Chief, Natural Hazard Risk Reduction, Department of Sustainable Development, began the morning session with an overview on Natural Disasters and Risk Management. Mark Lambrides, Chief, Climate Adaptation, Natural Disasters, Sustainable Energy and Small Island States, Department of Sustainable Development, gave them an overview on sustainable energy issues. Flor de María Valdez, Consultant, Permanent Secretariat of the Inter-American Commission of Women spoke on the mechanism to follow-up on the Implementation of the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women, as well as the issues affecting Gender & Conflict Resolution. After a 10 minute recess the group was divided into three break-out sessions for questions and answers. The afternoon session began with Enrique Martinez, Juridical Official, Office of Legal Cooperation Mechanism, Anti-Corruption, Department of Legal Cooperation, speaking on the subject of anti-corruption and transparency. Carlos Gallegos, Secretariat of the Inter-American Committee on Ports, concluded the day with an overview entitled Ports-OAS: Cooperating for Port Development in the Americas. Break-out Q & A sessions concluded the afternoon Seminar.

On Wednesday, August 12, the Department of International Affairs organized a three day Seminar for the 62 new members of the 49th Class of the Inter-American Defense College. The Seminar began at OAS Headquarters with a tour of the Historic Main Building by Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations. José Miguel Insulza, Secretary General, welcomed the group in the Hall of the Americas and gave introductory remarks. Jorge Sanin, Head, Permanent Observer Countries & Civil Society, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations, welcomed the group and introduced Ambassador Oyarce, President of the Permanent Council, Permanent Mission of Chile to the OAS  who gave an overview of the role of the OAS and the Inter-American agenda. Pablo Zúñiga, Director, Department of State Modernization and Good Governance, Secretariat for Political Affairs, continued with an overview on democracy and democratic values. Mario López, Head Specialist, Human Rights, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, spoke on the subject of promoting human rights in the Americas. After lunch, the afternoon session began with Ambassador Alexandre Addor-Neto, Secretariat for Multidimensional Security, briefing on the challenges of  multidimensional security. Rosanna Martinelli, Specialist, Department of Social Development, Executive Secretariat for Integral Development, concluded with and overview on integral development. Closing remarks were made by Jorge Sanín, Head, Permanent Observer Countries & Civil Society, Department of International Affairs, Secretariat for External Relations