On April 26th, the Department of International Law (DIL) of the Secretariat for Legal Affairs organized a joint event with the American Bar Association (ABA) Section on International Law entitled “ABA Day at the OAS” to consider current legal issues of common interest in the Americas. This was the second such event that has been held pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement between the OAS General Secretariat and the ABA (2017), to promote the rule of law and the development of international law within the Inter-American System.

After welcoming remarks by Nancy Stafford, Chair, ABA Section on International Law, Deborah Enix-Ross, ABA President-elect, and Luis Almagro, OAS Secretary General (pre-recorded), the audience heard from representatives across a number OAS entities, as follows:

• Jean Michel Arrighi, Secretary for Legal Affairs.

• Executive Secretariat for Integral Development, represented by:
  Juan Cruz Monticelli, Chief, Sustainable Energy Section.
  Cesar Parga, Chief, Competitiveness, Innovation and Technology Section.

• Maricarmen Plata, Secretary for Access to Rights and Equity.
  Betilde V. Muñoz Pogossian, Director, Social Inclusion.
  Roberto Rojas Dàvila, Unit Chief, Groups in Vulnerable Situations.

• Francisco Guerrero, Secretary for Strengthening Democracy.

• Executive Secretariat, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, represented by:
  Mario Lopez, Senior Adviser to the Executive Secretary.

• Executive Secretariat, Inter-American Commission on Women, represented by:
  Hilary Anderson, Senior Gender Specialist.

• James M. Lambert, Secretary for Hemispheric Affairs.

• Secretariat for Multidimensional Security, represented by:
  Antonio Lomba, Unit Chief, Institutional Strengthening, Executive Secretariat of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD).
  Violanda Botet, Assistant Executive Secretary, Inter American Committee Against Terrorism (CICTE).
  Michael Bejos, Senior Official, Department Against Transnational Organized Crime.
  Carl Case, Senior Advisor, Small Arms and Light Weapons and De-mining, Department of Public Security.
  

The event illustrated the cross-cutting nature of international law and its foundation for the four-pronged approach used by the OAS to promote democracy, defend human rights, ensure multidimensional security, and foster development. It also evidenced the spirit of cooperation within the OAS General Secretariat and the importance of collaboration with entities such as the American Bar Association to promote the development of international law within the Americas.

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