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G E N E R A L      S E C R E T A R I A T

EXECUTIVE ORDER No. 96-9 Corr. 1
SUBJECT:  CREATION OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL SECRETARIAT

 

THE SECRETARY GENERAL,

    In the exercise of the powers conferred upon him by Articles 108 and 112 of the OAS Charter and Articles 4, 8, and 12 of the General Standards to Govern the Operations of the General Secretariat,

CONSIDERING,

    That to provide a full range of services effectively, efficiently, and consistent with its mandates and needs, the General Secretariat has reorganized existing dependencies and created new ones;

    That the establishment of a mechanism to assist the Secretary General in coordinating, integrating, supervising, and directing the work of those dependencies is essential to the success of its reorganization efforts,

RESOLVES:

I. ESTABLISHMENT AND COMPOSITION OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

1. The Executive Committee of the General Secretariat (hereinafter referred to as "the Executive Committee" or "the Committee") is hereby established as the principal entity within the General Secretariat responsible for assisting the Secretary General in coordinating, supervising, integrating, and directing the policies, services, and activities of the General Secretariat.

2. The Executive Committee shall include the following members:

the Secretary General;

the Assistant Secretary General;

the Chief of Staff;

the Executive Secretary for CIDI;

the Assistant Secretary for Management;

the Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs;

the Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights;

the Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission ("CICAD");

the Executive Coordinator of the Unit for the Promotion of Democracy;

the Chief Trade Advisor of the Unit for the Promotion of Trade;

the Director of the Unit for Sustainable Development and the Environment;

the Director of the Inter-Sectoral Unit For Tourism;

the Director of the Unit of Social Development and Education;

the Director of the Department of Public Information;

the Director of the Department of Fellowships; and

the Director of the Department of Legal Services.

3. In order to assure that the objectives of the Executive Committee are best achieved, the Secretary General may modify its membership. Such changes in the Executive Committee's membership shall be implemented by way of Directives of the Secretary General.

II. FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

    The Executive Committee shall assist the Secretary General in the supervision, coordination and direction of the work of the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States. In the furtherance of these purposes, the Executive Committee shall provide information and advice to the Secretary General on the following matters:

a. Policies and guidelines for the preparation and execution of the Program-Budget;

b. Policies and guidelines for the preparation and execution of programs and projects pursuant to mandates of the member states;

c. Participation of the General Secretariat at meetings of the Organization;

d. Responses to specific mandates from the political organs of the Organization;

e. Administrative policies and procedures of the General Secretariat;

f. Compliance with cooperation agreements and relations with other organs and entities, both within and outside of the Inter-American System;

g. Assessment of trends and developments in the Hemisphere that may affect the duties, functions and structure of the Organization;

h. Juridical and political matters affecting the member states in which the organization may be able to assist; and

i. Any such other matter of concern to the Organization, at the discretion of the Secretary General.

III. MEETINGS

1. The Executive Committee shall meet regularly at least once a month. The Secretary General may schedule regular meetings at more frequent intervals by way of Directive, and may call special meetings as he deems necessary.

2. All members of the Executive Committee are obligated to attend its meetings. A member who cannot attend must name an alternate from the administrative dependency directed by that member.

3. The Secretary General is the Chairman of the Executive Committee. When he is absent from Headquarters or otherwise unavailable, the Assistant Secretary General shall take his place. When both the Secretary General and Assistant Secretary General are unavailable, the Chief of Staff shall serve as Chairman.

4. The Inspector General may attend all Executive Committee meetings as an observer.

5. In accordance with the agenda items under consideration, the Secretary General may invite advisors, other officials of the General Secretariat, and experts from outside the General Secretariat to attend and participate in Executive Committee meetings.

IV. SUBCOMMITTEES AND WORKING GROUPS

    The Secretary General may establish subcommittees and working groups of the Executive Committee to study and make recommendations on specific issues. Unless otherwise directed by the Secretary General, those subcommittees and working groups will adopt their own procedures and operating guidelines.

V. SECRETARIAT SERVICES

1. The Office of the Secretary General, in consultation with the Office of the Assistant Secretary General, shall provide secretariat services to the Executive Committee. A senior member of that Office shall serve as the Executive Secretary of the Committee. In accordance with the Committee's requirements, other dependencies of the General Secretariat shall supplement those services as requested by the Chief of Staff.

2. The Executive Secretary of the Committee shall prepare the agenda for each meeting in accordance with the directions of the Secretary General and shall circulate it, together with all relevant documents, prior to the date of the meeting.

3. The Executive Secretary of the Committee shall maintain summary minutes of the meetings.

VI. EFFECT, AMENDMENTS AND REPEALS;

1. This Executive Order shall take effect on the date on which it is signed.

2. This Executive Order supersedes all present norms, reglations and practices of the General Secretariat to the contrary.

Date: October 11, 1996
Original:  English