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Inaugurated First OAS Model General Assembly for Schools in Colombia

  October 6, 2011

The first model of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States for schools of Colombia (MOAS) was launched today at the Country Club of the city of Barranquilla, in an event where students from 18 colleges and four universities will meet from October 6th to the 9th to represent in a simulation exercise 24 member states and permanent observers of the hemispheric institution.

The Universidad del Norte (UNINORTE) of Barranquilla and the OAS Department of International Affairs of the Secretariat for External Relations organized the meeting, held at the headquarters of the Colombian university. The opening ceremony was attended by Alberto Roa Varela, the Vice Provost Academic UNINORTE, by the former Representative of Colombia to the OAS, Camilo Ospina, as a special guest, and on behalf of the OAS, the Deputy Director for Public Management effective, Pablo Zuniga.

Among the topics discussed by the students during the Model are the challenges to democratic governance on the tenth anniversary of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, the promotion of democratic values, democratic and equitable participation of women, education for preventing youth violence, and environmentally sustainable energy sources.

Speaking at the ceremony, Pablo Zúñiga referred to "the significance and importance of the MOAS as a tool for learning about democratic values ​​and issues most relevant to the inter-American agenda, as well as an opportunity to practice leadership skills and negotiation.”

The MOAS is a program that aims to promote democratic values ​​among the youth of the hemisphere through a simulation of the OAS General Assembly.

For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org.

Reference: E-882/11