Contributions 2009


Contributions: 2014·2013·2012·2011·2010·2009·2008·2007·2006·2005

December 15, 2009. OAS Secretary General Insulza and Ambassador Zhou of the People's Republic of China signed two agreements between the Organization of American States and the Government of the People’s Republic of China. The first agreement, the “Additional Protocol to the Agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the General Secretariat of the OAS,” renews for five years the China-OAS Cooperation Fund in which the Government of China will contribute US$1,000,000 for OAS activities. 

This Fund, which was originally established for a period of five years in 2005 for an equivalent amount, has the goal of promoting projects of international cooperation for political stability and economic and social development in OAS Member States, as well as programs of exchange between China and the countries of the Americas among topics of common interest.

The second agreement signed is the “Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China and the General Secretariat of the OAS for Human Development and Scholarships Programs.”  This Memorandum builds upon important recent cooperation between the OAS and the Government of China in the area of education by providing 10 scholarships annually for five years to undergraduate and graduate student nationals of OAS Member States to study in China. 

Secretary General Insulza expressed the significance the signing of these two agreements has for the advancement of the relationship between the Organization and China. 

Ambassador Zhou, echoing this sentiment, added, “China is prepared to join hands with American states in countering the challenges and sharing development opportunities. 

I am confident that China and the OAS are fully able to build on what has been achieved, continue to increase mutual understanding and exchanges, and further expand the mutually beneficial cooperation so that the Chinese and American people will be better off.” The People’s Republic of China has been a Permanent Observer and important partner in OAS activities since 2004.  

Support in past years has focused mainly in the areas of gender issues and violence against women, advancing the education and rights of youth, the promotion of culture and the arts, and sustainable development. 

Remarks of Secretary General José Miguel Insulza
Remarks of Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong
Press Advisory

Press Release
China y OEA suscribieron dos nuevos convenios de cooperación amistosa (CRI Online)

The Government of Switzerland signed an agreement on December 11 with the OAS Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression to support the project, "Freedom of Expression in the Americas: Access to Information - Stage II - Emphasis Judges," with US$40,000 serviced in three installments over the course of 2010.

The project seeks to advance the right of access to information by promoting understanding of the inter-American system of Human Rights and freedom of expression among judges and lawyers or magistrate assistants of high Courts in thirteen participating Member States. Specifically, the initiative will increase the knowledge among these agents through seminars that educate them on the protection and guaranteeing of the right to access to information through the production of local jurisprudence.

Switzerland has been a Permanent Observer to the Organization since 1978, and is a major contributor among Permanent Observer countries to OAS programs in human rights.

The OAS received a contribution today from the Government of the State of Qatar for US$20,000 supporting two programs of the General Secretariat. The funds received will be divided evenly (US$10,000) to the OAS Fund for Peace, administered by the Department of Sustainable Democracy and Special Missions; and, scholarships for Professional Development programs, managed by the Department of Human Development.

Qatar has been a Permanent Observer with the Organization since 2002, and periodically provides support to the OAS in the area of culture, most recently contributing to infrastructure enhancement of the Museum of the Americas in 2005.

The Government of Denmark will contribute DKK1.5 million (approximately US$300,000) to the project “Strengthening Access to Justice in the Americas: 2010-2011,” implemented by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

The program will help reduce the Commission’s backlog of cases by hiring lawyers fully dedicated to preparing and submitting pending cases before the Court, and to prepare reports on the cases in the merits state. With this contribution, the Commission would be able to address at least 15 cases per year from those countries that are currently most affected by the backlog, namely, those in South and Central America. More specifically, the funds from Denmark will contribute to the continuation of the good experiences already achieved in supporting the work of the Commission with facilitating access to the judicial system for indigenous peoples.

Denmark, which has been a Permanent Observer to the OAS since 2000, is a significant and consistent donor to the programs of the OAS General Secretariat. Historically, Denmark contributes on average approximately US$315,000 annually to OAS programs in the areas of democracy promotion, human rights and supporting access to justice. In 2008 alone, Denmark provided over US$300,000 to the work of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

The Government of Finland pledged to contribute €200,000 (approximately US$285,000) in 2009 to three OAS programs in the areas of human rights, gender and sustainable development. Specifically, Finland has agreed to support the following programs: “Access to Justice for Women Victims of Sexual Violence in Central America,” being implemented by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, will receive €56,000 (approximately US$80,000); “Protection and Sustainable Use of Cross-boundary Aquifers in Mesoamerica,” being implemented by the Department of Sustainable Development, will receive €56,000 (approximately US$80,000); and, “Democracy and Gender Perspective in Local Public Finances,” being implemented by the Inter-American Commission of Women, will receive €88,000 (approximately US$125,000).

The first project, “Access to Justice for Women Victims of Sexual Violence in Central America” will create technical tools for OAS Member States that outline specific actions for improving access to justice for women victims of violence in Central America.

The second program, “Protection and Sustainable Use of the Cross-boundary Aquifers in Mesoamerica,” has the objective of advancing technical understanding of priority trans-boundary aquifers in Mesoamerica, defining adequate management instruments for these aquifers to promote their sustainable use for the surrounding areas, and strengthening local management capabilities of these aquifers.

The third project, “Democracy and Gender Perspective in Local Public Finances,” seeks to strengthen democratic participation of women in the management of local public finances and to introduce gender perspectives in the use of public resources in the participating Central American towns.

Since its inception as a Permanent Observer to the OAS in 1988, Finland has been an active participant in the programs of the Organization. Finland contributes almost annually to OAS programs in the areas of democracy promotion, human rights for women and indigenous groups, and advancing integral development.

On October 1, a large Finnish delegation of Ambassadors to the Americas and Foreign Ministry representatives visited OAS Headquarters to meet with Secretary General Insulza and high-level OAS officials to discuss deepening relations between the Organization and the Government of Finland. 

The Government of Italy announced a contribution on December 2, of €100,000 to three projects in the Office of Humanitarian Demining.

The funds pledged will be divided evenly for the purchase of equipment, mine risk education and victim assistance in the Cordillera del Condor region of Peru, in Colombia and in Nicaragua.

The funds directed to the Mine Action programs in Peru, Colombia and Nicaragua will help purchase equipment to carry out landmine clearance activities, mine risk education, victim assistance and socioeconomic reintegration of formerly mined zones, among others.

Italy, which has been a Permanent Observer to the OAS since 1972, is among the most consistent donors to the programs of the OAS General Secretariat. Historically, Italy contributes on average approximately US$528,000 annually to OAS programs in the areas of democracy promotion, human rights, supporting access to justice, reconstruction of civil registry systems and demining programs.

In 2008 alone, Italy provided roughly US$697,000 to the programs of the Office of Humanitarian Mine Action (AICMA).

On November 12, the Government of Germany approved a contribution of US$199,540 to the project, “Integrating a Gender Perspective into OAS Electoral Observation Missions.” 

This project, being implemented by the OAS Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation (DECO), will focus on analyzing the factors that influence the opportunities and barriers confronting women seeking nomination or election to a political post.  

This contribution from Germany coincides with the designation of 2010 as the Inter-American Year of Women via OAS General Assembly mandate AG/RES. 2322 (XXXVII-O/07), adopted on June 5, 2007 in Panama.

The OAS will continue ensuring greater gender inclusion in its activities, developing projects that aim to ensure full access to the civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights of women, and disseminating information on successful experiences with regard to their contributions to politics and social development; among other activities planned for 2010.

Germany has been a Permanent Observer to the OAS since 1972, and in 2008 contributed US$2,489,691 to OAS activities, an increase of 163% over the prior year. 

Germany has been a key partner to the OAS, lending important support to initiatives focused on strengthening democratic institutions and the promotion of sustainable development. 

The German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development announced in September a contribution of US$1,000,000 to support OAS activities in the areas of the promotion of peace in Colombia and the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples in the region. Press Release

On November 10, the OAS received a contribution by the Government of Italy for US$29,762 to support a program administered by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, called "Initiative on Public Policies Regarding Citizen Security and Human Rights in the Americas."  

This specific project aims to identify and clarify the array of standards that are applicable in the public security arena and develop recommendations for Member States about how to enhance citizen security through effective, rights-respecting policing and crime prevention policies. Broadly speaking, the program will contribute to the improvement of citizen security in the Americas.          

Italy has been a part of the OAS as a Permanent Observer since 1972, and is an active donor to the programs of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

On October 9, the OAS received a contribution of US$27,405 from the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to support the activities of the OAS Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression in the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

The Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression analyzes complaints of violations of freedom of expression received by the Commission and conveys to the Commission its opinions and recommendations with regard to opening cases. It also follows up on cases open before the Commission pertaining to violations of this right.

Furthermore, the Rapporteur issues requests to the Commission to solicit precautionary measures from the member states to protect the personal integrity of journalists and media correspondents, and makes recommendations to the Commission regarding hearings to be granted during regular sessions, among other duties.

On September 22, the European Union provided a contribution of US$387,050 to the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression. This contribution comes following receipt of US$501,658 from the EU to the program, "Improving drug treatment, rehabilitation, and harm reduction: European, Latin American and Caribbean cities in Partnership," implemented by the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission of the Secretariat for Multidimensional Security.

The European Union became a Permanent Observer to the OAS on November 18, 1989, and provides approximately US$785,000 annually to General Secretariat initiatives.

The OAS General Secretariat received on September 8, a contribution of US$56,576 from the Government of France to support counternarcotics activities of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission.

This contribution is in addition to another US$33,800 received by the OAS in May 2009 for programs of the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and the study of individual cases in the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

The Government of Italy announced a contribution on Monday, July 27, of €70,000 to two projects in the Office of Humanitarian Demining.

Of the total funds pledged, €35,000 will be directed to the program Mine Action in Ecuador and Peru, and the remaining €35,000 will finance the Victim Assistance in Central American program.

Italy has been a Permanent Observer to the OAS since 1972.  

Historically, Italy contributes on average US$528,000 annually to OAS programs in the areas of democracy promotion, human rights, supporting access to justice, reconstruction of civil registry systems and demining programs.

In 2008 alone, Italy provided roughly US$697,000 to the programs of the Office of Humanitarian Mine Action (AICMA). The funds directed to the Mine Action in Ecuador and Peru program will help carry out landmine clearance activities, mine risk education, victim assistance and socioeconomic reintegration of formerly mined zones, among others. The contribution to the Victim Assistance in Central America program will assist in developing the capacities of mine victims in Nicaragua to reinsert themselves in society, including job training, psychological care and other services.    

On July 28, the Organization of America States (OAS) received US$346,000 from the Government of the Royal Kingdom of the Netherlands to support the Inter-American Judicial Facilitators program in Nicaragua.

The Judicial Facilitators Program, administered by the Department of International Law of the OAS Secretariat for Legal Affairs, provides training to intermediaries to act as representatives between the community and the Nicaraguan judicial system. This program seeks to improve access to the judiciary for rural and poor communities that often lack the necessary capacities and knowledge to access their rights as citizens.

Since 2000, this program is known to have a positive impact on improving the existing judicial system in Nicaragua.

The Netherlands, which became a Permanent Observer to the Organization in 1972, is an important donor to priority OAS programs, contributing approximately US$1.2 million annually. Other projects supported include the Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia, the Inter-American Children’s Institute, electoral observation missions, sustainable development and gender equity.  The Netherlands also is an active donor to OAS programs at the Embassy-level in its Member States.

Secretary General José Miguel Insulza welcomed to OAS Headquarters the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the U.S. and Permanent Observer to the OAS, Han Duck-soo, on July 22 for the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea and the General Secretariat of the OAS establishing the Joint Korea-OAS Internship Program.

The program places young Korean students and professionals in internship positions at the General Secretariat of the OAS for a period of six months over the course of a few years. Financed by the Republic of Korea, the interns will learn of the challenges in the region, the role of the OAS and engage in the important work of the General Secretariat. The OAS welcomes the interns, who will be jointly selected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea and the General Secretariat, and will meet the requirements established by the Department of Human Resources for the OAS Internship Program.

Ambassador Han remarked that the signing of this agreement is an important step in Korea-OAS relations, which has become increasing strong over the course of the past several years. He noted that Korea’s relationship with the OAS can be taken as an example of strong cooperative relations and, as they expand their affairs with the various nations of the Hemisphere, the OAS can expect increased engagement with the country.

Korea, who became a Permanent Observer to the Organization in 1981, is a primary in-kind donor of equipment and human development courses, as well as a cash donor to programs of electoral observation and the peace fund. Secretary General Insulza followed Ambassador Han by highlighting his appreciation for the increased efforts of Korea to enhance their relationship with the OAS. He remarked that he is honored to have such a distinguished diplomat such as Ambassador Han be accredited as Permanent Observer to the Organization and congratulated his efforts, and the efforts of Seoul, in pursuing peace and security in their region and in the Americas.

The Secretary General also commented on the relevance of this agreement, noting that the OAS relies on the enthusiasm and willingness of interns to complete its work throughout the hemisphere. The agreement will be managed by the Departments of International Affairs and Human Resources. The first series of interns will be welcomed in the fall of 2009. Photo Gallery

On July 22, 2009, the OAS received US$130,535 from the Government of Sweden to support activities of the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression in the Americas.

The Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression was created in 1997 by the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (IACHR) to address urgent situations that merit the adoption of precautionary measures to protect the life, personal integrity, freedom of expression, and other human rights concerns, among others. The work of the Office of the Special Rapporteur has contributed to important legislative reforms, including the adoption by nine OAS Member States of the crime of contempt of court, recognizing its incompatibility with the right to freedom of expression.

Similarly, several other States, including Trinidad & Tobago, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Ecuador have approved important laws on access to public information.

Sweden, which has been an Observer to the OAS since 1996, is a primary donor to the Organization. The country contributes around US$3 million annually to programs in the areas of democracy promotion and electoral observation missions, humanitarian demining, the inter-American Children’s Institute, access to the judiciary, support to the peace process in Colombia and legislative modernization, in addition to its long-standing support to human rights programs.

The OAS received on July 22, 2009 a contribution of US$49,989 from the Government of Luxembourg that will support the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights’ activities towards Strengthening Justice in the Americas.

The Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (IACHR) is an autonomous organ of the OAS, whose mandate is found in the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The IACHR carries out on-site visits to observe the general human rights situation in a country or investigates specific violations. The funds provided by Luxembourg will reinforce the mechanism for bringing cases to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, including support to the preparation of the application before the Court, elaboration of the case strategy, selecting witnesses and documentary evidence, as well as monitoring the proceedings before the Court, particularly the deadlines in the case, and the preparation of the legal arguments.

Luxembourg has been a Permanent Observer with the Organization since 2004. The country has given contributions to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Secretariat for Political Affairs in the past.

THE NETHERLANDS PROVIDES FINAL BOOST TO NICARAGUA’S HUMANITARIAN DEMINING PLANThe Dutch government made a contribution of 1.1 million dollars to the Program for Comprehensive Action against Antipersonnel Mines of the Organization of American States (OAS) in order to finalize Nicaragua’s National Demining Plan.

The donation is quite significant because it enables clearance of the remaining areas in Nueva Segovia and Jinotega departments, thereby making Nicaragua and all of Central America mine-free. It is also the first time an international donor provides funding specifically for the recovery of cleared lands.

Holland’s donation was formalized in Managua at a signing ceremony between the Netherlands’ Chief of Mission Lambert C. Grijns and Pedro Vuskovic, OAS Representative in Nicaragua, with the presence of both the Danish and Japanese ambassadors plus Nicaragua’s Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense and high level military officials on Monday June 8, 2009. 

The governments of Denmark and Japan complemented with bilateral contributions as their ambassadors in Managua pledged support at the joint ceremony in Nicaragua’s Ministry of Foreign Relations.  

“The Netherlands has always considered humanitarian demining an integral part of national development, and is increasingly giving priority to socioeconomic development and productive activities in areas cleared of mines” stated Grijns as he signed the donation agreement making possible the completion of the Nicaraguan humanitarian demining program. 

Ambassador Grijns also expressed his satisfaction for “the work and effort of the Nicaraguan Army as an independent and professional institution.”  He also acknowledged Denmark’s and Japan’s contributions.

The OAS has been assisting Nicaragua for the last eighteen years in removing over 171,000 antipersonnel mines throughout the country and facilitating the physical and psychological recovery of the 1,144 registered landmine surviving victims.  During that timeframe, the program’s mine-safe messages have been carried over a million times person to person and by radio broadcast effectively reducing the number of landmine accidents in the country.  “We reached this day thanks to the hard and courageous work of hundreds of Nicaraguan soldiers and their officers in removing antipersonnel mines; and thanks to the cooperation of several countries that donated resources much like Holland is doing today.”  said Vuskovic.

The OAS program assists national humanitarian demining programs in complying with the “Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction,” better known as the Ottawa Convention.  With financial support from Denmark, Japan, and other donors, the OAS provided assistance for the completion of humanitarian demining programs in Costa Rica, Honduras, and Guatemala.

On May 27, 2009, the Government of the People’s Republic of China underscored its support for OAS activities with a contribution of US$72,000.  

The project, “Fostering Cultural Diversity and Creative Expression through Education,” will receive US$25,000 and will fund the Department of Education and Culture’s joint international workshop of high-authorities on culture.  

The initiative, “Income Generation and Active Employment Policies for Populations in Conditions of Poverty and Vulnerability of the Americas,” will receive US$47,000 to support its development by the Department of Social Development and Employment to mitigate the effects of the current economic crisis on the most vulnerable groups.  

The Government of Germany announced that for the period 2009-2010, it will contribute to the following programs in the OAS General Secretariat:

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  • Support of OAS Activities to Promote the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Latin America (Secretariat for Juridical Affairs): €172,103.00 
  • Support to the MAPP/Colombia - Supporting the OAS Mission's Activities Towards Safeguarding Victims in Colombia (Secretariat for Political Affairs/Department of Sustainable Democracy and Special Missions): €155,000.00   
  • Application of Quality Criteria in the Environmental and Food Sector (Secretariat for Integral Development): €330,000.00

The Government of Korea announced that for the period 2009-2010, it will contribute to the following programs in the OAS General Secretariat:

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  • The Peace Fund (Secretariat for Political Affairs/Department of Sustainable Democracy and Special Missions): US$40,000  
  • Electoral Observation Missions 2009 (Secretariat for Political Affairs/Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation): US$60,000
  • Outreach Programs (Secretariat for External Relations/Department of International Affairs): US$20,000
  • Korea-OAS Internship Program (Secretariat for Administration and Finance /Department of Human Resources): US$130,000

On March 16, 2009, the Government of the United Kingdom entered into an agreement with the OAS General Secretariat to provide £200,000 to the Secretariat for Political Affairs/Department of Sustainable Democracy's Peace Fund, in support of the legal fees associated with the Belize/Guatemala border conflict being adjudicated at the International Court of Justice.

On March 12, 2009, the Government of the United Kingdom supported the Electoral  Observation Mission in Antigua and Barbuda with a contribution of £20,000. The Electoral Observation Mission was conducted through the Secretariat for Political Affairs' Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation.

In January 2009, the Government of Denmark  provided the OAS General Secretariat a contribution of US$50,000 to fund the Electoral Observation Missions in El Salvador in January and March of 2009, conducted through the Secretariat for Political Affairs' Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation.

On February 10, 2009, the Government of Belgium contributed to the OAS General  Secretariat two separate disbursements of US$58,313 in the first installments of a two-part  contribution to the Action against Antipersonnel Landmines Humanitarian Demining Program's (AICMA) in Peru and Ecuador.

On January 27, the Government of Denmark presented the OAS General Secretariat with a contribution of US$114,601. The funds will be directed to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and will contribute to the work of the Special Rapporteur for Indigenous Peoples.

To start 2009, the OAS received a significant contribution of US$905,685 from the   Government of Sweden for the activities of the OAS Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia (MAPP/OEA). The MAPP has a diverse and wide mandate, which supports all areas of the peace process, including verification of demobilization, advancing dialogue between armed groups and the Government, follow up and monitoring of the implementation of the Law of Justice and Peace, support to communities on the creation of spheres of confidence and attention and follow up to human rights abuses and support to International Humanitarian Law.

On January 16, the OAS General Secretariat received a US$40,000 contribution from the Government of Greece to support counternarcotics efforts of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD).