- English
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