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  • Afro Descendants
  • Agriculture
  • Civil Society
    Paragraphs Related to the Theme
    Reports
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Initiative: The Training and Certification Program for Drug and Violence Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation (PROCCER)
    PROCCER is a model that provides for inter-agency, inter-institutional, and interdisciplinary organization at the national and regional levels, such that it can offer training and certification in the therapeutic intervention fields of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation for drug dependence and drug-associated violence as well as in aspects of program organization and operation.
    The components of the PROCCER Model may be adapted and tailored to meet the needs of the specific member state or region in accordance with needs and capacity. The objective of PROCCER model implementation is to develop and strengthen the national and regional institutional and service provider capacities in intervention strategies. The increased capacity is intended to enhance the quality and efficacy of drug use and violence prevention programs, as well as programs for treating and rehabilitating drug dependency or violent criminal behaviors.

    Activities: PROCCER is presently working in coordination with 23 national drug commissions of member states, 14 universities, and over 3,804 NGOS and members of civil society; and trained more than 2,300 prevention and treatment service providers from governmental and non-governmental agencies.

    - PROCCER: Training of treatment service providers in Mexico, Central America- 6, Paraguay, Dominican Republic, the Latin American Federation of Therapeutic Communities (FLACT)-19, including Brazil through the Brazilian Federation of Therapeutic Communities (FEBRACT)
    - PROCCER: Training of prevention practitioners and treatment service providers in the Caribbean- 13
    - PROCCER: National-level certification of treatment service providers in Mexico, El Salvador, and Costa Rica
    - PROCCER: Regional-level certification of prevention specialists and treatment service providers in the Caribbean
    - Training in the Specialized Adolescent Treatment Training for treatment service providers working with high-risk adolescents in the Caribbean region and on a global level
    -Training in the Universal Prevention Curriculum and Universal Treatment Curriculum on a hemispheric level

    Website: http://www.cicad.oas.org/Main/Template.asp?File=/reduccion_demanda/proccer/proccer_eng.asp

    Beneficiaries: 23 Member States: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Dominican Republic, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago
    Of the 23 Member States: the national drug commissions and ministries of health, GO, NGO, and civil society that offer prevention and treatment services, and citizens of member states who suffer from the disease of addiction and violence associated with drugs

    Partnership and financing: US Department of State: Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL)

    Government of Canada: Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program (ACCBP)

    In-kind contributions from OAS Member States implementing PROCCER
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Information available in spanish
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Information available in spanish
    • Date:  10/5/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Initiative:
    Civil Society Participation in the Framework of the Mechanism for Follow-Up on the Implementation of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption (MESICIC)

    MESICIC is recognized as an international example of openness toward Civil Society (see: http://www.oas.org/juridico/newsletter/nl_en_154.htm).

    The importance of civil society participation in the MESICIC is outlined in the Report of Buenos Aires, the grounding document of the Mechanism, which states that “In order to obtain better input for its review, the Committee shall include in the provisions governing its operation an appropriate role for civil society organizations, taking into account the “Guidelines for the Participation of Civil Society Organizations in OAS Activities” [CP/RES. 759 (1217/99)] and the definition of civil society contained in AG/RES. 1661 (XXIX-O/99), in keeping with the domestic legislation of the State Party under review.”

    To that end, Chapter V of the Rules of Procedure and Other Provisions of the Committee of Experts of MESICIC defines the participation of civil society organizations within the activities of the Committee of Experts.

    One of these activities is the presentation of a "Shadow Report", that is, a document with specific and direct information related to the questions that are referred to in the questionnaire with respect to the implementation, by a State Party under review, of the provisions selected for review within the framework of a round and to the follow-up of recommendations formulated previously. Civil Society Organization cab present these documents within the same time period given to the State Party in responding to the MESICIC questionnaire.

    In addition, Civil society organizations and/or, inter alia, private sector organizations, professional associations, academics, or researchers are invited to participate in a meeting during the Mechanism's on-site visit to the country.

    Activities:
    - Participation of several Civil Society Organizations and/or, inter alia, private sector organizations, professional associations, academics, or researchers are invited to participate during the MESICIC On-site visits to Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia, carried out between September and October 2015.

    For instance, during the on-site visit to Peru, the participation of OSCs included the following: Anti-Corruption Working Group (GTCC), the Peruvian Press Council (Consejo de la Prensa Peruana), the Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (IDEHPUCP), Centro Liber, the National Confederation of Private Business Organizations (CONFIEP), the National Society of Industries and the Chamber of Commerce of Lima.

    - In September 2015, the MESICIC Technical Secretariat and the Department of International Affairs of the Secretariat for External Relations distributed among OSCs registered from Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago (countries that compose the Second Group of States to be reviewed for the Fifth Round), their respective Country Questionnaire Regarding Follow-Up of the Implementation of the Recommendations Formulated and the Provisions Reviewed in the Second Round, and on the Convention Provisions Selected for the Fifth Round.

    The aforementioned countries and Registered OSCs have until December 9, 2015 to submit their respective responses to the Questionnaire.

    Website: http://www.oas.org/juridico/english/follow_civ.htm

    Beneficiaries:
    (Registered) Civil Society Organizations of the 31 Member States of MESICIC (Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela).
  • Cultural Diversity
    Ministerials
    Paragraphs Related to the Theme
    Reports
    • Date:  10/2/2012    Paragraphs: 38
    Initiative:
    Culture and Development: Improving institutional and human capacities to strengthen cultural and creative industries and to promote culture as a tool for social inclusion. Phase II

    Description:
    The importance of the contribution of cultural and creative industries to the creation of jobs, as well as in the promotion of citizenship participation, diversity, tolerance and understanding among societies, has begun to be widely recognized in some circles.

    OAS Member States have, for decades, formulated statements acknowledging the contribution of culture as an integral factor for development and wealth creation, and as a means to fight against inequality and poverty, as evidenced in declarations and communiqués as well as in the policies, programs and projects implemented in some of the states. However, some regions of our Hemisphere are not fully capitalizing on the potential of culture.

    In several meetings of Ministers of Culture and of the CIC, Member States from the Caribbean Region have expressed the necessity of receiving training and financing in this area. It is widely accepted that the Caribbean enjoys much success in the creative economy given the international success of many of the Caribbean’s musical genres, recording artistes, literary authors and festivals. However, the region continues to demonstrate relatively poor trade performance in the cultural and creative sector, in many cases, due to the absence of data infrastructure to capture the economic contribution of the sector. Given this gap, it is critical to develop a data infrastructure for the creative industries in the Caribbean region to contribute to reaching the potential of the sector.

    Many countries of the region have expressed concern about the lack of data to document the contribution of cultural industries to their economies, and the lack of systematic information about cultural policies and programs and their impacts on both economic and social development. This lack of good data, and a lack of opportunities to learn about cultural policies and programs in other member states, is a constant refrain in meetings of cultural authorities in the hemisphere, both in the framework of the OAS and in other international forums.

    Likewise, during their Fourth Inter-American Meeting, the Ministers of Culture and Highest Appropriate Authorities entrusted the CIC to: “Create a network composed of policy-makers, civil society and international organizations, to assist the member states in the design and implementation of public policies in culture, gather and share information and good practices, strengthen their human and institutional capacities, and promote awareness of the potential of culture to contribute to economic growth and social inclusion.” This mandate was partially fulfilled through execution of the first phase of the current project, “Culture in Development: An Inter-American Information Network” whose objective was making visible the contribution of culture to economic growth, social cohesion and sustainable development, and making it possible that the cultural dimension be incorporated in the agendas of the different sectors and in the design of public policies in the fields of education, planning, finances, tourism, among others. This project phase resulted in production of a portfolio of good practices, a series of technical cooperation missions among member states, development of a communication strategy on the importance of culture to development, among others.

    The new phase of the project responds to the need expressed by Member States to:

    i) Expand the Portfolio of Successful Practices and carry out a new round of Technical Assistance Missions and maintain the Internet portal www.desarrolloycultura.net;
    ii) Collect, analyze and update much-needed information on the state of cultural and creative industries in the Caribbean region and the capacity to measure their contribution to the economies, both vital to documenting and demonstrating the sector’s impact on socioeconomic development., and
    iii) Continue supporting the efforts of the Inter-American Committee on Culture (CIC) as a hemispheric technical-political forum by making it possible to continue its planning meetings and to disseminate and promote its activities through production of communication materials (brochure, articles on the web or in other regional media outlets, and at seminars, congresses and other events hosted by other organizations).

    The importance of the contribution of cultural and creative industries to the creation of jobs, as well as in the promotion of citizenship participation, diversity, tolerance and understanding among societies, has begun to be widely recognized in some circles.

    OAS Member States have, for decades, formulated statements acknowledging the contribution of culture as an integral factor for development and wealth creation, and as a means to fight against inequality and poverty, as evidenced in declarations and communiqués as well as in the policies, programs and projects implemented in some of the states. However, some regions of our Hemisphere are not fully capitalizing on the potential of culture.

    Activities:
    Following the Ministerial mandate, this project, in its proposed next phase, proposes the following result:

    Mechanisms of information exchange and technical assistance created or strengthened through horizontal cooperation in topics such as: launching cultural and creative enterprises; creating and/or strengthening cultural information systems; strategic planning of the different areas of the cultural public institutions; preservation and revaluation of intangible and linguistic cultural heritage; mainstreaming of culture in sectors such as: youth, environment, tourism, education and finance, the following activities will be implemented:

    1. Maintenance and development of the content in Spanish and English of the Internet Portal www.desarrolloycultura.net, implemented in collaboration with Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar, Colombia, and increase of the content with the University of the West Indies, Barbados.
    2. Execution of online seminars (Webinars) from the Internet Portal on topics related to the CIC Work Plan, and of in-person planning meetings with experts. It includes previous selection of topics and presenters.
    3. In-person planning and evaluation meetings of the Internet portal and all other topics of interest related to this project, of experts representing Universities associated to the OAS, to be held in Washington, D.C. (Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar and University of the West Indies, Barbados).
    4. Call for and Selection of new practices to add to the virtual version of the portfolio “Culture, Common Denominator for Development. 18 Successful Practices.”
    5. Call for proposals, selection and allocation of funds for a second round of technical cooperation missions between cultural Ministries or institutions among Member States.
    6. Follow up and draft final report of technical cooperation missions.
    7. Diagnostic study on the capacity to measure the contribution of creative industries to the economies of member states and on the existence of policies to increase that impact.
    8. Dissemination and promotion of the results of the work of the Inter-American Committee on Culture through the following: updating of the Web page; design and online distribution of a news bulletin; design and print of brochure; and presentation and promotion of the results of CIC projects in various forums.

    Beneficiaries:
    All OAS member states

    Direct:
    • Policymakers in ministries of Culture or equivalent institutions
    • Professionals in the culture field
    • Local governments of all Member States
    • Cultural organizations and civil society institutions

    Indirect:
    • Entrepreneurs in small cultural industries
    • General public

    Partnerships:
    • Ministries of Culture or their equivalent institutions of OAS member states
    • Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar – Cartagena de Indias, Colombia
    • Shidrath Ramphal Centre- International Trade Law, Policies and Services of the University of the West Indies – Cave Hill, Barbados
    • Date:  10/2/2012    Paragraphs: 44
    Initiative:
    Expanding the Socio-Economic Potential of Cultural Heritage in the Caribbean. Phase I: Needs Assessment and Project Selection.

    Description:
    The enormous socio-economic potential of the diverse range of cultural heritage resources of the states throughout the Anglophone Caribbean is seriously under-realized due to inherited structural rigidity and significant demographic and economic changes experienced across the region. According to various researches in the region, among the most serious regional challenges to the effective conservation and management of CH resources are: limited resources for national administrators of cultural heritage; the increasing dominance of international “mass” tourism interests in regional and national planning; the decreasing significance of local traditions.

    Meetings of Ministers of Culture in the Inter-American context have identified protection and promotion of cultural heritage as a priority for at least a decade. Caribbean member states expressed on multiple occasions their interest in obtaining technical support for heritage preservation and development efforts through the CIC. The present project would be a partial response to that interest.

    The end-of-project situation will mark the beginning of a longer process of addressing regional capacity needs to realize the socio-economic potential of cultural heritage in the Caribbean Region. The two outputs of the project will accomplish standalone goals as well as lay the foundation for continued capacity building across the region:
    a. A detailed situation analysis of cultural heritage needs and opportunities that will inform future strategies for participatory heritage engagement; national and regional policy initiatives; and public outreach, professional development. These needs and opportunities include: (1) problems and issues that most urgently concern stakeholders; (2) desired changes and opportunities; (3) current infrastructural priorities, redundancies, and shortfalls; (4) effectiveness of current laws and policies related to cultural heritage; (5) key socio-economic indicators related to cultural heritage and tourism; and (6) the full range of potential heritage resources germane to specific sites that may receive differential, official recognition.
    b. An established and documented framework for regional collaboration and planning with cultural heritage stakeholders including an online regional CH information system to facilitate collaboration among stakeholders (across the region and CH sectors). A Regional Heritage Network will link a wide range of stakeholders through online and face-to-face meetings to exchange information, and collaborate in filling gaps in resources and know-how. The network will also identify and assist in the planning of pilot projects that will be aimed at expanding the socio-economic and cultural potential of CH resources throughout the region. The foundation of this Regional Network will be established through the initial Needs Assessment and regional meeting, which will help identify potential members of this network. It will be formalized in a later project stage.
    c. Detailed recommendations for potential pilot projects that will serve as a model for multi-level, interdisciplinary, and participatory heritage engagement programs that enhance the protection of cultural heritage resources; increase regional, national, and local control over socio-economic benefits derived from cultural heritage; and strengthen collective memory and shared identity among the population. The recommended projects, to be implemented and evaluated in a subsequent project phase, will maximize the use of existing resources and expertise in the region and will be adaptable for use by all member-states represented in the network as a means of making CH conservation a sustainable contributor to the region’s development.

    All outputs of Phase I will facilitate the subsequent implementation in a later project phase of regional pilot projects that address the main problems identified. Specifically, this will include 1.) New legislative or administrative frameworks that will enhance the capacity of local governments, working in concert with private citizens, to ensure conservation and effective presentation of cultural heritage resources; 2.) Long-range economic strategies and cooperative public-private partnerships to build linkages between local economic resources in the heritage sector and the global economy (in order to mitigate the “leakage” of tourism revenue from the regional economy); and 3.) to empower local communities to creatively preserve and revitalize distinctive elements of traditional culture.

    Following OAS mandates, the goal of this project is to develop a framework to promote the protection and development of the cultural heritage of the Caribbean region by governmental institutions, the private sector and civil society organizations, thus contributing to expanding the socio-economic benefits of regional cultural heritage as valuable and non-renewable public resources.

    Activities:
    - Document and analyze needs and priorities as perceived in the region regarding the protection, use, and enhancement of cultural heritage. This information will be gathered by formulating and disseminating an online survey to regional stakeholders, with attention to environmental concerns, consideration for the representation of vulnerable populations and for gender equality. Responses to this survey will be analyzed to identify and prioritize regional needs and opportunities and evaluate survey performance indicators. The information collected will be organized in a web-based database.
    - Develop a set of recommendations regional capacity-building and collaborative stakeholder actions to enhance the socio-economic and cultural potential of cultural heritage in the region. This will be achieved through a stakeholder meeting and regional workshop in one of the Caribbean countries to present initial results of the survey, conduct focused discussion sessions to expand the survey results and collaboratively select regional themes for the project initiatives; and a flied consultation with key stakeholders to verify and expand conclusions of needs and priorities assessment.
    - Identify potential host sites for pilot project initiatives based on recommendations and in consultation with regional stakeholders.

    Beneficiaries:
    (Direct)

    • Caribbean countries: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago. Open to the participation of Haiti in English.
    • The staffs and public clients of ministries of culture, monuments and antiquities services, and other public institutions of the Caribbean region.
    • The private sector and business community that are engaged in investment, land development and in the tourist industry of the Caribbean region.
    • Civil society—namely self-identified collective groups within the population, which may range from families, to neighborhood associations, to religious denominations, to ethnic groups, to regional populations, who all have a stake in preserving their shared traditions and places of significance, in the countries where the project be implemented (Caribbean region)

    (Indirect)

    • Local communities surrounding the cultural heritages resources in the Caribbean countries.
    • Communities of the Caribbean countries participating in the project.
    • Future generations who will inherit a sustainable structure for managing and using their cultural heritage resources.

    Partnerships:
    - ICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites/ National Committees throughout the Americas and the world.
    - ICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites/International Scientific Committees
    - CARIMOS - Monumentos y Sitios del Gran Caribe (Monuments and Sites of the Greater Caribbean)
    - INTO International National Trusts Organization (England and Wales)
    - USNT United States National Trust for Historic Preservation
    - YUDW Yale Urban Design Workshop (United States of America)
    • Date:  6/23/2011    Paragraphs: 44
    Considering the important role that culture plays in our societies, the OAS has launched the celebration of Inter-American Year of Culture 2011. Within the framework of the project “Culture in Development: an Inter-American Information Network” actions to promote cooperation in culture policy between Member States, civil society, and international organizations were carried out, resulting the implementation of 10 technical cooperation missions in which a total of 11 Member States participated in 16 institutions, public and private, as well as the publication of a portfolio of 18 successful practices from different Member States, which testifies to the essential role that culture plays in development and the wellbeing of the nations of the Americas.
    Related Resources
    OAS Website
  • Democracy
    Paragraphs Related to the Theme
    Reports
    • Date:  1/9/2018    Paragraphs: 5
    Initiative: Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH-OAS)

    The MACCIH-OAS fights corruption and impunity by supporting the reform of the Honduran Criminal Justice System and the dismantlement of corruption networks, mainly through "active collaboration" - which means that Mission engages directly with Honduran institutions to implement an anti-corruption agenda. Under this approach, the MACCIH-OAS strengthens the rule of law, the institutions of the Honduran State and confidence-building among leaders and citizens.

    Activities: The Mission has a four year mandate (2016-2020) and implements its activities through four programmatic divisions, which work complements each other:

    1. Experts of the Division for Preventing and Combatting Corruption are tasked with: i) providing embedded collaboration and advisory support to Honduran investigators, prosecutors and judges in the investigation and trial of major corruption cases; ii) drafting anti-corruption legislation or reforms covering both corruption in the public and private sectors; and iii) Preparing a National Action Plan to implement the recommendations made to Honduras by the Mechanism for Follow-Up on the Implementation of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption (MESICIC).

    2. Members of the Division of Criminal Justice System Reform provide recommendations to improve the overall quality and effectiveness of the Honduran Justice System. They also engage and partner with civil society organizations to implement an Observatory that tracks, monitors and evaluates the progress of this system.

    3. The Division of Political-Electoral Reform supports drafting legal norms and their respective implementation mechanisms for controlling the flow of illegal money into political parties, candidates and campaigns, because it facilitates corruption that could subsequently transfer to the State level.

    4. The Division of Public Security supports the implementation of recommendations proposed by the GS/OAS in its evaluation reports of the Honduran National Public Security System (SNSC), in particular by supporting the restructuring and vetting of the National Police and penitentiary system; and in the establishment of regulatory mechanisms to protect justice officials.

    Website: http://www.oas.org/es/sap/dsdme/maccih/new/default.asp

    Beneficiaries: Honduran citizens, including diverse social, political and economic actors. Institutions of Honduran Criminal Justice System, specifically those charged with combating and preventing corruption and impunity.

    Partnerships and Financing: United States, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Chile, Peru, Switzerland, Sweden and the European Union.
    • Date:  1/9/2018    Paragraphs: 3
    The Universal Civil Identity Program in the Americas (PUICA) supports Member States in their efforts to eradicate under-registration, in order to ensure recognition of the right to civil identity for all persons in the region. Currently under registration in the Americas affects 3 million children (6% of all children under age five) and a similar number of adults.
    All activities of PUICA are geared towards fulfilling the five objectives set by the Inter-American Program for Universal Civil Registry and the Right to Identity: 1) Universalization and accessibility of civil registration and the right to identity, 2) Strengthening policies, public institutions and legislation, 3) Participation and awareness, 4) Identification of best practices and 5) International and regional cooperation.
    From 2010 to the present, PUICA has implemented projects in a total of 19 Member States of Central, South America and the Caribbean. Through PUICA projects more than 19 million birth certificates or national identification cards have been issued and delivered to citizens of the Americas.

    Projects implemented during 2017 includes:
    1. Promoting Civil Identity in the Central America's northern triangle (Guatemala - Honduras - El Salvador).
    2. Supporting the Civil Registry and Identification Department of Ecuador to implement a quality management system under the ISO 9001 standard.
    3. Supporting the Haitian state in organizing an identification campaign for Haitian migrants residing in the Dominican Republic
    7. Supporting to the Council of Latin America and the Caribbean on Civil Registry, Identity and Vital Statistics (CLARCIEV) and its XIV Annual Meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
    8. Online course on civil registration procedures for Honduran civil registrars.

    Beneficiaries: Civil Registries (central and local level) and Identification institutions from member states in Latin America and the Caribbean
    Partnerships: UNICEF, UNDP, United Nations Statistics Division, Inter-American Development Bank.
    Financing: Spain, Ecuador, European Union, International Development Research Centre
    • Date:  3/23/2017    Paragraphs: 5
    The Mechanism for Follow-Up on the Implementation of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption (MESICIC)

    The MESICIC is an inter-governmental body established within the framework of the OAS. It supports the States Parties in the implementation of the provisions of the Convention through a process of reciprocal evaluation, based on conditions of equality among the states. In this mechanism, recommendations are formulated with respect to those areas in which there are legal gaps or in which further progress is necessary.

    Currently the MESICIC is analyzing the implementation of the recommendations made to States Parties in the Second Round of Review referring to: i) systems of government hiring; ii) procurement of goods and services; iii) protecting public servants and private citizens who in good faith report acts of corruption; and iv) criminalization acts of corruption.

    Likewise an analysis of the implementation of the provisions of the Convention selected by the Committee for the Fifth Round was carried out, related to: i) training to public servants to ensure an adequate understanding of their responsibilities and the ethical standards that govern them; and ii) the study of preventive measures that take into account the relationship between equitable compensation and probity in public service.

    Activities:

    The 26th Plenary Meeting of the Committee on March 11, 2016 adopted the country reports from: i) Bolivia ii) Uruguay iii) Paraguay and iv) Peru. The 27th Plenary Meeting on September 15, 2016 adopted the country reports from: i) Costa Rica ii) Ecuador iii) Mexico and iv) Honduras. The 28th Plenary Meeting on March 17, 2017 adopted the country reports from: i) Argentina ii) Panama iii) Chile and iv) El Salvador. The 29th Plenary Meeting on September 14, 2017 adopted the country reports from: i) Colombia ii) Dominican Republic and iii) Canada.

    On-site visits scheduled for the Fifth Round of Review were conducted to the following States Parties: i) Costa Rica: April 19-21, 2016 ii) Ecuador: April 5-7, 2016 iii) Mexico: April 5-7, 2016 iv) Honduras: April 18-20, 2016 v) Argentina: October 4-6, 2016 vi) Panama: October 18-20, 2016 vii) Chile: October 4-6, 2016 viii) El Salvador: October 18-20, 2016 ix) Colombia: April 4-6, 2017 x) Dominican Republic: April 4-6, 2017 xi) Canada: April 25-27, 2017 xii) Grenada: October 11-13, 2017 xiii) Brazil: October 3-5, 2017 xiv) Guyana: September 26-28, 2017 and xv) Jamaica: September 26-28, 2017.

    Website: http://www.oas.org/juridico/english/mesicic_intro_en.htm

    Beneficiaries: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela.

    Partnerships and Financing: Voluntary contributions of States Parties to the MESICIC
    • Date:  3/15/2017    Paragraphs: -
    Electoral Technical Cooperation

    Implement projects and activities that contribute to the modernization and improvement of the quality of services provided by electoral bodies, and to the strengthening of electoral processes, based on the recommendations delivered by OAS Electoral Observation Missions or due to specific requests of Member States and electoral bodies.

    Activities:
    - Support electoral authorities in their efforts to generate reliable electoral registries
    - Provide cooperation to electoral authorities in the design, support and analysis of technological systems and processes.
    - Implement projects to support institutional strengthening of electoral bodies.
    - Provide assistance on electoral legal reforms.


    Website: http://www.oas.org/en/spa/deco/cooperacion.asp

    Beneficiaries:
    - Electoral Management Bodies
    - Electoral Courts
    - Political Parties
    - Citizens
    - Civil Society

    Partnerships and Financing:
    OAS Member States and Permanent Observers, Electoral Bodies
    • Date:  3/15/2017    Paragraphs: -
    Electoral Observation Missions

    OAS International Electoral Observation Missions are deployed at the request of Member States. It consists of an organized group of individuals from outside the host country who systematically carries out a series of activities to observe an electoral process in a direct, complete, and precise manner. The subject of the observation is the process.

    Activities:
    - Organize and deploy Electoral Observation Missions.
    - Systematization of the information gathered by OAS/EOMs.
    - Provide recommendations to Member States to better electoral processes.
    - Follow-up of the recommendations emitted by OAS/EOMs.
    - Inter-institutional exchanges with organizations involved in international electoral observation.

    Website: http://www.oas.org/eomdatabase/default.aspx?lang=en

    Beneficiaries:
    -Electoral Management Bodies
    -Political Parties and candidates
    -Civil Society
    -Citizens

    Partnerships and Financing: OAS Member States and Permanent Observer Missions.
    • Date:  2/15/2017    Paragraphs: 2
    Initiative: Mission to Support Peace Process in Colombia MAPP/OAS

    The MAPP/OAS was originally established to verify the ceasefire and the termination of hostilities, as well as the demobilization, disarmament and reintegration of illegal armed groups. However, due to the changes that the political and social context of Colombia have experienced, the MAPP/OAS have expanded its functions. The efforts of the Mission are now oriented to a) monitor the security conditions, impacts and contexts of armed conflict and social conflict; b) monitor and accompany the implementation of the Justice and Peace process and other Transitional Justice tools, and the prosecution of members of illegal groups; and c) monitor and accompany a comprehensive redress for victims.
    By the end of this initiative, the Mission expects to strengthen its peace building efforts on those territories where it has presence.
    Activities: MAPP/OAS delivers recommendations on peace building key issues such as the implementation of the Justice and Peace Law under the integral reparation policy; the implementation of Transitional Law mechanisms; the effects on the communities as a result of actions perpetuated by illegal armed groups; the armed conflict dynamics; social conflict, and the reconfiguration of new violence phenomena, among others.
    Website: www.mapp-oea.org
    Beneficiaries: Victims of the Colombian internal Conflict, Non-governmental organizations. The Colombian State in general and specifically government agencies in charge of implement the Colombian peace policy.
    Partnerships and Financing:
    United States (USAID), Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain, Korea, Argentina, Turkey, Switzerland and the European Union.
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Iniciative: Electoral Technical Cooperation
    Electoral Technical Cooperation Projects contribute to the modernization and improvement of the quality of services provided by electoral bodies. These include projects related to electoral technology, electoral registry, residential vote, electoral mapping, legal reform, electoral organization, institutional strengthening, quality management and certification against ISO Standards, and citizen participation.

    Activities: Due to the diversity of the projects we implement, each contain different activities. For instance, an audit is different from a quality assessment against ISO standards.

    Website: http://www.oas.org/en/spa/deco/cooperacion.asp

    Beneficiaries: Electoral Management Bodies

    Partnerships and Financing: OAS Member States and Permanent Observer Missions.
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Initiative: Electoral Observation Missions (EOMs)
    International election observation can be defined as a process whereby an organized group of individuals from outside the host country systematically carries out a series of complex actions and activities to observe an electoral process in a direct, complete, and precise manner.

    Specific objectives of EOMs include: 1) To observe the performance of the principal actors in the electoral process in order to verify compliance with election laws and regulations in place in the host country; to analyze the development of the electoral process in the context of standards adopted by the OAS Member States; and to take note of what is observed and inform the Secretary General and the Permanent Council; 2) To work with governmental and electoral authorities, and with citizens in general, to ensure the impartiality, transparency, and reliability of the electoral process; 3) To make recommendations in order to help improve the electoral system; among others.

    Activities:
    - Receipt of Invitation from OAS Member State.
    - Acceptance and preparation for the Mission: (fundraising, recruitment of observers, political-electoral analysis).
    - Appointment of Chief of Mission
    - Preliminary Mission
    - Deploy International Electoral Observers to monitor the Pre-Electoral Period, Election Day and Post-Election phase.
    - Preliminary Statement (after election day).
    - Observation of post-election phase until declaration of results.
    - Report to Permanent Council
    - Post EOM Visit to host country to follow up with recommendations.
    - Final Report distributed to OAS Member States

    Website: http://www.oas.org/en/spa//deco/default.asp

    Beneficiaries:
    OAS Member States
    Electoral Management Bodies
    Political Actors
    Citizens and civil society

    Partnerships and Financing: OAS Member States and Permanent Observer Missions.
    *The host country cannot provide funding for an EOM deployed in its territory.
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Initiative: Open Government and Access to Information
    In helping realize the mandate of promoting open government and access to information as key tools for achieving greater transparency, better public administration, citizen participation and social inclusion, the Department for Effective Public Management (DEPM) carried out three initiatives.

    1. As a means of disseminating the importance of the right of access to information, the DEPM organized a Short Film Contest, inviting university students to submit 2-minute films that highlighted the relevance of access to information in everyday life.
    2. Considering that this right can only be fully exercised if states have a rational information management system, the DEPF also participated in the elaboration of a Model for Information Management.
    3. Finally, during 2015 the Department carried out the first edition of The OAS Fellowship on Open Government in the Americas, a program that aims at creating a network of young leaders that develop joint collaborative project to address the challenges of Open Government in the hemisphere.

    Activities: 1.1 Launching of the Short Film Contest, aimed at Universities of the Access to Public Information Network (RTA, Red de Transparencia y Acceso a la Información Pública) member states (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay). October 2014.
    1.2 Printing of posters and brochures as dissemination material in Spanish and Portuguese. October 2014. Material was sent to all participating members to be distributed in universities, public institutions and events.
    1.3 Dissemination phase and submission period. November 2014 to February 2015.
    1.4 Pre-selection of submitted short films and convening of the jury members. March 2015.
    1.5 Selection of the three winners. March and April 2015.
    1.6 Award ceremony during the International Conference of Information Commissioners, which took place in April 21-23, 2015 in Chile. In addition, winners participated in a workshop co-organized alongside the School of Communications from the “Universidad del Desarrollo” in Santiago de Chile, where they discussed the importance of cinema and arts in promoting the Right of Access to Information. April 2015.
    1.7 Results-dissemination phase. Along with RTA partners in AGESIC, the DEPM has prepared a document with basic guidelines that provide RTA member countries orientations on how to proceed for promoting and facilitating the dissemination of the short films in official websites, official social networks, institutional newsletters, public (and if possible, private) broadcasting stations, and to the universities that were invited to participate in the contest. June 2015 - present.

    2.1 Presentation by the DEPM and EUROsociAL of two proposals to conduct a study on Information and Archives Management during the VI Annual Meeting of the Transparency and Access to Information Network (RTA for its acronym in Spanish). Members of the RTA decided that a joint collaboration between OAS, EUROsociAL and RTA would render the best result for the study. April 2014.
    2.2 Agreement between OAS and EUROsociAL to carry out the study. May 2014.
    2.3 Open call to select the institution responsible for carrying out the study and hiring of a consultant for the OAS to work on the Model for Information Management that complies with the OAS Model Law of Transparency and Access to Information. May 2014.
    2.4 Elaboration of a draft document based on best international practices. Presentation of a diagnosis of the situation in the region and of the draft document in a workshop in Colombia. June 2014.
    2.5 Visits and elaboration of in-depth diagnoses in all RTA member countries on the situation of their information and archives management systems. June to October 2014.
    2.6 Presentation of the final document of the Model at the VI Annual Meeting of the Transparency and Access to Information Network. Feedback received from member states. November 2014.
    2.7 Revision of the document and publication of the final version of the Model for Information Management (see link in Website section). December 2014 to February 2015.
    2.8 Presentation by DEPM and EUROsociAL of the final document at the V International Seminar on Transparency (Chile) and at the II Meeting of High Level Authorities of the Inter-American Mechanism for Effective Public Management (Mexico). April and May 2015.

    3.1 Launching of the first edition of The OAS Fellowship on Open Government in the Americas. December 2014.
    3.2 Application period, open to young leaders aged 25 to 40 from all OAS member states. December 2014 to January 31st 2015.
    3.3 Pre-selection of 50 applications, out of the 657 received, to be reviewed by an independent Selection Committee. February 2015.
    3.4 Meeting of the Selection Committee and selection of the 24 participants. Participants represent 16 countries from all across the Americas. February 2015.
    3.5 Participants take a two-week online course, provided by the Virtual Campus within the DEPM, on Open Government Strategies. March 2015.
    3.6 Celebration of First Seminar with the participation of the 24 fellows in Osprey Point, Maryland, and Washington, DC. During one week, fellows participate in capacity-building seminars and workshops, attend networking events in Washington, DC, and form groups that will work in joint projects during the next six months.
    3.7 Project Phase (home-based). The six groups formed during the first seminar work on the development of projects regarding Open Government in the region. They participate on monthly online coaching sessions provided by the GovLab at New York University. April-September 2015.
    3.8 Celebration of the Second Seminar, which takes place in Mexico City from the 24th to the 31st of October.
    3.9 External evaluation of the first edition (pilot phase) of the project. November 2015.

    Website: Short Film Contest: http://www.oas.org/es/sap/dgpe/concursoinformate/ and bit.ly/1Ktp08t
    Fellowship: http://www.oas.org/es/sap/dgpe/OpenGovFellowship/
    Modelo de Gestión de Información: http://mgd.redrta.org/modelo-de-gestion-de-documentos-y-administracion-de-archivos-para-la-red-de-transparencia-y-acceso-a-la-informacion/mgd/2015-01-23/093820.html

    Beneficiaries: RTA member states (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay), and specially the universities that participated of the contest and the agencies that oversee issues of transparency and access to information.
    OAS member states, especially those countries represented by the fellows (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay)
    OAS member states that are willing to establish an Information Management System.

    Partnerships and Financing: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, Government of Canada; the Government of Mexico; EUROsociAL; CEDDET; RTA (Red de Transparencia y Acceso a la Información Pública); Avina Foundation; The Carter Center; CEPAL; Hivos.
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Initiative: Strengthening of Public Institutions
    In helping realize the mandate of strengthening democracy, transparency, integrity and efficiency in public administrations, and the creation of conditions that enable the involvement of citizens in the entire public policy cycle, the Department for Effective Public Management (DEPM) carried out three initiatives.

    1. Supporting the Secretary of Governability and Modernization of the State in El Salvador in implementing organizational development and management tools in public institutions.
    2. Strengthening Paraguay’s Secretary of Public Function.
    3. The Department for Effective Public Management has worked closely with several institutions during the last five years in order to offer them tools to strengthen their capacities through strategic planning, process management and organizational development. This experience has been systematized in a document, Methodology for the Strengthening of Public Institutions, which contains basic guidelines for institutions that are seeking to implement these managerial tools to enhance their efficiency and transparency with the aim of providing better services to the citizens.

    Activities: 1.1 Beginning of the project “Supporting the Secretary of Governability and Modernization of the State in El Salvador in implementing organizational development and management tools in public institutions”. October 2012.
    1.2 Appointment of staff that would participate in the different workshops and activities and then act as multipliers. Among the selected beneficiary institutions were: the National Academy of Public Security; the National Civil Police; the Migration General Office, the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Governance, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Work and Social Security, and several agencies and institutes. November 2012.
    1.3 Organization of several workshops focused on capacity building regarding the following management tools: strategic planning; process management, process mapping and modelling, process automation, and organizational development. January 2013 to February 2014.
    1.4 Support in the implementation of these tools in the different institutions, as well as support in the creation of an Inter-institutional Network that allows staff from the different ministries to exchange ideas and practices regarding the implementation of Strategic Planning and Process Management. March and April 2014.
    1.5 Evaluation of the program by participants. May 2014.

    2.1 Beginning if the project “Strengthening Paraguay’s Secretariat for Public Function”. The National Secretariat for Anti-Corruption and the Secretariat for Information and Communication were invited to beneficiaries of this technical assistance. May 2014.
    2.2 Workshops on Process Management, with attendance of 21 public servants. The evaluation of the workshop by the participants was very positive. May 2014.
    2.3 Workshops on Process Modelling, with attendance of 21 public servants. June 2014.
    2.4 Workshops on Organizational Development and Process Automation with participation of staff from the three institutions. July 2014.
    2.5 Workshops with the Ministry of Women to enhance the capacity of public institutions to incorporate a gender perspective in the whole cycle of Process Management. September 2014.
    2.6 Oversight of the implementation of the Process Management tools in five institutions: Secretariat for the Public Function, Cabinet of the Public Function, Secretariat for Anti-Corruption, Secretariat for Information and Communication, Ministry of Women. Also, support in the creation of an Inter-institutional Network (similar to the experience in El Salvador) that allows staff from the different ministries to exchange ideas and practices regarding the implementation of Strategic Planning and Process Management October 2014 to May 2015.

    3.1 Consultations with the expert that carried out workshops and seminars in Paraguay and El Salvador. August 2014.
    3.2 Consultations with members of the institutions that had participated in these programs. August 2014.
    3.3 Elaboration of the four chapters of the Methodology, and revision of content and design. September 2014 to June 2015.
    3.4 Request for feedback from the Department of Planning and Evaluation. July 2015.
    3.5 Editing of the final document. August 2015 - present.

    Beneficiaries: Paraguay (Secretariat for the Public Function, Cabinet of the Public Function, Secretariat for Anti-Corruption, Secretariat for Information and Communication, Ministry of Women)
    El Salvador (National Academy of Public Security, National Civil Police, Migration General Office, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Governance, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Work and Social Security)
    All OAS Member States and their institutions can benefit from the compilation of these management tools in the Methodology for the Strengthening of Public Institutions.

    Partnerships and Financing: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, Government of Canada.
    Government of El Salvador.
    USAID, through Casals & Associates.
    • Date:  10/14/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Initiative: Universal Civil Identity Program in the Americas (PUICA)
    The Universal Civil Identity Project in the Americas (PUICA) supports Member States in their efforts to eradicate under-registration, in order to ensure recognition of the right to civil identity for all persons in the region. Currently under registration in the Americas affects 4 million children (8% of all children under age five) and a similar number of adults.
    All activities of PUICA are geared towards fulfilling the five objectives set by the Inter-American Program for Universal Civil Registry and the Right to Identity: 1) Universalization and accessibility of civil registration and the right to identity, 2) Strengthening policies, public institutions and legislation, 3) Participation and awareness, 4) Identification of best practices and 5) International and regional cooperation.
    From 2010 to the present, PUICA has implemented projects in a total of 19 Member States of Central, South America and the Caribbean. Through PUICA projects more than 19 million birth certificates or national identification cards have been issued and delivered to citizens of the Americas.

    Activities: Projects implemented during 2015 includes:
    1. Modernization and Integration of Haiti’s Civil Registry – Support to the Legislative and Local Elections Process in Haiti.
    2. Promoting Civil Identity in the border areas of Bolivia-Paraguay, Peru-Ecuador and Ecuador - Colombia.
    3. Promoting Civil Identity in the Central America's northern triangle (Guatemala - Honduras - El Salvador).
    4. Strengthening the Bedside Registration System of the National Civil Registry in Honduras.
    5. Implementing audit recommendations at the National Civil Registry in Guatemala - Support to the 2015 elections.
    6. Supporting the Civil Registry and Identification Department of Ecuador to implement a quality management system under the ISO 9001 standard.
    7. Support to the Council of Latin America and the Caribbean on Civil Registry, Identity and Vital Statistics (CLARCIEV) and its XII Annual Meeting in Asuncion, Paraguay.
    8. Online course on civil registration procedures for 30 Civil Registries Staff.

    Website: http://www.oas.org/es/sap/dgpe/puica.asp

    Beneficiaries: Civil Registries (central and local level) and Identification institutions from member states in Latin America and the Caribbean

    Partnerships and Financing: Partnerships: UNICEF, UNDP, United Nations Statistics Division, Inter-American Development Bank.
    Financing: Governments of Canada, Spain, Germany, South Korea, Japan, Switzerland, IDB, UNDP.
    • Date:  10/14/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Initiative: Inter-American Cooperation Mechanism for Effective Public Management - MECIGEP

    MEGICEP is an institutional mechanism for regional cooperation to facilitate peer dialogue, exchange of experiences, and technical cooperation strategies to support the pursuit of national goals and priorities set by each OAS member state.

    It stems from two (2) Organization of American States General Assembly mandates in resolution AG/RES 2788 (XLIII-O/13), “Effective Public Management Strengthening and Innovation Initiative in the Americas”; and AG/RES. 2838 (XLIV-O/14) “Assistance to Member States Effective Public Management Strengthening and Innovation Initiative in the Americas”.

    Activities: 1. The realization of 6 Rounds of Analysis of the Inter-American Cooperation Mechanism for Effective Public Management (MECIGEP);
    2. The organization and realization of three International Seminars on Innovation for Effective Public Management
    3. Two Meetings of Authorities of the Policy and Planning Institutions on Public Management for the follow-up of the MECIGEP;
    4. Three Editions of the Inter-American Award on Innovation for Effective Public Management
    5. Publication of 2 Studies on public management
    6. Observatory of Public Policies with information of 30 OAS countries

    Website: http://www.oas.org/es/sap/dgpe/mecigep/
    http://www.oas.org/en/spa/depm/gemgpe/

    Beneficiaries: - Ministries and executing agencies in charge of public management in participating OAS member states.
    - Governments of OAS member states
    - Citizens in OAS member states participating in MECIGEP

    Partnerships and Financing: Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development from Canada
    • Date:  10/5/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Initiative:
    Follow-Up on the Implementation of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption

    The Mechanism for Follow-Up on the Implementation of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption (MESICIC) is an inter-governmental body established within the framework of the OAS. It supports the States Parties in the implementation of the provisions of the Convention through a process of reciprocal evaluation, based on conditions of equality among the states. In this mechanism, recommendations are formulated with respect to those areas in which there are legal gaps or in which further progress is necessary.

    On March 30, 2015, MESICIC started its 5th Round of Review. In this Round, the Mechanism will review the implementation of the provisions in Article III, paragraphs 3 and 12 of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption, which refer to the needed instruction to government personnel to ensure proper understanding of their responsibilities and the ethical rules governing their activities, and the study of preventive measures that take into account the relationship between equitable compensation and probity in public service.

    Moreover, the Committee will analyze the follow-up on the recommendations formulated to the States Parties in the Second Round, on topics such as public procurement, hiring of public servants, whistleblower protection and the criminalization of acts of corruption under the Convention.

    Activities:
    - On-site visits to the Republic of Peru (September 8-10, 2015), to the Republic of Paraguay (Sept. 30 - October 2, 2015), to the Eastern Republic of Uruguay (October 6-8, 2015) and to the Plurinational State of Bolivia (October 14-16, 2015) in the framework of the Fifth Round of Review of MESICIC.

    - Preparation of Draft Country Reports (Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia) on the Implementation of the Recommendations Formulated and the Provisions Reviewed in the Second Round, and on the Convention Provisions Selected for the Fifth Round.

    - Preparatory meetings for the Fourth Meeting of the Conference of States Parties to the MESICIC, which will take place December 14-15, 2015 at OAS Headquarters.

    - Publication of the Hemispheric Report on the Fourth Round of Review of the Committee of Experts of the MESICIC (Available at: http://www.oas.org/juridico/PDFs/mesicic_hem_rep_final_4_round.pdf).

    - The MESICIC has also provided technical expertise and support to recently established Mission to Support the Fight Against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH).

    Website: http://www.oas.org/juridico/english/mesicic_intro_en.htm

    Beneficiaries:
    31 MESICIC Member States (Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela).

    Partnerships and Financing:
    Governments of the United States, Brazil, Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, and Chile.
    • Date:  7/31/2012    Paragraphs: 81
    Equitable Access to Public Information
    This project focuses on the local implementation of the Model Inter-American Law on Access to Public Information. For those OAS Member States which currently have legislation on access to information, this means to examine the current legal framework to gauge whether it complies with the Model Law, and to update the system in case it does not. For those OAS Member States without legislations on access to information, this means assistance in drafting new legislation that incorporates the standards of the Model Law.

    This assistance in both types of States will go a long way in helping ensure access to public information across the Americas. Participants countries will have the necessary tools to enact modernize or strengthen their legal framework in this subject. At the end of the project these countries will have a clear understanding of the areas that need improvements, the aspects that need to be addressed and a possible solution to solve these challenges created on the basis of the Model Law.

    Activities:
    This project focuses on the local implementation of the Model Inter-American Law on Access to Public Information. For those OAS Member States which currently have legislation on access to information, this means to examine the current legal framework to gauge whether it complies with the Model Law, and to update the system in case it does not. For those OAS Member States without legislations on access to information, this means assistance in drafting new legislation that incorporates the standards of the Model Law.

    This assistance in both types of States will go a long way in helping ensure access to public information across the Americas. Participants countries will have the necessary tools to enact modernize or strengthen their legal framework in this subject. At the end of the project these countries will have a clear understanding of the areas that need improvements, the aspects that need to be addressed and a possible solution to solve these challenges created on the basis of the Model Law.

    Direct Beneficiaries:
    Six/seven participant’s countries.
    Legislators, advisors, executive branch, public information officers and other public officials that participate in the project and perform duties related to the law-making processes and the support of legal and administrative reforms in public administration.
    Public information officers and other public officials that participate in the administration and enforcement of access to public information agencies.

    Indirect Beneficiaries:
    Civil Society Organizations that works in issues such as civil society participation, democracy, transparency, human rights and gender issues.
    Population that requires access to public information.
    Local Economic Actors that requires access to public information.
    Foreign Investors that requires access to public information.
    Trade Partners that requires access to public information.

    Partnerships: Alianza Regional para la Libertad de Pensamiento, Expresión e Información, other NGOs to be identified in each particular country.
    Transparency International, Carter Centre, Open Society.
    The Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
    • Date:  7/26/2012    Paragraphs: -
    Inter-American Network on Government Procurement
    The INGP supports the institutions responsible for government procurement at the central government level, in their efforts to become more transparent and efficient by taking advantage of the opportunities offered by information and communication technologies.
    www.ricg.org

    Activities:
    - Technical workshops
    - Research
    - Technical advise
    - Hemispheric coordination
    - Horizontal technical cooperation
    - Online training through the OAS Virtual Campus

    Beneficiaries: Managers and government officials working at offices responsible for government procurement in Latin America and the Caribbean.

    Partnership: - Inter-American Development Bank, IDB - International Development Research Center, IDRC
    Financing: Canadian International Development Agency, CIDA, Inter-American Development Bank, IDB
    International Development Research Center, IDRC
    • Date:  6/23/2011    Paragraphs: 80
    The Mechanism for Follow-Up on the Implementation of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption (MESICIC), an inter-governmental body established within the framework of the OAS, has adopted Reports of Canada, the United States, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Guatemala, to strengthen their laws in order to help competent authorities detect funds paid for corruption when said funds are used to obtain favorable tax treatment.

    The reports examine the legal and institutional framework of the states and make specific recommendations for their improvement. Some areas addressed are the denial or elimination of favorable tax treatment for expenditures made in violation of anti-corruption laws, the prevention of the bribery of domestic and foreign government officials, transnational bribery, illicit enrichment, and extradition. There are now 31 States that form part of the Mechanism.

    The OAS has contributed to the de-escalation of situations that could have posed a threat for peace and democratic stability in the region, the reduction of violence in specific conflict areas, and the improvement of support provided by state institutions to populations affected by conflict.
    • Date:  6/23/2011    Paragraphs: 3
    Following the interruption of the democratic order in Honduras in June 2009, OAS supported negotiations which led to the signature of the Tegucigalpa-San José Accord by forming a High Level Commission to evaluate the situation in Honduras, presenting a report to the Assembly in July, and provided technical assistance to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission since May 2010. In Colombia, the Mission to Support the Peace Process (MAPP) of the OAS concentrated its recent efforts on projects to support victims, with a particular emphasis on indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities. The Mission’s mandate was renewed for three years (2011-2014) and includes new areas of responsibilities, in particular the monitoring of the land restitution process.

    The OAS also continued supporting the peaceful resolution of the territorial dispute between Belize and Guatemala. The OAS Office in the Adjacency Zone conducted over 200 verifications in the past two years. The OAS facilitated the creation of the High Level Working Group between the two countries which met for the first time in March 2010 to assess the implementation of confidence-building measures, analyze specific incidents and discuss bilateral issues. In addition, the mission implemented a program to foster a culture of peace among Adjacency Zone communities.
    • Date:  6/23/2011    Paragraphs: 78
    Pursuant to the commitments on the topic assumed at the Fifth Summit, and in response to mandates from the General Assembly, the OAS coordinated the drafting of a Model Inter-American Law on Access to Public Information, with the participation of the organs, agencies, and entities of the OAS, the member states, and civil society organizations. In addition, in order to provide the legal framework necessary to ensure access to information in the region, the OAS General Assembly adopted resolution AG/RES 2607 on the Model Law in June 2010, with the final text of it attached thereto. Following that resolution, the OAS organized a special meeting of the Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs on the topic and an international seminar on the Model Law in Mexico City. As a result of those efforts, several states have taken the Model Law and its Implementation Guide into account in enacting or amending their regulatory frameworks, including Argentina, Bolivia, El Salvador, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic.
    Related Resources
    Anti-Corruption Portal of the Americas
    OAS Website
  • Disaster Management
    Paragraphs Related to the Theme
    Reports
    • Date:  1/9/2018    Paragraphs: -
    Disaster Risk Management
    Results
    • A regional strategy for advancing the adoption of the Inter-American Convention on the Facilitation of Post-Disaster Assistance agreed with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA)
    • A new agreement for deepening collaboration and coordination on post-disaster response reached with the White Helmets Commission of Argentina.
    • Awareness of the OAS’s role in advancing equality and women empowerment in disaster risk management increased.
    • Fifty (50) editions of the weekly newsletter “Disasters this Week” produced and shared with key actors in disaster management in the Americas
    • Streamlined and coordinated support provided through the Inter-American Committee for Natural Disaster Reduction (IACNDR) in response to the earthquake in Ecuador and the passage of Hurricane Matthew in the Eastern Caribbean, Jamaica and Haiti.
    • Over 500 officials in member states exposed to integrated approaches to disaster risk management as part of training in sustainable cities.
    • Capacity of 120 staff of the General Secretariat to mainstream disaster risk management enhanced through 9 training courses .
    • Disaster risk management incorporated in projects submitted to the Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) .
    • Result 12: Awareness and understanding of challenges and opportunities for protecting critical infrastructure in situations of disaster, enhanced
    • Date:  6/23/2011    Paragraphs: 60
    In response to paragraph 60, the OAS has provided technical assistance in disaster management, mitigation, and recovery to 23 Member states. The OAS has also partnered with the UN in the implementation of the UN Hyogo Framework for Action Regional Platform of the Americas for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and has contributed to research on DRR, including the application of satellite imagery in disaster emergency response in Guatemala.

    Also, the OAS in conjunction with the CARICOM Secretariat and support from the World Bank worked on the implementation of the proposed emergency legislation in the Caribbean and completed the development of recommendations on how to improve legal and administrative procedures during and immediately after natural disaster.
    Related Resources
    OAS Website
  • Education
    Ministerials
    Paragraphs Related to the Theme
    Reports
    • Date:  1/8/2018    Paragraphs: 3
    Initiative: Inter-American Education System

    In order to continue supporting member states´ efforts to ensure the right to quality education for all, the Government of Colombia, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, and the OAS General Secretariat, signed a Letter of Intent at the VII Summit of the Americas (Panama, April, 2015) to create an Inter-American Education System. The System’s main objective would be to increase the collaboration of partner institutions to strengthen the capacities of OAS Member States to develop public policies oriented towards improving the quality of education, through research, the identification of effective public policies, the exchange of experiences and technical cooperation for public policy formulation.
    Through the proposed areas of action, the Inter-American Education System is expected to support the implementation of the Inter-American Education Agenda - in particular the lines of action prioritized by the Working Group 1 on the theme of “Quality, Inclusive and Equitable Education -, which was recently adopted at the IX Inter-American Meeting of Ministers of Education held in The Bahamas in February 2017.

    During 2017, the Department of Social Inclusion has been working in developing a guidebook that provides Member States with policy recommendations directed towards the review, strengthening and/or development of policies, programs and initiatives that seek to improve students´ learning processes and address education inequality, with a specific emphasis on improving students´ learning achievements. The document will also propose strategies of action to implement those policy recommendations.

    Beneficiaries: OAS Member States; Multilateral governmental agencies partners of the initiative.

    Partnerhips: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Inter-American Development Bank, Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), Organization of Ibero-American States, World Bank
    UNESCO Regional Bureau of Education for Latin America and the Caribbean

    Financing: Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) and Permanent Observer Mission of China to the OAS
    • Date:  4/7/2017    Paragraphs: -
    Professional Development Scholarships Program

    The Professional Development Scholarships Program (PDSP) offers scholarship opportunities for short-term training courses in any of the OAS member states, and OAS Permanent Observers, for citizens or permanents residents of the Americas, to access quality education in recognized educational institutions with the goal of strengthening human and institutional capacity, fostering integral development through the Hemisphere.
    Through the PDSP Program, studies can be pursued online, onsite or in blended modalities, covering a % of tuition for online courses and air fare ticket, for onsite or blended courses respectively, in any of the four official languages of the OAS (English, Spanish, Portuguese or French) at educational institutions from the OAS Member States, Observer States and areas of the OAS General Secretariat.

    In 2016, 624 scholarships were awarded under the PSDP Program in partnership with 26 institutions.Activities for this initiative:
    - Negotiation with Educational Institutions, government institutions, NGO's, and Areas of the General Secretariat and networks to offer scholarship opportunities.
    -Generating access to international education opportunities for students in the Hemisphere.
    - Collaborating with Educational Institutions for Internationalization, academic mobility and regional integration through cultural, academic, and scientific exchange.
    - Supporting the internationalization processes of Higher Education in universities of the region

    http://www.oas.org/en/scholarships/default.asp

    Beneficiaries: Citizens and or permanent legal residents from the 34 OAS member states benefit directly from the program.
    - Higher education institutions from the Member States , Observer States of the OAS and Areas of the General Secretariat.
    - Consortium of Universities/Networks
    - Regional and Global Organizations
    - Government institutions and NGO's from the Member States of the OAS
    - Agencies for International Development Cooperation

    Partnerships and Financing: Centro del Agua del Trópico Húmedo para América Latina y el Caribe-CATHALAC
    Fondo Verde
    Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales-FLACSO
    Sistema Universitario Ana G. Mendez
    Tecnología para la Organización Pública (Asociación Civil)-TOP
    Universidad Nacional de Chile
    American University
    Centro de Capacitación en Alta Tecnología para América Latina y el Caribe-CCATLAT
    Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Capacitación en Telecomunicaciones-INICTEL
    Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería-UNI
    Universidad Blas Pascal
    United States Telecommunications Training Institute-USTTI
    Universidad ICESI
    International telecommunications Union ITU
    Cullen International
    Comisión Inter-Americana en Telecomunicaciones-CITEL
    Comisión Inter-Americana de Mujeres-CIM
    Departamento de Desarrollo Sostenible de la OEA
    Departamento de Derecho Internacional de la OEA
    Departamento de Inclusión Social de la OEA
    Departamento de Desarrollo Económico de la OEA
    Portal Educativo de las Américas
    Centro Internacional de Estudios Interdisciplinarios-CIESI
    Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia-UNED
    Universidad Politécnica de Valencia-UPV
    Centro Interamericano de Estudios de Seguridad Social-CIESS
    • Date:  4/7/2017    Paragraphs: 3
    Inter-American Teacher Education Network (ITEN)

    The Inter-American Teacher Education Network (ITEN) is s a network of teachers, policymakers, and other stakeholders involved or interested in the teaching profession in the Americas. ITEN’s mission is to contribute to the improvement of the quality of education in the Americas by promoting knowledge exchange, capacity building and technical assistance through the use of virtual tools and in-person activities.

    Among ITEN's activities, the following address paragraph 3:

    • The Inter-American Collaboratory on the Teaching Profession (Co-TEP) on-line knowledge bank: This is a collection of more than 600 policies, practices, publications, and research documents all related to the teaching profession and available for download without charge. It was originally designed as a tool for ministries and secretariats of education of OAS member states to share their successes, serving as a source of ideas for potential technical cooperation missions, and the rate of visits it receives indicate it is being used for wider purposes as well.

    • Technical Cooperation Missions (ITEN Cooperation Missions): : ITEN has acquired expertise in the launching, implementation, and follow-up of technical cooperation missions between ministries or secretariats of education in the region based on its successful facilitation of 13 such missions during ITEN Phase 2 (2014 to May of 2016). ITEN has already built a solid network in OAS member states through these on-site missions, which have not only benefited the ministries and secretariats working with teachers but also the teachers directly. The reports of participating ministries of education are shared in the Co-TEP on-line knowledge bank. During ITEN Phase 3 (June of 2016 to May of 2018), ITEN will carry out at least ten more cooperation missions involving ministries and secretariats of education of OAS member states.

    https://www.oas.org/cotep/

    Beneficiaries: Policymakers in teacher education and other teacher-related policies from OAS member states

    Partnerships and Financing: Partners in the region include ministries and secretariats of education, NGOs, universities, and other multilateral organizations.
    • Date:  4/7/2017    Paragraphs: 1
    Inter-American Teacher Education Network (ITEN)

    The Inter-American Teacher Education Network (ITEN) is s a network of teachers, policymakers, and other stakeholders involved or interested in the teaching profession in the Americas. ITEN’s mission is to contribute to the improvement of the quality of education in the Americas by promoting knowledge exchange, capacity building and technical assistance through the use of virtual tools and in-person activities.

    ITEN is comprised of the following ten activities for its third phase, which covers the period of June 2016 to May 2018, offered in English and Spanish:

    Activities for Policymakers:

    • Technical Cooperation Missions (ITEN Cooperation Missions)
    • The Inter-American Collaboratory on the Teaching Profession (Co-TEP), an online knowledge bank

    Activities for Teachers:

    • The Virtual Community of Practice
    • ITEN Webinars
    • Massive, Open, Online Courses via ITEN Campus
    • Online Toolkits
    • Audio Program: ITEN Audio
    • Lesson Plan Web Based Library
    • Map of Mobile Learning Practices
    • Onsite Workshops: My School in Action

    www.oas.org/en/iten

    Beneficiaries: Policymakers in teacher education and other teacher-related policies, and teachers from OAS member states.

    Partnerships and Financing: Partners in the region include ministries and secretariats of education, NGOs, universities, and other multilateral organizations.
    • Date:  4/7/2017    Paragraphs: 1
    Inter-American Education Agenda

    The Inter-American Education Agenda (IEA) was approved during the 9th Inter-American Meeting of Ministers of Education, held in Nassau, Bahamas, on February 9 and 10, 2017, after a 2 year process of negotiation and consensus building. It was created, spearheaded and developed by the Ministries of Education of the region, as such, it boasts a high level of value and legitimacy and is closely aligned with the States' educational development realities, needs and goals.

    The purpose of the IEA is to strengthen inter-American cooperation and coordination to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all. As such, the IEA will contribute to achieving the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly SDG4.

    In order to contribute to the achievement of SDG4 targets, the IEA will support member states to advance their efforts in the following three priority areas:

    1. Quality, inclusive and equitable education
    2. Strengthening of the teaching profession
    3. Comprehensive early childhood care

    For each of these priority areas the IEA has defined a set of specific objectives and action lines.

    The IEA will be implemented for a period of five years, commencing 2017, after which it will be revisited by the member states. The General Secretariat of the OAS, through the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development (SEDI) is responsible for the implementation of the IEA, under the guidance of the Inter-American Committee on Education (CIE), its Authorities and the Working Groups established for this purpose.

    The IEA will incorporate existing OAS initiatives and projects that contribute to achieving the objectives set forth for any of the priority areas, including but not limited to the OAS Scholarships and Training Program, the Inter-American Teacher Education Network (ITEN), the Development Cooperation Fund, as well as specific initiatives to promote innovation and cooperation in education. It will also also promote coordination and integration with the efforts of the OAS and other international, regional and sub-regional organizations, as well as of the academic sector, the private sector, civil society and other stakeholders whose participation is vital to the design and strengthening of educational policies, programs, and initiatives in formal and non-formal settings


    The IEA will incorporate existing OAS initiatives and projects that contribute to achieving the objectives set forth for any of the priority areas, including but not limited to the OAS Scholarships and Training Program, the Inter-American Teacher Education Network (ITEN), the Development Cooperation Fund, as well as specific initiatives to promote innovation and cooperation in education. It will also also promote coordination and integration with the efforts of the OAS and other international, regional and sub-regional organizations, as well as of the academic sector, the private sector, civil society and other stakeholders whose participation is vital to the design and strengthening of educational policies, programs, and initiatives in formal and non-formal settings.

    The IEA will use the following tools to strengthen inter-American cooperation on education:

    - On-line databases that systematize policies, programs and experiences.

    - Hemispheric workshops, seminars and webinars that allow for the exchange of initiatives, the discussion of lessons learned and the identification of policy recommendations.

    - Cooperation missions or study tours that facilitate direct exchange and hands-on experience, and are tailored to the needs and strengths of participating entities.

    - Technical Studies that complement direct exchanges by offering useful and more thorough insight on the issues, as well as the possibility of analyzing successful policies, programs and alternatives for coordinating efforts with other international, regional and sub-regional entities.

    - On-line fora where public officials and staff can consult and contribute to the discussion of relevant issues, and that provide an ongoing and direct channel of communication between stakeholders.

    - On-line or in-person courses developed specifically to train public officials and staff and allow them to gain in-depth knowledge and have access to tools that contribute to the advancement of education in the region.

    www.oas.org/sedi

    Beneficiaries: Directly: Ministries of Education of the Americas
    Indirectly: students, teachers and communities

    Partnerships and Financing: Inter-American Development Bank, World Bank, UNESCO, Development Bank for Latin America (CAF), Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), UNICEF and ECLAC have pledged their support to the implementation of the IEA.
    • Date:  4/7/2017    Paragraphs: -
    Partnerships Program for Education and Training (PAEC)

    The OAS Partnerships for Education and Training Program (PAEC), formally established in 2010, offers citizens or permanent residents of the Americas access to quality higher education through scholarships for academic and professional development studies in recognized educational institutions with the goal of strengthening human and institutional capacity and thus, foster integral development throughout the Hemisphere.
    Through the PAEC Program, studies can be pursued online, onsite or in blended modalities, in any of the four official languages of the OAS (English, Spanish, Portuguese or French) at educational institutions from the OAS Member States and, for some scholarship programs, in educational institutions from Observer States as well.

    In 2016, 2429 scholarships were awarded under the PAEC Program which included, undergraduate degrees, master’s degrees or post-graduate and certificate programs. In most cases PAEC Agreements required no monetary contribution by the OAS, rather in-kind contributions. Significant contributions to the success of the PAEC program have resulted from the partnerships with key entities including the Coimbra Group of Brazilian Universities (GCUB) which awarded 349 scholarships and the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) of Mexico which awarded 549 scholarships in 2016. With the aim of expanding the PAEC program, in November 2016, OAS Secretary General, Luis Almagro signed an agreement with the Galilee International Management Institute in Israel to offer 500 scholarships in 2017.

    Activities for this initiative:
    - Negotiation with Educational Institutions, government institutions and networks to offer scholarship opportunities.
    -Generating access to international education opportunities for students in the Americas
    - Collaborating with Educational Institutions for Internationalization, academic Mobility and regional integration through cultural, academic, and scientific exchange.
    - Supporting the internationalization processes of Higher Education in universities of the region

    www.oas.org/en/scholarships

    Beneficiaries: - Citizens and or legal permanent residents from the 34 OAS member states benefit directly from the program.
    - Higher education institutions from the Member States and Observer States of the OAS.
    - Consortium of Universities/Networks
    - Regional and Global Organizations
    - Government institutions from the Member States of the OAS
    - Agencies for International Development Cooperation

    Partnerships and Financing: - Coimbra Group of Brazilian Universities (GCUB)
    - Mexican National Science and Technology Council (CONACYT)
    - Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID)
    - Pan American Health Organization (PAHO / WHO)
    - National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research (CONICYT)
    - Sistema Universitario Ana G. Méndez (SUAGM)
    - Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR)
    - Soluciones Integrales de Formación y Gestión (STRUCTURALIA)
    - Escuela Abierta de Desarrollo de Ingeniería y Construcción (EADIC)
    - Centro de Cooperación Regional para la Educación de Adultos en América Latina y el Caribe (CREFAL)
    - ESAN University
    - Universidad Complutence de Madrid (UCM)
    - Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales - Argentina
    - Kookmin Global Entrepreneurship Boot Camp (KGEB)
    - Chonnam National University
    - Korean Development Institute (KDI)
    - Fondo Verde
    - Centro Internacional de Estudios Interdisciplinarios (CIESI)
    - Centro del Agua del Trópico Húmedo para América Latina y el Caribe (CATHALAC)
    - Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED) Spain
    - Universidad Politecnica de Valencia
    - Vrije Universiteit of Brussels (VUB)
    - Colorado State University
    - University for International Cooperation
    - OAS Peace Leaders Program
    - University for Information Science and Technology “St. Paul the Apostle” of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
    - International Training Center/ International Labor Organization
    - eCornell online program of Cornell University
    - Rochester Institute of Technology
    - International Institute of Social Studies of Eramsus University of Rotterdam
    - UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education
    - The Government of the People’s Republic of China
    - Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies
    - University of the West Indies
    - University of Technology of Jamaica
    - OAS Department of Sustainable Development
    - Inter-American Teacher Education Network
    - Galilee International Management Institute
    - Syracuse University
    • Date:  4/7/2017    Paragraphs: -
    Educational Portal of the Americas
    The Educational Portal of the Americas is a unit of the Department of Human Development, Education and Employment (DHDEE) of the OAS that is committed to making quality education accessible to the peoples of the Americas through the use online professional development training, knowledge management, and institutional capacity strengthening projects that enhance innovation and the use of new technologies in education.

    1. Capacity Building Capacity building for innovation in education: The Portal offers high-level consultancy and technical assistance for the implementation of projects, programs and policies for innovation and incorporation of new technologies for the improvement of educational quality, aimed at educational entities and governments of OAS member states.

    2. Online and blended courses: design, development and facilitation of educational programs in virtual, face to face, and blended environments; tutor training.
    MOOCS: development and implementation of Massive Open Online Courses in different topics.
    Virtual Networks and Communities of Practice: development, activation, and invigoration of social educative networks that enhance collaboration between diverse groups of citizens or institutions; training for community developers or activators; hosting and domain management services; reporting statistics.

    3. Digital Content Production and Management: content curatorship (information centralization, classification by thematic axes, content redesign, and creation of graphic materials and multimedia) interface development, hosting, maintenance, reporting.

    4. E-learning platforms: development of customized solutions for online learning platforms.

    www.educoas.org

    Beneficiaries: Citizens, teachers, educational entities and government entities of the member countries of the OAS

    Partnerships and Financing: Financing:
    United States Mision
    China (Observer Mission)
    Turkey (Observer Mission)
    Uzbekistan (Observer Mission)

    Partnerships:
    St. Lucia Goverment
    Consejo Superior Universitario de Centro América – CSUCA
    FLACSO – Chile
    Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture – IICA
    Inter-American Commission of Women - ICW
    Parque Explora Corporation– Colombia
    • Date:  4/7/2017    Paragraphs: 2
    Inter-American Network for Labor Administration (RIAL)

    The Inter-American Network for Labor Administration (RIAL) is a cooperation and technical assistance mechanism among the Ministries of Labor of the Americas. It was created by the Ministries themselves, with the purpose of strengthening their institutional and human capacities.

    Since its creation in 2006, it has made a substantial contribution toward better institutions and better policies in the main areas of labor and employment, including youth employment. The concrete outcomes of the RIAL include the design of policies and programs, the improvement of internal procedures in the Ministries and the development of regulatory frameworks.

    It has trained over 1200 government officials, labor union and employers representatives, has engaged more than 16 international organizations including the members of the Joint Summits Working Group (JSWG) and especially ILO, 27 research centers and NGOs, and it has counted on the active participation of all Member States.

    The RIAL operates as a system of the following complementary and mutually reinforcing tools:

    1) Portfolio of Programs
    2) Workshops and Seminars
    3) Technical Studies
    4) Bilateral cooperation activities
    5) Newsletter
    6) Webpage and Virtual Forums and Videoconferences

    Since its creation, the RIAL has held 21 hemispheric workshops and 95 bilateral cooperation activities involving all Ministries of Labor of the region, it has a Portfolio of over 140 programs.

    The RIAL has provided support to governments to improve their youth employment strategies through more than 10 bilateral cooperation activities and 2 prominent hemispheric workshops. The latter is highlighted below.

    The RIAL “Inter-Sectoral Workshop on Youth Employment” was held in December, 2016 in Brasilia. It was the first meeting that brought together at the regional level representatives from Ministries of Labor and Ministries of Education.

    During the event, which also included the participation of representatives of workers and employers and international organizations, there was an exchange of experiences and strategies implemented by the Ministries aimed at promoting youth employment.

    Lessons learned and policy recommendations were identified during the workshop. The following are especially noteworthy:
    • the need to enhance secondary and technical education to achieve a better school-to-work transition
    • the need to strengthen tripartite dialogue (State-workers-employers) in the development and execution of policies and programs
    • the need to incorporate aspects of the world of work and develop life skills in education and training
    • the need to deepen the relationship between technical education and training systems and businesses and reinforce observatories and labor-related data systems to detect future occupational needs and provide feedback to training providers

    A number of next steps were also identified:
    • Continue to promote these types of gatherings at a regional and subregional level
    • Enhance south-south cooperation to share and improve management practices
    • Document effective intersectoral coordination experiences;

    The main challenges to be tackled and that make intersectoral coordination more urgent were identified, to wit:
    • Continue to promote these types of gatherings at a regional and subregional level
    • Inequality among different groups in the labor market, which represents, among other things, greater job insecurity and informality for youth with lower schooling levels;
    • the skills mismatch, which becomes evident in the increasing difficulty employers in the region are reporting when it comes to finding the skills needed in the labor force; and
    • the difficult situation young people find themselves in as they face high unemployment rates, informality, and inactivity.

    The current challenges of the labor market, marked by rapid technological changes, the demand economy, and the fourth industrial revolution, as well as millennials’ expectations of a new work culture were consistently brought up during the event and were also recognized as being an additional pressure on the already urgent need to coordinate inter-sectoral policies to promote youth employment.

    www.rialnet.org

    Beneficiaries: Directly: Ministries of Labor of the region
    Indirectly: Workers, employers and general population

    Partnerships and Financing: RIAL is developed in close partnership with the International Labor Organization (ILO). The Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the World Bank, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Inter-American Conference on Social Security (CISS) are also important contributors to RIAL activities.

    RIAL is funded by the Ministries of Labor, through voluntary contributions to a fund managed by OAS.
    • Date:  4/7/2017    Paragraphs: 2
    Rowe Fund program - financial aid for studies in the United States

    The OAS Rowe Fund program grants interest-free student loans to Latin American and Caribbean citizens to help them cover the last two years of undergraduate or graduate studies in U.S. universities.

    These loans are granted with the understanding that loan recipients commit to:

    - Repaying the loan in full within a term of, at most, fifty-three months after completion of the studies or research program for which the loan is granted; and

    - Returning to their home countries within a year after completion of their studies in the U.S.

    The Rowe Fund fosters friendship and communication between the peoples of the region through the positive benefits of intellectual and educational exchange. Many of the beneficiaries of these loans, upon returning to their country of origin, have contributed to the social and economic development in the region by occupying key positions in their countries' public sector, academia, the arts, and businesses.

    The Rowe Fund program originated in 1948 with a testamentary disposition from Dr. Leo S. Rowe, Ex-Director General of the Pan American Union (precursor of the OAS). Its management is entrusted to the OAS Permanent Council through a Committee consisting of four member states and the OAS Secretary General.

    Receipt, evaluation, and processing of loan application, monitoring graduation, return to beneficiary's country of origin, repayment, and program's assessment.

    www.oas.org/en/rowefund

    Beneficiaries: OAS Member States with the exception of Canada and the United States

    Partnerships and Financing: Self-funded, revolving fund consisting on a loan portfolio (two modalities of loans) and an investment portfolio
    • Date:  3/15/2017    Paragraphs: -
    Inter-American Education System

    In order to continue supporting member states´ efforts to ensure the right to quality education for all, the Government of Colombia, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, and the OAS General Secretariat, signed a Letter of Intent at the VII Summit of the Americas (Panama, April, 2015) to create an Inter-American Education System. The System’s main objective would be to increase the collaboration of partner institutions to strengthen the capacities of OAS Member States to develop public policies oriented towards improving the quality of education, through research, the identification of effective public policies, the exchange of experiences and technical cooperation for public policy formulation.
    Through the proposed areas of action, the Inter-American Education System is expected to support the implementation of the Inter-American Education Agenda - in particular the lines of action prioritized by the Working Group 1 on the theme of “Quality, Inclusive and Equitable Education -, which was recently adopted at the IX Inter-American Meeting of Ministers of Education held in The Bahamas in February 2017.

    Activities:
    Activities carried-out during 2016:
    1) Preparation of a conceptual map that identifies and systematizes the different contributing factors to students´ learning processes (from preschool to technical vocational education)

    2) Development of a map of promising practices and relevant publications developed by multilateral governmental institutions and agencies in the region in the last 5 years.

    3) Establishing new partnerships to identify financial and technical support that allows for advancing the design and implementation of activities that respond to the objectives of the project.

    4) Organize consultation processes between partner institutions to define a plan of action to implement an Inter-American Education System that supports the implementation of an Inter-American Education Agenda.

    Activities to be carried out:
    5) Develop a protocol to identify innovative practices of policies, programs and initiatives developed by OAS Member States in the last 5 years to reduce education inequality, with a particular emphasis on those aiming at improving students´ learning achievements.


    6) Develop a document that provides Member States with policy recommendations directed towards the review, strengthening and/or development of policies, programs and initiatives that seek to improve students´ learning processes and address education inequality, with a specific emphasis on improving students´ learning achievements. The document will also propose strategies of action to implement those policy recommendations.

    7) Organize a meeting to disseminate and discuss the documents prepared, and to promote the exchange of experiences among Member States on the themes addressed.


    8) Design and implementation of training mechanisms to build capacities in member states to evaluate, review, reform and develop innovative public policies that address inequality in education from a socio-inclusive education approach.

    Beneficiaries: OAS Member States; Multilateral governmental agencies who are partners of the initiative.

    Partnerships:
    Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
    Inter-American Development Bank
    Development Bank of Latin America (CAF)
    Organization of Ibero-American States
    World Bank
    UNESCO Regional Bureau of Education for Latin America and the Caribbean

    Financing:
    Development Bank of Latin America (CAF)
    Permanent Observer Mission of China to the OAS
    • Date:  3/15/2017    Paragraphs: -
    Initiatives:
    1. 2030 ICT Alliance for the Americas
    2. COM/CITEL/RES. 287 (XXXII-16): Support from CITEL for the Implementation of the Outcomes of the Seventh Summit of the Americas and in Preparation for the VIII Summit of the Americas


    1. On June 14, 2016, in the framework of the 46 Regular Session of the OAS General Assembly, held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the “2030 ICT Alliance for the Americas” was launched with support from the CITEL Secretariat. The Alliance recognizes the potential of global connectivity to accelerate human progress in Latin America and the Caribbean, reducing digital gaps and developing knowledge societies. The Commitments assumed in this Alliance are focused on working together, private sector with the leadership of the ICT industry, public sector and multilateral institutions, to pledge to do the following:
    • To work together to ensure that additional 150 million of persons in the Americas are brought online.
    • To have all public schools of the Americas connected to the Internet before 2030.
    • To promote digital training education with relevant local contents that enhance the quality of education in the Americas.
    • To develop the talent for the new digital economy.
    • To build up democratic participation in the Americas on the basis of ICTs.
    In the framework of the 2030 ICT Alliance of the Americas, CITEL is implementing a project with PROFUTURO (from Fundacion Telefonica) called Digital Mobile Classroom, which offers an innovative offline solution to improve quality education through digital resources that provide access to quality and transformational education creating spaces more inclusive and focusing in the enhancement of teacher´s skills, methods and competencies through digital technologies. Our target is children in primary education.
    2. To support the Global Connect efforts to catalyze multi-sectoral initiatives to attract 1.5 billion new Internet users online by 2020, including its principles to achieve Internet connectivity; to ensure that all public schools in the Americas are connected to the Internet by 2030 and create relevant local content; and to promote digital training to help raise the quality of education and build talent for the new digital economy.
    3. In 2016, CITEL had 6 Regional Training Centers distributed throughout the region. The program of courses for which scholarships were offered was prepared on the basis of surveys on the region’s telecommunication training needs. Pursuant to the provisions of resolution COM/CITEL RES. 271 (XXX-15).

    Activities:
    1. Challenge #STEM4Good Americas: Inspired, Explore, Learn. Thanks to the initiative of the OAS, CITEL and Telefonica, framed in the 2030 ICT Alliance, young entrepreneurs between 14 and 18 years old are been trained to create mobile applications based on the AppInventor platform.
    2. 2017 Call for collaboration with all Ministries of Education to implement PROFUTURO’s DIGITAL MOBILE CLASSROOM to improve the quality of education through digital education in highly vulnerable environments in Latin America and the Caribbean
    3. In 2016 115 scholarships were offered for 13 online courses and 4 onsite courses, details of which are given in CITEL’s 2016 Annual Report.

    Website:
    https://www.citel.oas.org
    https://www.citel.oas.org/en/SiteAssets/About-Citel/Next-Meetings/ALIANZA/ALIANZATIC2030%20-%20FIRMADA%20-%20ENG.pdf
    https://www.citel.oas.org/en/Pages/Scholarships.aspx
    https://www.citel.oas.org/en/SiteAssets/About-Citel/Next-Meetings/ALIANZA/ALIANZATICAMERICAS_ENG%20-%2013%20junio%202016-%20FINAL.pdf

    Beneficiaries:
    • Young entrepreneurs between 14 and 18 years old
    • 115 professionals in the Americas from 20 Member States awarded with ICT scholarships from OAS/CITEL.
    • Internet users in the Americas
    • All Public schools of the Americas connected to the Internet before 2030.
    • Digital classrooms that will benefit 1 million students in the Americas

    Partnerships and Financing: OAS, CITEL and Telefonica
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    OAS Academic Scholarship Program
    The OAS Academic Scholarship Program supports the integral development of OAS members states by granting scholarships to students of the Americas for the pursuit of master’s degrees, doctoral degrees and research leading to a degree, as well as the last two years of bachelor's degrees for students from English-speaking Caribbean member states and Suriname, in priority development areas identified by member states.

    Activities: Scholarships granted each year for master’s degrees, doctoral degrees and research leading to a degree, as well as the last two years of bachelor's degrees for students from English-speaking Caribbean member states and Suriname.

    Website: www.oas.org/en/scholarships/

    Beneficiaries: All OAS member states.

    Partnerships and Financing: Regular fund and contributions from partner institutions of higher education.
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    OAS Academic Scholarship ProgramThe OAS Academic Scholarship Program supports the integral development of OAS members states by granting scholarships to students of the Americas for the pursuit of master’s degrees, doctoral degrees and research leading to a degree, as well as the last two years of bachelor's degrees for students from English-speaking Caribbean member states and Suriname, in priority development areas identified by member states.

    Activities: Scholarships granted each year for master’s degrees, doctoral degrees and research leading to a degree, as well as the last two years of bachelor's degrees for students from English-speaking Caribbean member states and Suriname. Scholarship recipients may select programs of study related to the teaching of English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish as a second language.

    Website: www.oas.org/en/scholarships/

    Beneficiaries: All OAS member states.

    Partnership and financing: Regular fund and contributions from partner institutions of higher education.
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    OAS Academic Scholarship Program
    The OAS Academic Scholarship Program supports the integral development of OAS members states by granting scholarships to students of the Americas for the pursuit of master’s degrees, doctoral degrees and research leading to a degree, as well as the last two years of bachelor's degrees for students from English-speaking Caribbean member states and Suriname, in priority development areas identified by member states.

    Activities: Scholarships granted each year for master’s degrees, doctoral degrees and research leading to a degree, as well as the last two years of bachelor's degrees for students from English-speaking Caribbean member states and Suriname in areas of study related to Scientific Development and the Exchange and Transfer of Technology.

    Website: www.oas.org/en/scholarships/

    Beneficiaries: All OAS member states.

    Partnership and Financing: Regular fund and contributions from partner institutions of higher education.
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Initiative: Cooperation through Knowledge Exchange and the Transfer of Practices in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education in Nine Countries in Latin America (Phase I) (EducaSTEM)

    EducaSTEM, coordinated by the Educational Portal of the Americas, is a regional network that aims to improve access to information and knowledge transfer on best practices and lessons learned for STEM Education programs and initiatives at the pre-primary, primary, and secondary levels.

    Activities: -A network of professionals and institutions that design and implement STEM Education practices, who are interested in sharing their knowledge, experiences and resources on STEM Education practices from the region and around the world.
    -A STEM Education practice map that visually identifies and describes practices, programs and initiatives related to the teaching and learning of STEM subjects in early childhood, primary and secondary levels in the Americas.
    -Horizontal technical cooperation missions between governmental, academic, private, and civil society institutions from OAS Member states to promote and support the sharing and transfer of STEM Education knowledge and best practices.
    - A guide to identify Inquiry Based Learning Practices (IBL) on STEM Education to promote critical thinking as a powerful tool for breaking gender gaps and stereotypes as well as contributing to equality based societies.

    Website: http://educastem.org/en/

    Beneficiaries: All OAS member states.

    Partnerships and Financing: Contributions from the Permanent Observer Mission of Turkey and the Permanent Observer Mission of the of China; OAS in kind contributions; and contributions from EducaSTEM network members.
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Initiative: Cooperation through Knowledge Exchange and the Transfer of Practices in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education in Nine Countries in Latin America (Phase I) (EducaSTEM)

    EducaSTEM, coordinated by the Educational Portal of the Americas, is a regional network that aims to improve access to information and knowledge transfer on best practices and lessons learned for STEM Education programs and initiatives at the pre-primary, primary, and secondary levels.

    Activities: -A network of professionals and institutions that design and implement STEM Education practices, who are interested in sharing their knowledge, experiences and resources on STEM Education practices from the region and around the world.
    -A STEM Education practice map that visually identifies and describes practices, programs and initiatives related to the teaching and learning of STEM subjects in early childhood, primary and secondary levels in the Americas.
    -Horizontal technical cooperation missions between governmental, academic, private, and civil society institutions from OAS Member states to promote and support the sharing and transfer of STEM Education knowledge and best practices.
    - A guide to identify Inquiry Based Learning Practices (IBL) on STEM Education to promote critical thinking as a powerful tool for breaking gender gaps and stereotypes as well as contributing to equality based societies.

    Website: http://educastem.org/en/

    Beneficiaries: All OAS member states.

    Partnership and Financing: Contributions from the Permanent Observer Mission of Turkey and the Permanent Observer Mission of the of China; OAS in kind contributions; and contributions from EducaSTEM network members.
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    Initiative: Building of the Inter-American Education Agenda
    One of the chief mandates adopted by the VIII Inter-American Meeting of Ministers of Education is the
    Building of the Inter-American Education Agenda led by Ministries of Education of OAS Member States through three Working Groups conformed in the following prioritized themes:
    -Quality and Inclusive Education
    -Strengthening of the Teaching Profession
    -Comprehensive Early Childhood Care

    Activities: 1. Three field visits (May and July 2015) to Member States that are Chair of the Working Groups to activate the three Working Groups for the Building of the Inter-American Education Agenda that were created at the VIII Inter-American Meeting of Ministers of Education. Meetings were held with High Authorities – such as the Minister of Education, Vice-Ministers and their teams, and the Director of Cooperation.
    2. Planning Meeting for the Building of the Inter-American Education Agenda in Cambridge, Massachusetts (July 23-24, 2015), to strengthen the capacities of the Ministries of Education of the countries leading the Working Groups to prepare proposals for the development of Work Plans containing suggested initiatives for implementing hemispheric cooperation actions on the prioritized themes*.
    3. Teleconferences with Ministries of Education leading the Working Groups to provide technical and logistical support to contribute to the definition of the Proposed Work Plans drafted during the Cambridge meeting, which contain a list of agreed proposed initiatives for implementing hemispheric cooperation actions on the prioritized themes.
    4. Development of the Virtual Platform for Education Cooperation in the Americas to support the building of the Inter-American Educational Agenda by promoting cooperation on educational solutions developed by the countries of the region to meet their major educational challenges, as well as to improve communications and the flow of information among Member States in the field of Education.**

    Website: http://agendaeducativacie.org/

    Beneficiaries: All OAS member states.

    Partnerships and Financing: *Ministry of Education of Panama
    **Ministry of Education of Panama and Permanent Observer Mission of Greece to the OAS
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    Initiative: Inter-American Education System
    In follow-up to the Letter of Commitment signed at the VII Summit of the Americas (Panama, April 2015) by the CAF, CEPAL, IADB, OAS and World Bank, the Coordination of Education has been assigned to lead the preparation of project proposals for the development of an Inter-American Education System.

    Activities:
    1. In consultation with different stakeholders within and outside the Organization, six project proposals were prepared by the Coordination Unit to advance development of the Inter-American Education System. Proposals were enhanced through discussions with different OAS authorities, and members of the task force created by the Secretary General to implement this activity.

    2. Participation in technical meetings with signatory organizations and in internal (OAS) meetings for discussion and dialogue.

    Beneficiaries: All OAS member states.
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    Initiative: FIRST FORUM OF UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS
    An initiative of the President of the Republic of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela, and in the framework of the Seventh Summit of the Americas, the Forum of University Presidents was organized to examine cooperation challenges with a view to achieving prosperity through education.
    The event was a joint effort of the Ministry of Education of Panama (MEDUCA), the Technological University of Panama (UTP), Georgia Institute of Technology, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the Organization of American States (OAS).
    The discussion topic was “Prosperity and education: the challenge of cooperation in the Americas”.
    The forum was structured around plenary sessions, panels and working groups . The Council of Rectors of Panama also participated in proceedings. The participants prepared a set of recommendations that were submitted to the region’s heads of State and Government.
    This is a forum to strengthen mechanisms for mutual collaboration and fluency in interaction with the state, civil society, academia and other productive sectors to facilitate the design of public policies.

    Activities: The forum focused on three themes: "Academic Mobility", "Technology and Innovation" and "Sustainable Economic Development".
    a. Academic Mobility - A proposal was discussed to create a Network of Academic Mobility, which will be an essential tool of academic life. This network is intended to be taken over by governments as a priority in the integration process of the Americas. Consequently, it was proposed that the Presidents and Heads of Government of the Americas commit to creating and funding a hemispheric mobility plan for undergraduate and graduate students, teachers, and researchers. The ultimate goal is the creation of an interrelated system of academic equivalencies, such as those already achieved in other continents.
    b. Technology and Innovation - The priority to reduce the gap of appropriation in the use of technology among and within our countries was introduced. A recommendation was issued regarding connectivity between universities to be enhanced, as a vehicle geared toward promoting a comprehensive and efficient technology transfer and greater equity in the access to information.
    c. Sustainable Economic Development - The focus was placed on how universities should work with the State and the economic sector on the necessary and urgent progress from economies limited to the exploitation of natural resources and extractive labor, towards knowledge-based economies. Recommendations were issued about effective mechanisms to be generated so that the universities’ human capital is available and can support innovation in the public and private sectors, promoting applied research to contribute to solving the needs of the people. Another recommendation involved the incorporation of new technologies, respect for ecosystems and the development of alternative energy sources to be integrated harmoniously to society.

    Website: http://foroderectores.pa/en/

    Beneficiaries: All OAS member states.

    Partnerships and Financing: Ministry of Education of Panama
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    Initiative: OAS Scholarship Program for Haiti
    The main objective of the OAS Scholarship Program for Haiti is to train people for the reconstruction of Haiti. The overall goal of the Program is for Haitians to contribute to the development of their country upon completion of their studies.

    Activities: Scholarships granted each year to Haitian citizens to enable them to contribute to the development of their country.

    Website: www.oas.org/en/scholarships/haiti.asp

    Beneficiaries: Haiti

    Partnership and Financing: Contributions from partner institutions of higher education and initial allocation from the OAS Scholarship Capital Fund.
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    Initiative: ITEN Technical Cooperation Missions
    ITEN’s technical cooperation missions are field visits financed by ITEN, which aim to support institutional strengthening of Ministries of Education of OAS member states. These encounters allow Ministry-level representatives and education experts to exchange knowledge on specific policies, experiences and good practices in the field of the teaching profession in the Americas. All participating countries provide reports containing detailed information about the mission, which are shared in our knowledge bank, Co-TEP, for reference to other OAS member states and interested parties.

    Activities: A total of 14 technical cooperation missions with the participation of 23 OAS member states have been held as of October 13, 2015. Topics included Teacher Professional Development on Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics, and Sciences; Teaching Methodologies; Teachers Career Path; Principals and School Management; Pre-service Teachers; Teacher Working-Conditions; Self-sustaining Rural Schools, and Sciences Curriculum Revision.

    Website: www.oas.org/en/iten

    Beneficiaries: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Colombia, Canada, Chile, Dominica, El Salvador,Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Panama, Peru, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States.

    Partnerships and Financing: This activity is part of the Inter-American Teacher Education Network (ITEN), a project of the Department of Human Development and Education of the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development. ITEN is an initiative carried out with the financial support of the U.S. Permanent Mission to the OAS. The Technical Cooperation Missions have also received in-kind support from participating Ministries of Education.
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    Initiative: ITEN Technical Cooperation Missions
    ITEN’s technical cooperation missions are field visits financed by ITEN, which aim to support institutional strengthening of Ministries of Education of OAS member states. These encounters allow Ministry-level representatives and education experts to exchange knowledge on specific policies, experiences and good practices in the field of the teaching profession in the Americas. All participating countries provide reports containing detailed information about the mission, which are shared in our knowledge bank, Co-TEP, for reference to other OAS member states and interested parties.

    Activities: A total of 14 technical cooperation missions with the participation of 23 OAS member states have been held as of October 13, 2015. Topics included Teacher Professional Development on Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics, and Sciences; Teaching Methodologies; Teachers Career Path; Principals and School Management; Pre-service Teachers; Teacher Working-Conditions; Self-sustaining Rural Schools, and Sciences Curriculum Revision.

    Website: www.oas.org/en/iten

    Beneficiaries: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Colombia, Canada, Chile, Dominica, El Salvador,Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Panama, Peru, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States.

    Partnerships and Financing: This activity is part of the Inter-American Teacher Education Network (ITEN), a project of the Department of Human Development and Education of the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development. ITEN is an initiative carried out with the financial support of the U.S. Permanent Mission to the OAS. The Technical Cooperation Missions have also received in-kind support from participating Ministries of Education.
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    Initiative: ITEN Radio and Podcast Programs
    This is a series of interactive radio programs and podcasts for teachers in rural areas of OAS member states. These free audio programs strengthen teachers’ ability to teach critical thinking skills in mathematics, literacy, science, and citizenship education. Woven into an entertaining drama series, the participatory lessons feature short pauses that allow teachers to respond to questions, partake in group discussions, write plans for their classes, and more. They learn practical skills to apply in the classroom immediately.


    Activities: The audio programs will initially reach 520 middle and high school teachers directly, with roughly 2,800 more targeted for participation, in three countries - Belize, Costa Rica and Guatemala. Potential future implementations and online access will increase the coverage of this program. However, this program is accessible and free of charge for all OAS member states. The audio programs are accessible in mobile devices through podcast applications.

    Website: www.oas.org/en/iten

    Beneficiaries: Belize, Costa Rica and Guatemala.

    Partnerships and Financing: ITEN made available grants for the implementation, follow-up and assessment of this activity in Belize, Costa Rica and Guatemala. This activity is part of the Inter-American Teacher Education Network (ITEN), a project of the Department of Human Development and Education of the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development. ITEN is an initiative carried out with the financial support of the U.S. Permanent Mission to the OAS.
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    Initiative: Inter-American Collaboratory on the Teaching Profession (Co-TEP)
    The Inter-American Collaboratory on the Teaching Profession (Co-TEP) is a collaborative virtual knowledge bank created to allow ministries of education and key stakeholders to share policies, good practices, publications and research documents related to the teaching profession in the Americas. The Co-TEP was conceived from the need identified by Ministers of Education during the Seventh Inter-American Meeting of Ministers of Education of OAS member states to create a regional bank to foster knowledge exchange and cooperation among countries on teacher policies in the Americas.

    Activities: More than 300 contributions (documents, videos, and publications) are available, with more than 27,000 views from visitors as of October 13, 2015. Topics include teacher recruitment, teacher preparation, teacher professional development, teachers' career path, school leadership and principals and special topics related to the teaching profession- literacy, numeracy, science, civic education, early childhood, and information and communication technologies (ICTs). An MOU has been signed with UNESCO/OREALC; UNESCO has donated its complete library / knowledge bank of publications to Co-TEP.

    Website; www.oas.org/cotep | www.oas.org/en/iten

    Beneficiaries: All OAS member states

    Partnerships and Financing: This activity is part of the Inter-American Teacher Education Network (ITEN), a project of the Department of Human Development and Education of the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development. ITEN is an initiative carried out with the financial support of the U.S. Permanent Mission to the OAS. Co-TEP has been a partner of PREAL, which contributed its complete library of publications to Co-TEP. Currently, UNESCO is financing a consultant to migrate their INNOVEMOS database into the Co-TEP.
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    Initiative: Inter-American Collaboratory on the Teaching Profession (Co-TEP)
    The Inter-American Collaboratory on the Teaching Profession (Co-TEP) is a collaborative virtual knowledge bank created to allow ministries of education and key stakeholders to share policies, good practices, publications and research documents related to the teaching profession in the Americas. The Co-TEP was conceived from the need identified by Ministers of Education during the Seventh Inter-American Meeting of Ministers of Education of OAS member states to create a regional bank to foster knowledge exchange and cooperation among countries on teacher policies in the Americas.

    Activities: More than 300 contributions (documents, videos, and publications) are available, with more than 27,000 views from visitors as of October 13, 2015. Topics include teacher recruitment, teacher preparation, teacher professional development, teachers' career path, school leadership and principals and special topics related to the teaching profession- Literacy, numeracy, science, civic education, early childhood, and information and communication technologies (ICTs). A MOU has been signed with UNESCO/OREALC; Unesco has donated all its library / knowledge bank of publication to Co-TEP.

    Website: www.oas.org/cotep | www.oas.org/en/iten

    Beneficiaries: All OAS member states

    Partnerships and Financing: This activity is part of the Inter-American Teacher Education Network (ITEN), a project of the Department of Human Development and Education of the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development. ITEN is an initiative carried out with the financial support of the U.S. Permanent Mission to the OAS. Co-TEP has been a partner of PREAL, which contributed all its library of publication to Co-TEP. Currently, UNESCO is financing a consultant to migrate their INNOVEMOS database into the Co-TEP.
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Iniciative: Inter-American Collaboratory on the Teaching Profession (Co-TEP)
    The Inter-American Collaboratory on the Teaching Profession (Co-TEP) is a collaborative virtual knowledge bank created to allow ministries of education and key stakeholders to share policies, good practices, publications and research documents related to the teaching profession in the Americas. The Co-TEP was conceived from the need identified by Ministers of Education during the Seventh Inter-American Meeting of Ministers of Education of OAS member states to create a regional bank to foster knowledge exchange and cooperation among countries on teacher policies in the Americas.

    Activites: More than 300 contributions (documents, videos, and publications) are available, with more than 27,000 views from visitors as of October 13, 2015. Topics include teacher recruitment, teacher preparation, teacher professional development, teachers' career path, school leadership and principals and special topics related to the teaching profession- Literacy, numeracy, science, civic education, early childhood, and information and communication technologies (ICTs). A MOU has been signed with UNESCO/OREALC; Unesco has donated all its library / knowledge bank of publication to Co-TEP.

    Website: www.oas.org/cotep | www.oas.org/en/iten

    Beneficiaries: All OAS member states

    Partnerships and Financing: This activity is part of the Inter-American Teacher Education Network (ITEN), a project of the Department of Human Development and Education of the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development. ITEN is an initiative carried out with the financial support of the U.S. Permanent Mission to the OAS. Co-TEP has been a partner of PREAL, which contributed all its library of publication to Co-TEP. Currently, UNESCO is financing a consultant to migrate their INNOVEMOS database into the Co-TEP.
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    Initiative: Mi Escuela en Acción Workshops
    These workshops encompass a multidisciplinary approach to project-based learning. Teachers are encouraged to use critical thinking in different subject areas such as mathematics, literature, sciences, and citizenship education to tackle problems in the community.

    Actividades: Mi Escuela en Acción Argentina
    Took place from September 24 to 25, 2014 in Buenos Aires, Argentina
    Partnership with the Ministry of Education of Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires.
    Over 40 teachers participated
    The Ministry of Education of Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires will be expanding this initiative to other teachers in the region.

    Mi Escuela en Acción El Salvador
    Took place from April 21 to April 23, 2015 in San Salvador, El Salvador
    Partnership with the Ministry of Education of El Salvador.
    Over 40 teachers from the Young Talents Program participated.
    ITEN held a follow-up virtual workshop with the teachers in El Salvador on August 27, 2015.

    Mi Escuela en Accion Guatemala
    Partnership with Ministry of Education of Guatemala and the Rigoberta Menchu Foundation
    Took place from May 20th to May 22, 2015, in San Lucas, Toliman, Guatemala.
    Over 40 teachers participated.
    ITEN held a follow-up virtual workshop with the teachers in San Lucas on September 10, 2015

    Website: www.oas.org/en/iten

    Beneficiaries: Argentina, El Salvador and Guatemala

    Partnerships and Financing:
    Partnerships with:
    . The Ministry of Education of Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires;
    . The Ministry of Education of El Salvador;
    . The Ministry of Education of Guatemala and the Rigoberta Menchu Foundation.

    This activity was financed by the Inter-American Teacher Education Network (ITEN), a project of the Department of Human Development and Education of the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development. ITEN is an initiative carried out with the financial support of the U.S. Permanent Mission to the OAS. My School in Action has also received in-kind and/or financial support from participating Ministries of Education.
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    Initiative: Massive open online courses (MOOCs) - Spanish Version
    The development of MOOCs is rooted in the idea of openness in education, in the free sharing of knowledge, and in the belief that the desire to learn should be satisfied without demographic, economic, and geographical constraints. ITEN MOOCs aim to strengthen teachers' skills, offering practical tools, including lesson plan formats and methodological approaches to develop critical skills in the students

    Activities:
    The Spanish version of the MOOC was launched on August 31, 2015. As of October 14, 2015, the MOOC had hosted 7,000 participants from 21 OAS member states.

    Website: www.oas.org/en/iten
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    Initiative: ITEN Virtual Toolkit - Spanish Version
    The Virtual Toolkits provide teachers with theoretical and practical tools to strengthen teaching in the classroom, including the design, implementation and evaluation of lesson plans. These toolkits are focused on general concepts to promote critical thinking skills in all subjects for secondary-level students with emphasis on mathematics, reading comprehension, science and citizenship education.

    Activities: The Spanish version of the Virtual Toolkit was launched on September 22, 2015. As of October 14, 2015, the Virtual Toolkit had hosted 2,000 participants from OAS member states. The toolkit is accessible on desktop and laptop computers as well as mobile devices through the UDEMY app.

    Website: www.oas.org/en/iten

    Beneficiaries: All OAS member states.

    Partnerships and Financing: This activity is part of the Inter-American Teacher Education Network (ITEN), a project of the Department of Human Development and Education of the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development. ITEN is an initiative carried out with the financial support of the U.S. Permanent Mission to the OAS.
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    Initiatives: ITEN Virtual Community of Practice
    The ITEN Virtual Community is an open-access network with more than 25,000 registered participants who are leading professionals in education at all levels and in various modalities. The platform, available in English and Spanish, allows teachers from various countries in the Americas to exchange ideas, experiences and good practices related to education.


    Activities:
    ITEN Virtual Community allows teachers to:
    - Create thematic groups and share resources with colleagues;
    - Participate in forums and exchange key information through online debates;
    - Share videos and photos of their classrooms and practice;
    - Participate in webinars on topics related to the teaching profession and practice presented by specialists.
    - Learn about events related to the teaching profession
    - Learn about scholarships and other opportunities for professional development

    Website: www.itenamericas.net / www.riedamericas.net

    Beneficiaries: All OAS member states

    Partnerships and Financing: This activity is part of the Inter-American Teacher Education Network (ITEN), a project of the Department of Human Development and Education of the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development. ITEN is an initiative carried out with the financial support of the U.S. Permanent Mission to the OAS.
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    Initiative: Webinars
    These free, one-hour, live, online seminars are led by a specialist from the region on the proposed theme and provide K-12 teachers with practical and methodological tools to be used in class. All webinars are recorded and posted on the ITEN YouTube channel and Virtual Community of Practice for free access.

    Activities: A total of 52 webinars (Spanish: 27 | English: 25) have been held, with more than 15,700 registered participants, and the webinars posted on ITEN Youtube Channel have had more than 44,000 views as of October 13, 2015. The webinars are accessible on all kind of devices: computer, laptops, tablets and smart phones.

    Website: www.oas.org/en/iten | www.youtube.com/riediten

    Beneficiaries: All OAS member states

    Partnerships and Financing: This activity is part of the Inter-American Teacher Education Network (ITEN), a project of the Department of Human Development and Education of the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development. ITEN is an initiative carried out with the financial support of the U.S. Permanent Mission to the OAS.
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    Initiative: OAS Partnerships Program for Education and Training (PAEC) (Scholarship Program)
    PAEC is an innovative partnerships program intended to tap into scholarships, tuition waivers and other offers made by governments and educational institutions around the world. PAEC allows the OAS to cooperate with a range of institutions to provide citizens of member states with greater access to quality higher education opportunities including academic degrees, professional development and technical/vocational training.

    Activities: Scholarships granted each year for graduate and undergraduate degrees as well as professional development courses in OAS member and observer states.

    Website: www.oas.org/en/scholarships/

    Beneficiaries: All OAS member states.

    Partnerships and Financing: Contributions from partner institutions of higher education and Regular Fund.
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    Initiative: OAS Partnerships Program for Education and Training (PAEC) (Scholarship Program)
    PAEC is an innovative partnerships program intended to tap into scholarships, tuition waivers and other offers made by governments and educational institutions around the world. PAEC allows the OAS to cooperate with a range of institutions to provide citizens of member states with greater access to quality higher education opportunities including academic degrees, professional development and technical/vocational training.

    Activities: Scholarships granted each year for graduate and undergraduate degrees as well as professional development courses in OAS member and observer states. The OAS-Coimbra Group of Brazilian Universities Scholarship Program and the OAS-Government of China Scholarship Program include language learning components in Portuguese and Mandarin, respectively. Additionally, scholarship recipients may select programs of study related to the teaching of English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish as a second language.

    Website: www.oas.org/en/scholarships/

    Beneficiaries: All OAS member states.

    Partnerships and Financing: Contributions from partner institutions of higher education and Regular Fund.
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    Initiative: OAS Partnerships Program for Education and Training (PAEC) (Scholarship Program)
    PAEC is an innovative partnerships program intended to tap into scholarships, tuition waivers and other offers made by governments and educational institutions around the world. PAEC allows the OAS to cooperate with a range of institutions to provide citizens of member states with greater access to quality higher education opportunities including academic degrees, professional development and technical/vocational training.

    Activities: Scholarships granted each year for graduate and undergraduate degrees as well as professional development courses in OAS member and observer states related to Scientific Development and the Exchange and Transfer of Technology.

    Website: www.oas.org/en/scholarships/

    Beneficiaries: All OAS member states.

    Partnerships and Financing: Contributions from partner institutions of higher education and Regular Fund.
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    Initiative: Professional Development Scholarship Program (PDSP)
    PDSP supports the integral development of OAS member states by awarding scholarships for participation in professional development training in priority development areas identified by member states.

    Activity: Scholarships granted for professional development courses in OAS member and observer states.

    Website: www.oas.org/en/scholarships/professionaldev.asp

    Beneficiares: All OAS member states.

    Partnerships and Financing: Contributions from partner institutions of higher education and Regular Fund.
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    Initiative: Professional Development Scholarship Program (PDSP)
    PDSP supports the integral development of OAS member states by awarding scholarships for participation in professional development training in priority development areas identified by member states.

    Activities: Scholarships granted for professional development courses in OAS member and observer states related to Scientific Development and the Exchange and Transfer of Technology.

    Website; www.oas.org/en/scholarships/professionaldev.asp

    Beneficiaries: All OAS member states.

    Partnerships and Financing: Contributions from partner institutions of higher education and Regular Fund.
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    Initiative: Educational Portal of the Americas
    The Educational Portal of the Americas (EPA) works in support of ICT-based education by offering online training opportunities to citizens of OAS members states. The EPA has provided thousands of citizens with access to affordable professional development opportunities, with particular emphasis on raising the quality of education and the innovative use of ICTs in learning processes for teachers, teacher educators, policy makers, civil society leaders, researchers, and university professors in the Hemisphere.

    Activities: - Scholarships granted for participation in online courses.
    - Online networks and communities of practice for the exchange of knowledge and information.
    - Capacity building projects to train teachers in the integration of technology to improve the quality of education.

    Website; www.educoas.org
    Beneficiaries: All OAS member states.
    Partnerships and Financing: Contributions from offering institutions and Specific Funds.
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    Initiative: Educational Portal of the Americas
    The Educational Portal of the Americas (EPA) works in support of ICT-based education by offering online training opportunities to citizens of OAS members states. The EPA has provided thousands of citizens with access to affordable professional development opportunities, with particular emphasis on raising the quality of education and the innovative use of ICTs in learning processes for teachers, teacher educators, policy makers, civil society leaders, researchers, and university professors in the Hemisphere.

    Activities: Scholarships granted for participation in online courses.

    Website: www.educoas.org
    Beneficiaries: All OAS member states.
    Partnerships and Financing: Contributions from offering institutions and Specific Funds.
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    Initiative: Leo S. Rowe Pan American Fund (The Rowe Fund)
    The Rowe Fund awards interest-free loans to deserving citizens from Latin American and Caribbean OAS member states to help finance their studies or research at universities in the United States and grants subsidized interest-bearing educational and emergency loans to OAS staff members.

    Activities: Interest-free student loans granted to citizens of OAS member states in Latin America and the Caribbean to pursue studies in the United States.

    Interest-bearing student loans to GS/OAS staff.

    Website: www.oas.org/en/rowefund/

    Beneficiaries: citizens of Latin America and Caribbean OAS member countries and GS/OAS staff members

    Partnerships and Financing: self-sustained fund
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    Initiative: Virtual Educa Symposium
    Virtual Educa is a multilateral cooperation initiative that encourages innovation in education and professional training as a mechanism for promoting social inclusion, boosting competitiveness, and achieving higher levels of development, with special emphasis on Latin America and the Caribbean. Virtual Educa organizes activities and offers collaborative spaces to promote, debate, share, and exchange ideas to improve education using information and communication technologies (ICT).

    Activities: International Forum;
    Regional and national forums;
    Forums on innovation in education;
    Projects in Connectivity for Education and Education for inclusion like Virtual Educa popup schools and classrooms.'

    Website: www. virtualeduca.org

    Beneficiaries: All OAS member states.

    Partnerships and Financing: Contributions from the Host Country Government and Virtual Educa as well as in kind contributions from the OAS
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    Initiative: Virtual Educa Symposium
    Virtual Educa is a multilateral cooperation initiative that encourages innovation in education and professional training as a mechanism for promoting social inclusion, boosting competitiveness, and achieving higher levels of development, with special emphasis on Latin America and the Caribbean. Virtual Educa organizes activities and offers collaborative spaces to promote, debate, share, and exchange ideas to improve education using information and communication technologies (ICT).

    Activities: International Forum;
    Regional and national forums;
    Forums on innovation in education;
    Projects in Connectivity for Education and Education for inclusion like Virtual Educa popup schools and classrooms.

    Website: www. virtualeduca.org
    Beneficiaries: All OAS member states.
    Partnerships and Financing: Contributions from the Host Country Government and Virtual Educa as well as in kind contributions from the OAS
    • Date:  11/9/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Iniciativa: Prestación de asistencia técnica
    La Secretaría General de la OEA a través de su Departamento de Inclusión Social planifica y ejecuta actividades de asistencia técnica y cooperación inter-institucional a fin de apoyar a los Estados miembros en la consecución de este mandato de la Cumbre.

    Actividades: 1. Elaboración de un currículo en educación inclusiva para Haití desarrollado conjuntamente con las Autoridades de la Comisión Nacional Asesora para la Integración de las Personas con Discapacidad (CONADIS) de Argentina en el marco del Proyecto para el fortalecimiento del marco legal e institucional sobre la discapacidad en Haití ejecutado por la OEA desde el año 2011.

    2. Alianza con la Universidad Nacional de Chile para dictar, a partir de agosto de 2016, el Diplomado en Derechos Humanos, Discapacidad y Educación Inclusiva que espera capacitar a cientos de funcionarios públicos del área social y de los Departamentos de Educación de los gobiernos nacionales y locales de los países de América Latina y el Caribe, profesores, personal de los sistemas educativos en general, personas que trabajan en el diseño, implementación y monitoreo de legislación, programas y políticas públicas sobre discapacidad y educación y líderes de la sociedad civil de personas con discapacidad y sus familias para: (i) comprender la evolución y controversias de distintos modelos de educación que se han aplicado y aplican para atender a personas con discapacidad a fin de analizar sus implicancias e impacto en la calidad de la inclusión educativa y social de estas personas; (ii) identificar barreras y facilitadores para la igualdad de oportunidades educativas de personas con discapacidad considerando aspectos individuales, familiares y escolares, así como herramientas educativas y recursos tecnológicos para la Inclusión, y (iii) diseñar un proyecto de intervención o estrategia educativa orientada a promover la plena inclusión educacional de personas con discapacidad en los países de los participantes del curso.

    3. En el marco de la Convención Interamericana para la Eliminación de Todas las Formas de Discriminación contra las Personas con Discapacidad (CIADDIS) los Estados parte de la Convención se encuentran preparando su segundo informe nacional de cumplimiento de dicho instrumento en los que reportarán todas las medidas de carácter administrativo, legislativo y judicial, así como las buenas prácticas y las políticas públicas que se están implementando para lograr la inclusión educativa de las personas con discapacidad. Tales medidas serán todas sistematizadas en un Observatorio Regional sobre la Discapacidad a ser lanzado en el primer semestre de 2016 a fin de que sirva como espacio para la difusión de experiencias exitosas y replicables en la región, que promueva a su vez la cooperación internacional en estos temas.

    Beneficiarios: Todos los Estados miembros de la OEA

    Socios y financiamiento: 1. USAID (para el Proyecto el fortalecimiento del marco legal e institucional sobre la discapacidad en Haití)
    2. Universidad de Chile (para la implementación del Diplomado sobre Discapacidad y Educación Inclusiva)
    3.Consejos o Secretarías Nacionales para la integración de las personas con discapacidad en la región (que forman parte de una red de cooperación voluntaria)
    • Date:  5/30/2013    Paragraphs: 4
    OFFICE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

    The National Council of Science and Technology of Mexico (CONACYT) and the Organization of American States (OAS), with the objective of training high-quality human resources, are pleased to announce the CONACYT of MEXICO / OAS Scholarship Program, an initiative that will provide 500 scholarships to students from the OAS Member States to pursue their graduate studies in science and engineering in Mexico. With an estimated value of $50 million (US), the Program is based on a donation from the CONACYT of Mexico to the Office of Science, Technology and Innovation of the OAS, as part of their contribution to the activities of the Working Group 2 on Human Resources, Training and Education of the Plan of Action of Panama 2012-2016. This Plan, adopted by the OAS Member States during the Third Meeting of Ministers and High Authorities of Science and Technology (November 2011, Panama), is the core document that guides Inter-American activities in the field science and technology.

    The Advanced Research and Technology Collaboratory for the Americas (ARTCA) charts new ground in interdisciplinary, inter-institutional and international research and education, to address pressing problems that arise in the natural sciences, health, technology, and the human sciences. ARTCA creates both learning environments and spaces for digital discovery, presenting path-breaking computational approaches, resources, tools, and educational programming to showcase the future of collaborative research in the service of society across the Americas. Co-Founded by the University of Illinois Institute for Computing in Humanities, Arts and Social Science (I-CHASS), the Costa Rica Center for High Technology (CeNAT) and the Costa Rica United States Foundation (CRUSA); ARTCA is administered by I-CHASS, and is hosted and promoted by the Organization of American States (OAS). OAS-ARTCA encourages researchers, educators, and nonprofit leaders to work together on projects that can improve the quality of life for citizens of the Western Hemisphere. Moreover, OAS-ARTCA deploys advanced Internet Communications Technology (ICT) to transcend the intellectual, institutional, and financial barriers that can impede collaborative work. Emphasizing on the economic and social benefits of knowledge and technology transfer across the Americas, OAS-ARTCA seeks a durable network for sharing knowledge, technology, and discoveries. The “OAS-ATRCA Project for Strengthening Scientific and Technological Capabilities in the Americas“ will promote horizontal cooperation across countries and regions (South America, Central America and the Caribbean) to strengthen scientific networking through the exchange of best practices, placing special attention to th ose countries with less developed capabilities. The program will also count with the participation of professional expertise from The United States and Canada (Universities and Research Centers). The following projects are part of ARTCA:

    Pan-American Summer Institute (PASI)
    The objective of this PASI is to introduce young researchers to methods in Computation-Based Discovery (CBD). In quest of solutions to major problems (e.g., biodiversity, modeling of natural systems, water ecology, and so on), researchers across the natural and social sciences as well as the humanities and arts are generating massive and/or highly complex data sets that extend well-beyond humans’ capacities to perceive or analyze without sophisticated technological augmentation. CBD allows researchers to gather, transform and analyze data from a range of sources, including, for example, sensors, video archives, telescopes, and supercomputers. Researchers today need both access to advanced computational resources and sophisticated skills in data acquisition, management, transformation, visualization, analytics, and preservation. For example, sophisticated visualization tools and techniques enhance human understanding of extreme, complex and/or abstract data sets, making it easier to see patterns and relationships and to form or test hypotheses. The Institute will focus on CBD’s technical and analytical methods and help about 40 researchers apply these to their own research. Our key goals are to (1) expand participants’ knowledge of high performance computing (HPC) and specialized tools and techniques that support CBD involving massive or complex data sets; (2) provide hands-on experience in exploring large and complex data sets using easily accessible desktop open source tools; (3) bring researchers from underrepresented populations into the CBD field; and (4) foster new collegial friendships that stimulate both national and international co-operative partnerships among the presenters and attendees. Selected participants will have their round trip airfare, accommodation, meals and workshop expenses fully covered for the length of the PASI, thanks to a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

    Radical innovation Summit

    This Summit, hosted by the Institute for Computing in Humanities, Arts and the Social Sciences (I-CHASS), the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), and the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education, at the University of Illinois (UIUC), will convene leading practitioners, researchers and scholars of innovation to collectively consider how education in the US might be reconfigured to both support and teach innovation as a core curriculum mission, with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Summit participants will identify and articulate strategies for creating and sustaining learning environments that promise the development of innovative thinking skills, behaviors and dispositions that reward students, teachers, faculty and administrators for practicing and tuning these skills. Summit organizers will create a private online space where participants will be encouraged to continue discussions or comment further on the ideas generated over the course of the Summit. Mapping social networks of and among participants will provide insights into how innovation practices are shared and spread across relationships and networks. Ideas that emerge from the Summit will be made publicly available via the Radical Innovation Summit’s website. The Summit, and research that is developed from the meeting, is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation’s DRK12 program.
    • Date:  5/30/2013    Paragraphs: 4
    OFFICE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
    Executive Immersion Program
    The Executive Immersion Program is an activity addressed to Ministers, high-level government officials, directors and legislators within the Ministries and Councils of Science and Technology of the Latin American and Caribbean countries – to expose them to the possibilities offered by advanced technologies and reflect on how these tools could be used for integral development in their own countries. This Program will consist in a 5-day visit of the facilities of the University of Illinois, including the Blue Waters Supercomputer; the Virtual Cave; the Advanced Visualization Laboratory, the Digital Arts Gallery and the Inter-disciplinary Research Center. Additionally, during their stay, candidates will have the opportunity to attend conferences and sessions on themes related to advanced technologies and to establish contacts with professionals through networking opportunities.

    This Program was brought to light thanks to the collective effort of the Institute for Computing in Humanities, Arts and Social Science (I-CHASS), the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, Illinois International Programs and Studies (UIUC), the Organization of American States and the Advanced Research and Technology Collaboratory for the Americas (OAS-ARTCA). The University of Illinois will provide accommodations, terminal expenses and per diem for selected participants. Airfare from home country to the State of Illinois will have to be assumed by the institution of each candidate.

    Hemispheric Scalable Research Challenge (H-SRC)
    The Program seeks to create a culture of generous collaboration among the sciences, humanities, arts and social science to develop solutions to large-scale research problems. Open to collaborations involving researchers of all manner of technical and/or non-technical expertise, the H-SRC will provide opportunities for humanities, arts, and social science researchers to work with computer scientists and scientist at centers already familiar with the challenges of intensive data mining, visualization, and other demanding applications. It seeks to make available the human/technical resources for researchers to develop skills for use with high performance computing tools and methods. The H-SRC will partner universities and institutes throughout the Americas including but not limited to the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the San Diego Supercomputer Center, the National Laboratory for Scientific Computing (LNCC), Petropolis, RJ, Brazil, Instituto Tecnologico de Costa Rica, as well as the Latin American Cooperation of Advanced Networks (RedCLARA), and will facilitate technical assistance, software availability, training and CPU hours to visionary researchers pushing the boundaries of interdisciplinary research depending on the needs of each project. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) have also agreed to partner with H-SRC to facilitate access to its records databases and facilitate access to the records of its affiliates throughout the Americas. This H-SRC will provide access to computational resources between 25,000 and 500,000 CPU hours per project and may include visualization tools and expertise as well. Working in consultation with supercomputing specialists, humanities, arts, social science and science researchers winning these allocations will have the ability to leverage high-end cyber infrastructure tools, technical assistance, compute and intellectual resources to further their project research. H-SRC will provide opportunities for support of projects in the areas of visualization and experimentation for the purposes of testing concepts, new theories and conducting proof of concept studies. Smaller projects that have the capacity to scale but which do not currently have the compute resources or the technical resources to conduct larger studies are also encouraged to apply.
    • Date:  5/30/2013    Paragraphs: 3
    Office of Scholarships, Training and Capacity Strengthening
    The OAS offers scholarships to pursue academic studies and professional development training in the 8 development priority areas of the OAS, including education.

    The OAS provide higher education opportunities to Haitian citizens through the OAS Scholarship Program for Haiti which allows Haitians to remain in Haiti while studying online and onsite. Through this scholarship program over 314 Hatian citizens were trained in: International Development Management; Capacity Building for Teaching and Learning; Public Management and Leadership; Introduction to Human Services; Management Principles; Marketing Principles; Introduction to Entrepreneurship; Introduction to Emergency Management; Health Systems Administration; Public Health methodology; Epidemiology; Nutrition; Clinical Research; Data Management.

    Activities:
    • Scholarships for Masters in Education for 30 teachers
    • Extension of the Certificate on Building Capacity for Teaching and Learning and the curriculum development of a new certificate “Teacher Education for Community Development,” specially focused on teachers with limited formal training.

    The OAS also develop Capacity Strengthening Program that involves research, scholarships and professional exchanges for Ministries of Education. Negotiation among different partners were held.

    Educational Portal of the Americas
    The Portal has more than 24,000 users have benefited from the various activities offered through the PEA since the last Summit using the VC, live stream or our YouTube Channel. The EPA Virtual Classroom Initiative has as a principal goal of providing professional development opportunities through the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) following a cross-disciplinary, multi-sector and inclusive approach. The EPA develops and delivers online courses and certificates, and provides advisory services for institutional strengthening in online education and the transfer of best practices using ICTs. 1
    The Portal has signed and agreement with Mobiles for Education Alliance and is now part of the steering and executive committee.

    Activities:
    In October 2013, the OAS will host the 3rd Annual Mobiles for Education (mEducation) Alliance International Symposium: 2013- Commit Fair for Project Scaling. Mobiles for reading, mobile for youth workforce development, mobiles for numeracy and mobiles and access to Education particularly in crisis and conflict/post conflict settings. Expecting 150 experts and specialist that work on the field of m-education

    Also, jointly with UNESCO the Portal is drafting a proposal to implement a pilot in Dominican Republic. Knowledge support from CIM and Public Security are being explored. And, exploratory meetings: Microsoft organized a collaborative meeting to build partnerships for their program "Literacy for Life". The OAS attended among other organizations such as WB, IDB, UNESCO, PFD, etc.
    Literacy exploratory partnership meeting. Skydrive was created and will continue to be used for collaboration between all participants of the "Literacy for Life" meeting.

    Office of Education and Culture
    The Inter-American Teacher Education Network’s (ITEN) contributes to improving the quality of education at the K-12 level with attention to literacy programs and populations with special needs. ITEN broadcasts monthly webinars of renowned experts to remote and rural areas of the region and follows up by making available a virtual platform with specific interest groups for teachers and policymakers throughout the region. Since its launch, more than 15,000 stakeholders have joined the community in Spanish and English.
    • Date:  10/2/2012    Paragraphs: 4
    The Rowe Fund Student Loan Program of the OAS contributes to foster greater international exchange of students, by sharing information and providing financial aid, in the form of interest-free loans, to deserving students from Latin American and Caribbean OAS Member States to help them finance their higher education or research at universities in the United States. It also grants educational and emergency interest-bearing loans to staff of the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States.
    By financing a portion of their studies in the United States, the Rowe Fund helps students complete their education while at the same time fostering cultural diversity, friendship, and communication among the people of the Americas, with the understanding that graduates will be in a position to apply their acquired knowledge and training to the advancement of their respective countries and the region as a whole.
    www.oas.org/en/rowefund

    Activities:
    In addition to managing the student loan program (promotion, receipt of applications, disbursement of funds, monitoring of performance and status, repayment, follow-up returning to country of origin and professional progress), the Rowe Fund compiles and shares information through different social networks and events regarding different financial aid resources to study abroad, process to apply to US universities, programs related to strengthening and financing higher education, and OAS youth related programs. The Rowe Fund is also receiving donations to expand its program.

    Beneficiaries:
    Latin America and the Caribbean
    • Date:  10/2/2012    Paragraphs: -
    Inter-American Program on Education for Democratic Values and Practices
    The Program was officially adopted at the IV Inter-American Meeting of Ministers of Education in Scarborough, Trinidad and Tobago, August, 2005. It was created to develop and strengthen a democratic culture in the Americas through education. It responds to Articles 26 and 27 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter. Through the development of various activities framed under three mutually reinforcing components - Cooperation and Information Exchange, Research and Analysis, and Professional Development-, the Program contributes to strengthening the capacities of public and private institutions and civil society organizations of the OAS member states to develop policies, programs and initiatives in the field of citizenship education.
    www.educadem.oas.org

    Beneficiaries: OAS Member States
    Partnerships:
    - International Contact Group on Citizenship and Human Rights Education (Council of -Europe, Europe)
    - Inter-American Development Bank
    - UNAM, Autonomous University of Mexico.
    - Global Issues Resource Center
    - Council for a Community of Democracies
    - International Institute for Development of Citizenhip
    - Center for Civic Education
    - Inter-American Commission of Women- OAS
    - Educational Portal of the Americas- OAS
    - Inter-American Institute of Human Rights
    - Ministry of Education of Panama
    • Date:  10/1/2012    Paragraphs: -
    Initiative:
    PEA's Awareness Program and Meta-Portal of Open Educational Resources

    Description:
    The Awareness Program seeks to promote the debate and to propose new initiatives on the topics of ICTs for education, mobile learning and open educational resources (OER). The tools used by the EPA to achieve this are:
    • Hands-on workshops designed for teachers at the different levels to learn about the latest in the use of ICTs for education, in partnership with reputable institutions in the region (Mexico 2011, Suriname & Barbados 2012).
    • Volunteers Program: during a teacher training workshop in Mexico in 2011, the EPA was able to gauge the interest of teachers and practitioners in being part of the EPA efforts to bring educational opportunities free of charge to teachers in the region. In a first exploratory call to volunteers from among 86 graduates of one of its online courses graduates, the EPA received more than 40 applications for volunteer online tutors.
    • Communities of practice: these EPA-hosted virtual spaces for the exchange of information and best practices are aimed at continuing the knowledge-sharing experience that result of the training opportunities and knowledge transfer initiatives offered by the EPA.
    • Social Media and Live Broadcasting: the EPA has successfully introduced the use of Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Youtube) and Livestream to teacher training workshops, allowing these educational opportunities to reach a wider audience thanks to the use of ICTs.

    The Meta-Portal will offer the population relevant open content and significant strategic tools, including topics for development in the Americas, such as education, SMEs, health, government, and strategies for competitiveness and human development such as: regional physical integration, access to and use of information and communication technologies, disasters, citizen security, poverty, inequality, human rights, and democracy.

    This meta-portal will be used to support the process of consolidation and strengthening of each country’s installed capacity for access to and use of ITCs, especially the process of acquisition and dissemination, as a means of promoting development and social inclusion with the creation of locally installed capacity that will ensure their efficient and sustainable administration and therefore their appropriation by the community. This program will be supported by a partnership between the OAS, civil society, the private sector, academia, and other international organizations.

    The sustainable virtual community, consisting of open content, will enable the establishment of networks, exchange of knowledge, dissemination of best practices, and opportunities for innovation.

    Additionally, in an effort to strengthen public-private partnerships, the PEA has signed an agreement with Intel® Educar to offer free online teacher training courses, in English and Spanish, starting in July 2012 through the PEA Virtual Classroom. These courses will also be offered in French and Portuguese in the upcoming months, and this free-of-charge training is made possible with the support of our Volunteer Tutors.

    The PEA Volunteer Program was launched last May and today includes nearly 600 applicants willing to share their knowledge and expertise in different fields with the goal of expanding training opportunities for individuals of the OAS Member States.

    Activities:
    - Onsite workshops to introduce teachers on the use of ICTs in education
    - Set up and hosting of Communities of Practice
    - Establish an International Advisory Council for the Meta-Portal initiative
    - Coordination of country groups to follow up on the Meta-Portal initiative

    Benefeciaries:
    Teachers at all levels (primary, secondary, tertiary and university levels)
    - Academic institutions and other educational centers, as well as government agencies, interested in sharing educational material
    - Academic institutions interested in developing their installed capacity in eLearning

    Partnerships:
    - Governments of the OAS Member States
    - Higher education institutions
    • Date:  9/26/2012    Paragraphs: 14
    Initiatives:
    OAS Scholarship and Training Programs

    Description:
    The OAS Academic Scholarship Program (Regular Program), established in 1958, grants scholarships every year for the pursuit of Master’s Degrees, Doctoral Degrees and Research leading to a degree.

    The OAS Special Caribbean Scholarship Program (SPECAF), established in 1983, grants scholarships for the last two years of undergraduate studies to citizens and residents of the English-speaking Caribbean OAS Member States.

    The OAS Scholarship Program for Haiti, established in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, awards scholarships to Haitian citizens for on-line academic degrees, professional development and teacher training.

    In addition to these programs, the OAS, through its Partnerships Program for Education and Training (PAEC), offers other attractive scholarship opportunities for academic studies and professional development training with the support of its partner institutions in the Americas and around the world.

    Activities:
    Specific activities/scholarship opportunities are listed on: http://www.oas.org/en/scholarships/default.asp

    Beneficiaries:
    Citizens and permanent residents of OAS member countries

    Partnerships:
    OAS Member States, OAS Permanent Observer States, regional and international organizations, public and private agencies, philanthropic and commercial institutions, universities and other higher education institutions.
    • Date:  7/27/2012    Paragraphs: -
    Inter-American Teacher Education Network (ITEN)
    Despite the considerable improvement in the coverage of primary and secondary education in the Americas in recent years, the region still faces challenges to achieve quality education for every student. Low-quality education affects millions of students in the region, who leave the educational system without the necessary knowledge or skills for entering the work force or to be active participants in their societies. Improving teaching quality is a fundamental component to face this challenge as students performance is related to the effectiveness of their teachers.

    ITEN is a virtual network of professional leaders in education interested in sharing knowledge, experiences, research and best practices in the field of teacher education and professional development, as a means to improve the quality of teacher education and hence, the quality of teaching, in the Americas. Based on a strategy of collaboration among countries, ITEN provides a space for interaction for all teacher education stakeholders in the region.

    http://www.oas.org/es/ried/
    http://www.oas.org/en/iten/default.asp

    Activities:
    WEBINARS (online Seminars)
    ITEN is currently offering a series of webinars that promote horizontal cooperation and knowledge dissemination. Every month, renowned experts on topics related to of teacher education and professional development present the most recent state of the art in the field and share cutting-edge experiences, policies and research findings.

    ONLINE COURSES ON INNOVATION
    Teacher educators from the Caribbean and Latin America have taken the pilot version of a course on how to introduce innovation in teaching practice, participating in virtual learning communities, exchanging ideas and experiences to enhance the preparation of future educators. Courses have been developed in collaboration with ITEN’s partner organizations iEARN U.S. (in English) and iEARN Argentina (in Spanish). Modules are specifically designed for teacher educators and in-service teachers to be able to understand the foundations for 21st century teaching and learning and experience hands-on integration of ICT and collaborative learning into teaching practice. Modules are aligned to the UNESCO ICT framework for teachers. In addition, participants are able to recognize the benefits of international collaboration and knowledge sharing and have the opportunity to network with educators in the Americas and around the world who are using ICTs in their classrooms.

    ONLINE WEBSITE AND COMMUNITY
    ITEN has developed an online website and virtual community – available in both Spanish and English -- to provide opportunities for those who have an interest in teacher education issues at all levels to participate in thematic forums and blogs, dialogue with their peers, exchange experiences, and contribute to the elaboration of collaborative wikis.

    Shouldn’t we add a line or two about what ITEN is doing now – building a knowledge bank (or whatever we are calling it) so that member states (and particularly Ministries of Education) can share policies and practices to improve teaching quality? Maybe it’s a small new section of this document

    KNOWLEDGE BANK

    In the upcoming months ITEN will be developing a knowledge bank in response to the increasing interest and need of member states in the region to exchange experiences in teacher policies. This bank will consist of an online database that will allow member states, particularly ministries of education, to share resources on policies and practices related to the teacher profession. Member States will be invited to share documents, papers, projects, case studies, reports, among other key documents featuring their experiences that will be made available for other member states to learn from.

    In addition, this knowledge bank will be a fundamental resource for the preparation of proposals for the first round of technical cooperation missions in topics relevant to teacher education and teacher policies, as member states will be able to identify potential counterparts and experiences to be exchanged in the missions utilizing this knowledge bank.

    Beneficiaries:
    Education policymakers
    National Offices for teacher education in the Ministries of Education
    Directors of teacher education institutions
    Teacher educators and in-service teachers
    Technical teams in charge of teacher education in ministries of education and teaching institutions in the Hemisphere
    Students and teachers of the Americas in general, who will benefit by having better trained educators.

    Partnership:
    i-EARN
    International Reading Association
    Fundación Evolución
    Programa de Promoción de la Reforma Educativa en América Latina y el Caribe (PREAL)
    Teachers Without Borders
    University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education
    World Bank

    Financing:
    Current: United States Permanent Mission to the OAS
    Previous: Inter-American Committee On Education (CIE)
    Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
    • Date:  6/23/2011    Paragraphs: 38
    The OAS has supported member-state governments in their implementation of Paragraph 38 of the Fifth Summit Declaration which calls for increasing access and participation in tertiary and technical/vocational education and for the sharing of expertise and capacity between countries that have achieved progress in this regard and those that request support. The range of OAS scholarships, loans and online education programs currently in operation create opportunities and access to higher education. At the same time, the fundamentally international character of these programs facilitates exchanges of experience, skills, knowledge and culture among citizens of OAS member states which leads to a powerful multiplier effect.

    The OAS is also playing an important role in bringing countries and their institutions together through innovative partnerships and regionally focused meetings that increase cooperation and consensus on topics related to higher education and the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in education. In 2010, the OAS and UNSECO organized the first Caribbean Conference on Higher Education. The OAS is also influential in setting the agenda for ICT-supported education meetings such as Virtual Educa and is currently serving as the chair for the Multilateral Initiative in Education for Human Development, a joint initiative of the OAS, Virtual Educa, Latin American Parliament (PARLATINO), the Union of Universities of Latin America and
    the Caribbean (UDUAL) and the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (FUNGLODE). This initiative seeks to create a productive regional, multilateral space for the promotion of ICTs in support of education and human development.

    Additionally, and in response to the events surrounding the earthquake in Haiti, the OAS has implemented the Haiti Emergency Scholarship Program which brings together the institutions of the region in support of Haitian university students affected by the disaster. The Educational Portal of the Americas, which was created to address the Quebec City Summit's concern over the digital divide, is celebrating its 10th anniversary in promoting lifelong learning through the delivery of accessible quality education via online programs. Its initiatives, which promote the use of ICTs in Education, continue to be a priority for the Presidents as expressed in Article 43 of the Port of Spain Declaration.
    • Date:  6/23/2011    Paragraphs: 36
    The OAS has conducted training for 50 professionals working with children from 0 to 3 years and the publication of three books based on research on early education in indigenous and rural communities. The OAS has also established a network for information exchange: Portal children. Moreover, through the Regional Project of Indicators on Education (PRIE), it was published the latest data on the progress of the countries of the region towards the educational goals of the Summits of the Americas in the Educational Panorama 2010: Pending Challenges.
    Related Resources
    OAS Website
    Report test
    test
  • Elderly Persons
    Paragraphs Related to the Theme
    Reports
    • Date:  10/2/2012    Paragraphs: 11
    Information available in Spanish
  • Energy
    Paragraphs Related to the Theme
    Reports
    • Date:  1/9/2018    Paragraphs: -
    Sustainable energy management
    Results/Accomplishments
    • Action Plan agreed to solidify the role and contribution of Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA) as a regional mechanism to foster shared leadership, promote dialogue, and support technical cooperation on sustainable energy among governments, private sector, financers, academicians and other stakeholders .
    • Mechanisms agreed by CARICOM members to advance the implementation of the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Roadmap and Strategy (C-SERMS) .
    • A Regional Action Plan adopted by member states of the Central American Integration System (SICA) to develop unified energy efficiency regulations and standards and to build institutional capacity in their countries to conduct energy efficiency measurement and compliance assessments .
    • 24 energy planners and physical planners from OECS Member States trained in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
    • Against this background the objectives were a perfect fit with those contained in the PIDS, as they relate to sustainable energy and sustainable cities respectively.
    • Date:  4/13/2017    Paragraphs: -
    The C-SERMS platform is the mechanism through which CARICOM governments a will be able to track and meet stated national and regional goals, while securing the input of the various parties critical to the process- including the development/donor community, the financial services sector, educational institutions, regional utilities and civil society. As a governance, communications,and clearinghouse of information tool, the C-SERMS Platform offers a formal channel through which stakeholder and technical inputs can inform the national and regional sustainable energy agenda of member states. The Platform also serves as the mechanism through which Members States can request guidance.

    Activities: SEDI/DSD support the organization at least two virtual meetings and two in-person meetings per year;
    provide technical support in sustainable energy policy, regulation, and target setting at the national level

    effectiveness or efficacy of sustainable energy measures already in place; develop a technical assistance coordination mechanism; manage information on policies,regulations, and incentive programs in place in Caribbean small island states; organize workshops with key data and information providers and managers active in the region; provide advice on ways to strengthen the governance of the C-SERMS platform and; establish the Caribbean Clean Energy Caucus

    Website: http://www.ecpamerica s.org/initiatives/default.aspx?id=92

    Beneficiaries: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize,Dominica, Grenada, Guyana,Haiti,Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis,Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago

    Partnerships and Financing: CARICOM Secretariat,Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, CDB,GIZ,IDB,US Department of State, Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, University of the West Indies, OLADE, World Bank.
    • Date:  4/13/2017    Paragraphs: -
    Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas
    The project supports the efforts of Western Hemisphere countries to adopt clean energy alternatives, increase energy security, implement climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, and improve land use sustainability in urban and rural areas.

    Activities: Activities have focused on implementing the decisions taken at the Second ECPA Ministerial held in Mexico in May 2015. This meeting enabled the engagement of energy stakeholders in sustained dialogue on energy and climate. SEDI's efforts were pivotal in ensuring the establishment of the ECPA Steering Committee and the launch of discussions for the Partnership's Action Plan. Through the ECPA Steering Committee,the project is enabling the engagement of the governments of Chile,Dominican Republic, Mexico, Jamaica,Trinidad and Tobago and the United States in the organization of the 2017 ECPA Ministerial, to be convened in Santiago, Chile.The project is establishing a firm foundation for sustained and effective hemispheric cooperation for addressing energy and climate challenges.

    Website: http://www.ecpamericas.org/

    Partnership and financing: Unites States Department of State
    • Date:  6/23/2011    Paragraphs: 56
    The OAS organized the Ministerial Meeting of Energy and Climate in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy and the IDB. Through the Sustainable Energy Program of the Caribbean (CSEP), Dominica, Saint Kitts & Nevis and the Bahamas developed National Energy Policies. National Energy Policy was adopted in Saint Lucia and a National Action Plan on Energy was adopted in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The OAS has helped the Nevis Island Administration in the development of its Power Purchase Agreement, which resulted in the first 1.1 MW wind farm at Nevis, an 8 MW wind farm in St. Kitts and plant 32 MW of energy on Nevis geothermic.
    JSWG partners are actively supporting the ongoing consolidation of the Energy and Climate Partnership for the Americas (ECPA). The OAS manages the ECPA Clearinghouse, which coordinates dialogue and serves as a resource for initiatives. The IDB and the World Bank have partnered with several ECPA initiatives to share experiences among countries, develop collaborative projects and advance the creation of Energy Innovation Centers to promote clean energy across the region. IICA and ECPA are working on initiatives to increase engagement in agro energy. ECLAC, ECPA analyze a potential collaboration in terms of economic development and data gathering in the region is underway. To date, 11 Member states have taken a leading role in implementing ECPA by deepening existing partnerships and creating new initiatives.
    Related Resources
    OAS Website
  • Environment
    Ministerials
    Paragraphs Related to the Theme
    Reports
    • Date:  1/9/2018    Paragraphs: -
    Member States of the OAS believe that balanced and sustainable development requires an approach that integrates its three dimensions – social, economic and environmental – to support development, eradicate poverty, and promote equality, fairness and social inclusion. OAS Member States have reiterated their support for sustainable development in numerous General Assembly Resolutions as well as in national, regional and international commitments.
    • Key mandates include AG/RES. 1440 (XXVI-O/96) and the Inter-American Program for Sustainable Development (PIDS) (2016-2021) which was adopted at the Second plenary session of the OAS General Assembly held on June 14, 2016.
    • The PIDS establishes 6 strategic actions to ensure that the work of the General Secretariat on sustainable development is aligned with the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change
    • The Strategic action are: (1) Disaster Risk Management; (2) Sustainable Management of Ecosystems; Integrated Water Resources Management; (4) Sustainable Cities and Communities; (5) Sustainable Energy Management; and (6) Capacity Building for Efficient, Effective Accountable and Inclusive Institutions for Sustainable Development.
    Results/Accomplishments
    • Sustainable Development policies and programs advanced through over 50 events including seminars, workshops, and conferences convened in OAS Member States and at OAS Headquarters.

    Sustainable Management of Ecosystems
    Results
    • Five (5) hemispheric networks established to promote coordination among OAS member states in the collection, sharing, and use of biodiversity information relevant to policymaking, decision-making and education.
    • SEDI/DSD coordinated 5 hemispheric networks in: species (now housed at the Smithsonian Institution‘s Encyclopedia of Life); specimens (housed at GBIF Global Biodiversity Information Facility); pollinators (housed at the Pollinators Partnership); invasive species (housed at the Global Invasive Species Program); and protected areas (housed at the World Database on Protected Areas).
    • Coordinated and managed the Western Hemisphere Migratory Species Initiative (WHMSI) - a cooperative, hemispheric, non-binding mechanism to conserve shared migratory species, with 34 focal points and 22 affiliated NGOs
    • Strengthened partnerships with the WHMSI and IABIN Focal Points to protect biodiversity and to advance Migratory Species conservation in the region.
    • Inter-American Task Force on Oceans established .
    • Capacity of officials in the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the evaluation and management of ecosystem goods and services, improved .
    Integrated Water Resources Management
    Results:
    • An action agenda for building synergies and strengthening cooperation in water resources management in Peru, established .
    • A draft conceptual framework for an observatory on water security in the Americas developed
    • Action Plan developed for systematically managing the links between water, mining and gender in Peru.
    • Fourteen (14) energy officials in the Caribbean trained in the effective management of the Water and Energy Nexus
    • A system of indicators for measuring the intensity and impact of cooperation on transboundary basins developed.
    Partners: UN Panel on water and Peace, Strategic Foresight Group Result 21:
    • A Strategic Vision and Action Plan for the sustainable transboundary management of water resources in La Plata basin agreed by Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay .
    • Tools and mechanisms for the sustainable transboundary management of water resources in La Plata basin developed for use by Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay .
    • “Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) of the La Plata Basin”
    • A Regional Vision and Regional Development Policy for sustainable transboundary management of ecosystems in the Gran Chaco Americano adopted by the Tri-National Commission on behalf of the Governments of Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay.
    • Institutional capacity strengthened at regional, national and local levels for formulating and applying Strategic Forest Management (SFM) and Sustainable Land Management (SLM) in the Gran Chaco Americano taking into consideration climate change and biodiversity conservation variables.
    • Legal, technical and financial instruments designed, validated and adopted for the application of SLM and SFM principles and practices in Bolivia, Argentina and Paraguay.
    • A tool for assessing and systematizing project actions and developments and for promoting change at different levels through regional projects, developed for the Gran Chaco ecosystem.
    • Strategies for promoting sustainable development and sustainable cattle ranching in the Trifinio developed and adopted by the Governments of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador
    • A methodology and pedagogy for training leaders in the Trifinio region on water and education, developed.
    • A comprehensive strategy for strengthening Municipal Environmental Units (UMA) in the Trifinio region developed and adopted by Trifinio member states.
    • A Plan for building capacity for effective enforcement of environmental legislation developed and approved by Trifinio member states.
    • Master Plans for Río Lempa, Rio Pomola, Rio Quilio, Rio Sesecapa, Rio Tulas regions of the Trifinio developed and approved by Trifinio member states.
    • An interactive platform “Application on Tropical Climate (PIACT)” developed and used by Trinfino Member States
    Partners: UN Environment, GEF, UNESCO-PHI, the Trifinio Commission, the Intergovernmental Coordinating Committee for the La Plata Basin (CIC), IDB, CAF, IICA and other regional bodies as well as with universities in Member States.
    Sustainable Cities and Communities
    • Five (5) policy dialogues convened among government officials and civil society stakeholders in the Americas focusing on city planning and sprawl, mixed uses, green corridors, city management and modernization, and efficient city growth.
    • Six (6) community-based, demonstration projects implemented in coordination with other SEDI stakeholders to address sustainable development challenges.
    • Five hundred (500) municipality officials in Central America and the Caribbean trained in different aspects of sustainable city management, including urban management, waste management, mobility, efficient city transport, renewable energy and energy efficiency, demand-side travel planning and disaster risk management.
    • Knowledge and best practices shared among stakeholders in government agencies and NGOs in the Americas through 5 sustainable cities courses.
    • Transportation and mobility enhancements facilitated in 8 Member States, in such areas as, efficient street design for walkability and private/public transport, mobility options, bike lanes, better integration of transport modes, efficient city transport fleets, air quality improvements and demand side travel planning.
    • Tools and measures for enhancing the built-environment and for transforming community development developed and shared with city planning officials in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Trinidad and Tobago.
    • $US3 million in additional financial resources mobilized through scaling- up of small grants and direct contributions from host countries to support the delivery of training courses and the growth of sustainable communities.
    • Date:  1/9/2018    Paragraphs: -
    Building efficient, effective, accountable and inclusive institutions for sustainable development
    Results/Accomplishments
    • Initiative on “Caring for our Common Home with focus on Guaranteeing More Rights for More People in the Americas” launched and under implementation.
    • Inter-American Judicial Capacity Building Program on the Environmental Rule of Law developed and under implementation
    • Document containing an assessment of trends, challenges and opportunities in the Environmental Rule of Law in the Americas published.
    • Six hundred (600) stakeholders from the executive, legislative and judicial branches of member states trained in the Environmental Rule of Law.
    • Two hundred and fifty (250) stakeholders in OAS Member States trained in the enforcement of access rights and principles and in approaches to public participation.
    • Implementation of the Inter-American Strategy on Public Participation in Sustainable Development Decision-making (ISP), advanced, through the identification and sharing of 184 mechanisms relating to access to information, process and justice .
    • Global Judicial Institute for the Environment to facilitate exchange of information and experiences and facilitate access to resources, launched with OAS as a key partner .
    • A compendium of case studies and best practices in the Americas developed and used in building capacity on prevention and management of social conflict associated with development.
    • Initiative for cluster-based implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and other agreements, developed and under implementation.
    • Eighty (80) officials trained in effective implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) including in addressing livelihoods implications for the poor, advanced.
    • Results-based Management indicators designed and implemented to ensure effective implementation of the CAFTA-DR Environment Cooperation Agreement (ECA).
    • A US-Peru Trade Partnership Agreement (TPA) Secretariat on Environmental Enforcement Matters established and functioning.
    • Thirty (30) Government officials in OAS Member States trained on trade and environment issues (in collaboration with Department of Human Development, Education and Employment, and the Department of Economic Development.)
    • Case Studies on climate change-attributable impacts in the Americas conducted and their results shared with policy makers and decision makers.
    • Comparative overview of the Rights-based approach to climate change to climate change in the Americas published
    Strategic Partners: United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL), Green Growth Knowledge Platform (GGKP), OECD, civil society organizations, academia, accountability mechanisms, the Secretariat for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and other MEAs strengthened.
    • Date:  4/13/2017    Paragraphs: -
    Sustainable Management of the Water Resources of the La Plata Basin
    The overall project objective is to strengthen transboundary cooperation among the governments of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay to ensure the proper management of shared water resources of the La Plata Basin within the context of climate variability and change, while capitalizing on development opportunities.

    Activities: The project is assisting the participating governments to better coordinate their actions and investments in the La Plata Basin to achieve sustainable utilization of water resources, and initiate the process of adapting to climate variability and climate hange. More specifically, by the end of the project,the countries will have:(i) established the technical and legal conditions to support the design and
    implementation of a Strategic Action Plan (SAP) for the management of the basin; (ii) provided direct access to a Decision Support System (DSS) centralized within the Intergovernmental Coor dinating
    Committee (CIC) for the La Plata Basin for the integrated management of the water resources in the Basin; (iii) strengthened the CIC as the permanent organization to promote, coor dinate and follow up.on multinational water resources management actions and harmonized development in the region,as established in the Treaty of the La Plata Basin and its associated statutes; (iv) established a Fund for the promotion of public participation that will facilitate the active commitment of social organizations in the management of critical issues within the basin; and (v) strengthened existing binational commissions for
    helping to resolve water and land use conflicts within the basin.

    Beneficiaries: Governments of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay

    Partnerships and Financing: The project began in 2010 and is expected to be completed in 2015.
    The total project cost is $61.7 million of which $51 million is being contributed by the 5 participating countries; and $10 million by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
    • Date:  4/13/2017    Paragraphs: -
    Closed Looped Cycle Production in the Americas (CLCPA) program.
    The focus of the program is increasing awareness in participating countries, of the relevance and viability of innovative closed looped cycle design and manufacturing methods as means for sustainable production practices in SMEs to increase their productivity,competitiveness and sustainability. Closed


    imply the development of industrial processes in which materials utilized become valuable nutrients upon reaching the end of their useful life, breaking away from a take, make and waste economy.

    Activities:
    1) Support the strengthening, development and implementation of policies that integrate circular economy principles in the productive sector in Colombia;
    (2) support the design of a national seal (Panama Green Seal) to be awarded to all Panamanian
    companies that meet sustainable production criteria through CLC design and production methodologies and circular economy principles.
    (3) Assess the potential for closing the material use cycle of alternative sustainable packaging to replace styrofoam containers within the Printing & Packaging and the Food and Beverage manufacturing sectors in Trinidad and Tobago through CLC design and production.

    Website: http://www.ecpamericas.org/initiatives/?id=62

    Beneficiaries: Ministry of Commerce,Industry and Tourism (MINCIT) of Colombia,Industrial Association of Panama (SIP), Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MICI), and the National Authority for the Environment (ANAM) of Panama, Ministry of Planning and Sustainable Development ofTrinidad and Tobago

    Partnerships and Financing: Partners: US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), National Cleaner Production Center of Colombia(CNPML), McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC),Cradle-to-Cradle Expo Lab (C2C ExpoLab), and pertinent Ministries from participating governments, Colombia,Panama and Trinidad and Tobago.
    • Date:  4/13/2017    Paragraphs: -
    Renewable Energy and Climate Change: Methodology and Technology Challenges in the Americas

    This effort was launched in 2013 by the OAS Department of Sustainable Development in partnership with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of United States.The main objective is to support the use of international standards and measurements and identify measurement challenges associated with energy and climate in the Western Hemisphere. OAS/SEDI'S actions helped to raise government awareness regarding the value of metrological applications for renewable energy and climate science.

    Activities: Activities included: identifying specific training needs in gas measurements, energy efficiency, and standards and labels are being identified;identifying technology and metrology areas where training and sharing of best practices would be most beneficial for countries of the Americas; delivery of workshops to improve local and regional measurement and standards infrastructure for renewable energy and climate science;exploring ways of promoting regional and international partnerships to share approaches and best practices for expanded utilization of renewable energy, measurement of air quality,GHGs and other pollutants,and efficient energy use and distribution systems; and developing an initial Action Plan for the Americas. Workshop on the Region.

    Website: http://www.ecpamericas.org/initiatives/?id=87

    Beneficiaries: All Inter-American Metrology Systems (SIM) in member states

    Partnerships and financing: Partners: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of the United States, Laboratorio Tecnologico del Uruguay (LATU) in Uruguay, Institute Nacional De Metrologfa De Colombia in Colombia, Jamaica, Centro Nacional de Metrologia (CENAM) in Mexico, Centro Nacional de Metrologia (CENAME).
    • Date:  4/13/2017    Paragraphs: -
    Sustainable Cities and Communities in the Americas

    The goal of this initiative is to contribute to the advancement of the sustainable cities agenda,energy sustainability and low carbon economic growth in the context of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA).The imperative of building sustainable cities and communities in the hemisphere was first acknowledged during the First Summit on Sustainable Development in the Americas held in Santa Cruz de Ia Sierra in December 1996. Since that time the Department of Sustainable Development of
    the Organization of American States (OAS-DSD) has been working with member states in four areas under the sustainable cities theme: economic development, housing, pollution prevention and environmental.

    Activities: Implementation ofthis initiative which was launched in 201S in this phase support is provided to 10 community-based projects that are being implemented through public-private partnerships in seven countries in following priority areas: Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency,Resilience to Natural Hazards, Sustainable Transport Solutions, Waste management,Recycling and Improved Water Resource Management. Community-generated projects under implementation include: the generation of biofuel from used cooking oil; the implementation of photo-voltaic systems and energy efficiency measures;and waste management best practices in coastal communities. This initiative also seeks to strengthen the capacity of government and civil society to contribute to urban planning and development processes through one-week certified Sustainable Cities Courses. Over 400 participants in 9 countries benefitted from the Courses which have been held in coordination with municipal governments,academia and specialized agencies training.

    Website: http://www.ecpamericas.org/initiatives/?id=65

    Beneficiaries: Officials in central and local governments in participating countries with responsibility for urban planning, waste management, transportation planning and management, and sustainable energy; academia; civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations.

    Partnerships and Financing: This initiative is financed by the Government of the United States of America
    • Date:  4/13/2017    Paragraphs: -
    Sustainable Forest Management in the Transboundary Gran Chaco Americano

    The "Gran Chaco Americana" biome covers approximately 1,000,000 Km2 in the central part of
    South America and encompasses parts of Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia.However,this globally significant ecosystem is being threatened and the area faces important socioeconomic and environmental challenge,including: i) deforestation for timber,charcoal production and agricultural conversion, ii) degradation of grasslands from inadequate grazing management practices;iii) fires; iv) over dependence on forest exploitation and livestock production, and v) unsustainable management of water resources.

    Activities: The project is complementing the efforts of the three countries under the Sub-Regional Action Program for Sustainable Development of the Gran Chaco by:i) mainstreaming SFM and SLM principles into policy and legal frameworks,ii) capacity building at regional, provincial/departmental and local levels, iii) developing tools and instruments to mainstream Sustainable Forest Management SFM and Sustainable Land Management (SLM) concerns into regional land use planning and decision-making processes, iv) on­ the-ground investments and increased stakeholder participation to implement sustainable management practices to reduce land degradation and combat desertification contributing to poverty alleviation.
    The project expects to overcome the most important barriers by building upon the collective commitment of the three Governments to work together around the existing framework of the SRAP;it is also fully consistent with the National Action Programs to combat desertification of the three countries so as to create the conditions for the sustainable development of the local population living in the area.

    Website: www.oas.org/dsd

    Beneficiaries: Citizens of Argentina,Bolivia and Paraguay who earn their livelihoods from the Transboundary Gran Chaco Americana Ecosystem

    Partnerships and Financing: : The total cost of the Project is US$ 25,279,943 of which US$ 3,249,800 is contributed by the Global Environment Facility.The balance of the funding constitutes cash and in-kind financing from the participating countries (Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay.
    Partnership project include the UNDP
    • Date:  3/15/2017    Paragraphs: -
    CRISK: Caribbean Risk Assessment (potentially-polluting wrecks in the Caribbean region)

    The problem of potentially-polluting shipwrecks has become fairly well known with an international study that estimated that there were at least 8,500 large wrecks that may contain 2.8 to 23 million cubic meters of oil. Anecdotes about leaking oil causing ecological damages, such as the thousands of seabirds oiled from the S.S. Jacob Luckenbach off the central California coast, are well known, as are case histories of millions of dollars in cleanup costs from continuous spillage from leaking wrecks. The wrecks are spread throughout the world’s seas, with particular concentrations in a number of regions.
    One of those areas is the Caribbean region, where there are an estimated 450 wrecks of large vessels (averaging 5,800 GRT), 300 of which may be of concern and which should be investigated further. The wrecks are spread through the region with many close to sensitive shorelines.
    As in the rest of the world, the majority of Caribbean wrecks stem from World War II. Over 90% are over 50 years old. The wrecks may contain as much as 1.2 million cubic meters (318 million gallons) of oil, and possibly other hazardous materials. These older wrecks are particularly problematic for two reasons:
    • The wrecks are more likely to be experiencing significant corrosion; and
    • The fuel oils and other hazardous materials on board are likely to be particularly toxic (including significant heavy metals) due to the composition of fuels used during that era.
    Chronically leaking oil from sunken shipwrecks can cause significant impacts to coastal ecological and socioeconomic resources. The damages from a more catastrophic release of the entire contents of a large wreck could cause hundreds of millions of dollars or more in damages to local economies and ecosystems.
    Caribbean nations have a great deal at stake with regard to potential pollution of tourist areas. With a total contribution to the GDP of Caribbean nations of US$53.4 billion in 2015 and an expectation of a rise to US$73.6 billion by 2025, the impacts of coastal oiling events could be significant.
    The potential impacts and costs of oil and chemical spills and leaks depend on location, resources at risk, pollutant properties, and geographic considerations. But, it is known that spills in the Caribbean can be particularly costly due to the high value of coastal resources. For example, the 1994 spill of 3,000 cubic meters of heavy oil from the tank barge Morris J. Berman in Puerto Rico cost an estimated US$255 million in response costs and direct damages. The tank barge Vista Bella, which released 2,200 cubic meters of heavy oil of St. Kitts and Nevis in 1991, cost US$8.4 million in cleanup costs and damages. And these were not particularly large spills. Many of the wrecks in the Caribbean are believed to contain significantly more oil, and could potentially cause more damages.
    It is important to recognize that not all of the wrecks are likely to leak in the very near future, and a good number of them may not even contain significant or any more oil. The oil may have leaked out slowly over time or even been released at the time of sinking. But, there are very likely to be a number of wrecks that do contain oil and that could leak. With about 300 wrecks, this could still mean a significant number of wrecks that present a significant risk.
    The only way to determine the potential risk from this large number wrecks is to conduct a systematic and comprehensive risk assessment. A risk assessment essentially evaluates both qualitatively and quantitatively the two important components of risk – probability and consequences (or impacts)
    A wreck risk assessment for the Caribbean would provide a means to qualitatively identify the riskiest wrecks and to quantify risk to allow for the purposes of risk management. This might include identifying wrecks to be prioritized with regard to recommended contaminant removal through a carefully-planned salvage operation. The main purpose of the risk assessment is to identify those wrecks that present a particular risk and to eliminate or reduce the concerns about the other wrecks. The risk assessment process provides officials with substantive data to make well-informed risk management decisions
    With about 300 large wrecks of concern and the potential for impacts to a thriving US$74 billion annual tourism economy, a comprehensive risk assessment is highly advisable. Expertise and excellent tools exist to provide officials the means to make informed risk management decisions.
    Activities:
    To systematically assess the risk posed by the approximately 300 large shipwrecks in the Caribbean Sea with respect to the probability of oil or chemical leakage and the potential impacts of oil and chemical leakages that may constitute a threat to the ecological stability and socioeconomic resources of the region, particularly in the tourist industry. With the results from this project in hand, Member States will be in a better position to take action so as to help prevent damages to the ecological and socioeconomic resources of the region, from potential spills, particularly for the tourism industry but also for maritime transport (goods and cruise ships alike).
    Specifically, this project will:
    · Wrecks with the greatest risk of leakage assessed;
    · Wrecks with highest potential risk that may require further study or action identified;
    · Wreck-prioritization process for pro-active contaminant removal operations provided;
    · Potential impacts, costs and cost-benefit analyzed and quantified;
    · Sensitive ecological and socioeconomic resources at greatest risk for protective strategies and prioritization identified;
    · Officials provided with robust data to make informed decisions on wreck risk management; and
    · Stakeholder involvement facilitated through the local and regional risk assessment process.

    Website:
    Beneficiaries: National Port and Maritime Authorities of the Caribbean Basin region (Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela)
    Partnerships and financing: American Salvage Association (ASA), SEDI-DSD -Disaster Management. (Development stage - Financing to be determined)
    • Date:  3/15/2017    Paragraphs: -
    Capacity Building in Port Logistics for Disaster Relief and Humanitarian assistance. *(Component of the Natural Disaster Response initiative) (Development stage)

    The project will provide training and capacity building for efficient logistic operations to efficiently manage logistics of disaster relief and humanitarian assistance received by other countries and agencies both before and after the disaster strikes. Member States will be in a better position to take action so as to develop legislation, regulations, manuals, protocols and procedures for the management of the logistics for facilitation of disaster relief and humanitarian assistance.
    Activities:
    Training and courses will be developed to empower local authorities in the development of legislation, regulations, manuals, protocols and procedures for the management of the logistics for facilitation of disaster relief and humanitarian assistance.
    Beneficiaries:
    National Port and Maritime Authorities of the Caribbean Basin region (Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela)
    Partnerships and financing:
    Risk Management and Adaptation to Climate Change (RISK-MACC), Department of Sustainable Development, U.S. Coast Guard, Valenciaport Foundation, Coordinacion General de Puertos y Marina Mercante, SCT, Mexico, American Salvage Association (ASA), T&T Salvage
    Financing to be determined
    • Date:  3/15/2017    Paragraphs: -
    CIP – Port incentive initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from shipping

    SEDI, CIP and Rightship (an Australian a Marine and Environmental Risk Management Company associate member of the CIP) have recognized that they share common goals, values and objectives with regards to advancing environmental sustainability. The CIP and Rightship have agreed to work together with an overall view to contributing to the reduction of the marine industry’s environmental footprint and encouraging the industry to continuously improve its environmental performance. For this purpose, RightShip have provided to CIP Member States a common platform for Port Incentive Programs. The A to G Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) Rating – available free of charge on www.shippingefficiency.org is an easy-to-use tool containing information on over 70,000 existing vessels. This rating applies the IMO’s Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) methodology to existing fleet data. Vessels are then ranked using a standard A to G rating, with A being the most efficient and G the least. The rating process is undertaken by comparing a ship’s theoretical CO2 emissions to peer vessels of a similar size and type.

    Beneficiaries: Argentina, Mexico, Barbados, Colombia
    Partnerships and financing: Rightship
    • Date:  6/23/2011    Paragraphs: 64
    The OAS is implementing four projects: (1) Sustainable Cities: Lessons Learned and Best Practices in Public Transport, Cycling & Walking, Sustainable Urban Development, Waste Management, Climate, Energy, & Transport Policy, Traffic Reduction, Outreach & Awareness, (2) The Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network (IABIN), (3) Species Initiative Western Hemisphere Migratory (WHMSI) and (4) ReefFix, a project on integrated coastal zone management. During 2010, the OAS supported the creation and standardization of national databases on species, specimens, invasive species, ecosystems, protected areas and pollinators and promoted interoperability and value-added tools.

    IABIN awarded one hundred twenty-six (126) grants totaling approximately $ 10,000 each. These donations were aimed at the digitization of biodiversity data and conducting meetings in various languages on the use of tools for data generation that once integrated into a geospatial platform can be used as tools for economic decision-making.

    The OAS, with 8 countries (the Andean countries and Costa Rica), developed a regional strategy for the conservation and sustainable use of High Andean Wetlands) and a program to develop tools for valuation and compensation for environmental services. Also as part of the initiative WHMSI, OAS together with 34 countries of the hemisphere has developed strategies for Cooperation for the Conservation of Migratory species such as whales, sea turtles, birds and mammals. Under the project ReefFix 8 case studies were completed for: The Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Lucia, which examined to explore the economic benefits and environmental services provided by coral reefs and other marine ecosystems.
    Related Resources
    OAS Website
  • Gender Issues
    Ministerials
    Paragraphs Related to the Theme
    Reports
    • Date:  5/30/2013    Paragraphs: 14
    Office of Education and Culture
    In the Framework of ITEN- Inter-American Program on Education for Democratic Values and Practices: “Building Democratic Classrooms”, a webinar was held on the topic “Sharing knowledge on Gender Equality: concept, history, consequences for the lives of children” Additionally, ITEN’s virtual community has a specific group on education for inclusion where members share resources, documents and videos related to the education of marginalized and vulnerable groups, among education for girls and education for rural populations.
    • Date:  5/28/2013    Paragraphs: -
    POVERTY, INEQUALITY, AND INEQUITY

    • CIM and the Department of Human Development, Education and Culture of the OAS have collaborated on identifying best practices in education for peace/nonviolence with the purpose of strengthening the work of the CIM in the prevention of violence, in the context of the implementation of the Convention of Belem do Para
    • CIM has continued its collaboration with the Department of Social Development and Employment of the OAS to mainstreaming a gender perspective within the region’s Ministries of Labor.

    • CIM has provided technical support to the Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs of the OAS to ensure the incorporation of a gender dimension to the draft Convention on the rights of older persons

    • CIM has provided technical support to the Special Committee on Migration Issues of the OAS to ensure the incorporation of a gender dimension to the new Inter-American Program on the Rights of Migrants

    DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT

    • CIM, in coordination with the Department of Sustainable Development of the OAS and the Inter-American Children’s Institute, has prepared a hemispheric project on integrated disaster risk management with a gender perspective. At this time, the three departments are working together to identify potential donors for this project

    ACCESS TO AND USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES

    • CIM has strengthened its collaboration with the Portal of the Americas on the use of mobile technologies to enhance learning. Specifically, both departments are developing a project on mobile learning to strengthen awareness on the right of women to a life free from violence and strengthen awareness on, and promote the use of the Convention of Belem do Para

    • In preparation for the 12th Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean (October 14-18, 2013, Santo Domingo, hosted by ECLAC), CIM and the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission are preparing a report on the situation of women and ICT in the Americas, with an emphasis on identifying best practices and analyzing the digital gender gap (progress and persistent challenges)

    CITIZEN SECURITY AND TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIME

    • CIM is working with the Department of Public Security of the OAS in the implementation of a police training project for strengthening attention to violence against women (funded by the US). The implementation of the pilot phase of the project started last week, in the province of Limón, Costa Rica, where indigenous and Afro-descendent communities will be prioritized.

    • CIM has carried out a preliminary analysis on the situation of women and drugs in the Americas, which will be presented during the roundtable "Women and drugs in the Americas: A diagnosis under construction," on Monday, June 3rd, on the occasion of the 43rd OAS General Assembly. At the same time, CIM is compiling information from Member States (through national mechanisms for women, public security officials and drug authorities) on policies and programs addressing the issue of women and drugs.
    • Date:  4/8/2011    Paragraphs: 6, 11
    Parte IV.

    III. ACCIONES DESARROLLADAS POR LOS ÓRGANOS, ORGANISMOS Y ENTIDADES DE LA OEA

    b) Departamento de Seguridad Pública (DSP)
    Como parte del “Programa Interamericano de Capacitación Policial (PICAP)”, el DPS espera capacitar a las fuerzas del orden, específicamente en el adecuado manejo y respuesta en casos de violencia contra la mujer. Igualmente, a través de los proyectos sobre Trata de Personas llevados a cabo por el departamento, todas las capacitaciones cuentan con un enfoque de derechos y de género. Inclusive, debido al Protocolo de Palermo, se hace énfasis en el trabajo con víctimas mujeres y niñas. Actualmente, el DPS está trabajando en futuros proyectos que buscan asegurar la inclusión de la violencia contra la mujer en iniciativas de prevención de la violencia y atención a víctimas. Las mujeres representan un grupo prioritario en cuanto a futuros proyectos en prevención de la violencia. El DPS cuenta con una experta en género.
    Con respecto al Observatorio de Seguridad, el DSP incorpora información desagregada por sexo a fin de contar con estadísticas concretas sobre violencia contra la mujer en el Hemisferio.
    El DSP también está trabajando en asegurar la inclusión de la perspectiva de género en el marco de las reuniones de Ministros de Seguridad Pública de las Américas (MISPA). Durante el 2010, la CIM fue invitada a participar de las reuniones preparatorias del MISP con el fin de contar con sus insumos en la preparación de documentos y objetivos futuros. 7. Secretaría de Relaciones Externas
    a) Departamento de Asuntos Internacionales (DAI)
    • El DAI promovió proyectos relacionados con la igualdad de género y derechos de las mujeres entre los Observadores Permanentes ante la OEA, los cuales contribuyeron a financiar diversas iniciativas por un valor de US$172,795. Estos recursos se destinaron a la promoción de la perspectiva de género en el desarrollo de metodologías para la participación de la mujer en misiones de observación electoral y en temas de defensa de derechos humanos y acceso a la justicia para mujeres víctimas de violencia. Dichas contribuciones provinieron de los Observadores Permanentes de Alemania y China ante la OEA.
    • En los programas de las “Cátedras de las Américas”, las “Mesas Redondas de Políticas y Desayunos de Políticas para Embajadores”, se contó con la participación de mujeres como ponentes principales: la periodista y escritora Ángeles Mastretta, quien participó en la XLII Cátedra y trató particularmente temas de género; Marta Lagos, Directora de la Corporación Latinobarómetro, quien presentó el Informe Latinobarómetro 2010; y Alicia Bárcena, Secretaría Ejecutiva de la CEPAL, como ponente principal en la XXXVIII Cátedra. Su participación en estos programas de difusión refleja la importancia que el DAI da a la perspectiva de género con el fin de compartir con el público general los pensamientos e ideas de mujeres influyentes de la región y abordar temas claves que son de particular interés para las mujeres y que muchas veces no son considerados.
    • Se realizaron 5 “Modelos de la Asamblea General de la OEA (MOEA)” en 2010 para estudiantes universitarios, de escuelas secundarias y pasantes de la Secretaría General de la OEA. El MOEA incluyó los siguientes temas relacionados con la mujer en sus Asambleas: igualdad de género; promoción de la participación de la mujer en el proceso de toma de decisiones en todas las esferas de la vida política, social y económica de los Estados Miembros; y el fortalecimiento de la participación económica y social de la mujer a través de programas de desarrollo, salud, educación y emprendimiento. Gracias a su excelencia intelectual y capacidad de liderazgo, 14 jóvenes mujeres fueron elegidas como autoridades para los Modelos realizados, tales como Secretarias Generales, Presidentas y Vicepresidentas de un total de 28 autoridades seleccionadas.
    • Se coordinó foros con organizaciones de la sociedad civil en preparación de la XL Asamblea General de la OEA, para los cuales brindó apoyo financiero a cerca de 40 mujeres representantes de redes de la sociedad civil que centran su trabajo en asuntos de g?énero, democracia, desarrollo social, medio ambiente, derechos humanos, lucha contra la corrupción, trata de personas, violencia y seguridad publica, VIH/SIDA, derechos de las niñas, niños y adolescentes y maltrato infantil, entre otros. Además, envió 113 anuncios sobre las actividades de la OEA a la base de datos de género que creo el DAI de más de 170 organizaciones de la sociedad civil que trabajan dicho tema y publicó en la Página Web de la Sociedad Civil los documentos referidos a la Trigésima Quinta Asamblea de Delegadas de la CIM (Ciudad de México, noviembre 2010).
    • Se preparó compilaciones cronológicas y temáticas de las recomendaciones que emanaron de las reuniones con la sociedad civil durante el 2010, con una sección en la que se incluyen aquellas relacionadas con asuntos de género. Dichas compilaciones que recogen las preocupaciones de las mujeres y también de los hombres en los asuntos hemisféricos, fueron compartidas con los Estados Miembros y las redes sociales y se encuentran disponibles en la página Web de la OEA.
    • Se coordinó la preparación y firma de un acuerdo de cooperación entre la OEA/CIM y el Fondo de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo de la Mujer (UNIFEM) el cual establece mecanismos de trabajo conjunto en temas vinculados a la mujer y centra sus objetivos en ámbitos como la Política Económica y el empoderamiento de la mujer; el fortalecimiento de los sistemas políticos democráticos y electorales y los procesos a través de la promoción de elecciones libres y limpias en todo el continente americano; la lucha contra la pobreza y la exclusión social, con especial énfasis en la inclusión social de las mujeres; el fortalecimiento de las capacidades de los grupos más vulnerables (indígenas, afro-descendientes y otros); la eliminación de todas las formas de violencia contra la mujer; el desarrollo sostenible; la diversidad cultural; y las acciones destinadas a garantizar el cumplimiento de los Objetivos del Desarrollo del Milenio.
    • Se coordinó la negociación de un MOU con IDEA International en el cual incluyó entre las áreas de cooperación la igualdad de género, así como el fortalecimiento de la participación política de las mujeres en todos los niveles de la gobernabilidad democrática, el aumento de su liderazgo y su incidencia en el nivel decisorio de las políticas públicas en América Latina y el Caribe.
    8. Secretaría de Administración y Finanzas
    a) Departamento de Recursos Humanos
    • Durante el 2010, el DRH comenzó a reportar, trimestralmente, estadísticas de género y representación geográfica de la SG/OEA dentro del Informe Trimestral de los Recursos de la OEA. Para el Informe del tercer trimestre del año (julio-septiembre 2010), se incluyó una nueva sección sobre recursos humanos de la OEA en donde adicionalmente se proporcionó estadísticas de distribución de género por nivel en la SG/OEA. En junio, el DRH distribuyó un reporte de Representación Geográfica y Género a Secretarios de la SG/OEA, en donde además de las estadísticas, se les compartió recomendaciones para mejorar el balance geográfico y de género en sus áreas. Estas estadísticas también fueron muy útiles en el trabajo de la Secretaría Permanente de la CIM para efectos de los talleres de capacitación sobre género realizados en 2010.
    • Se comenzó a promover el balance geográfico y de género a través del programa de Pasantías. Para la sesión de otoño de 2010, el DRH distribuyó un reporte a Secretarios y Oficiales Administrativos encargados del proceso de selección de pasantes, en donde se les informó sobre la situación actual de representación geográfica y género de sus áreas y se emitió recomendaciones en dichos rubros para la selección del candidato/a a la pasantía. Como resultado, se registró un aumento del 2% en la selección de pasantes de género masculino, promoviendo con ello el balance de género.
    • A través de la Unidad de Salud, el DRH promovió el bienestar de la mujer al promover la prevención del cáncer de mama, realizando mamografías en la Feria Anual de la Salud.
    b) Departamento de Planificación y Evaluación (DPE)
    El DPE, como departamento responsable del desarrollo de herramientas y procedimientos que faciliten la gestión de proyectos basados en resultados, tiene la responsabilidad de promover la incorporación de la perspectiva de género en los procesos de formulación, diseño, monitoreo y evaluación de proyectos. Cuenta con el proyecto “Institucionalización de la política y de los procedimientos de la Secretaría General para la evaluación de resultados, SAF-0901”, de una duración de dos años, orientado a incorporar la perspectiva de género en el ciclo de proyecto. El objetivo es poner en marcha los procesos que permitan integrar dicha perspectiva en el ciclo del proyecto de la OEA. Para ello, con el apoyo de una experta de género, y en consulta con la Secretaría Permanente de la CIM, el DPE viene preparando un manual, que estará disponible para fines de febrero. Asimismo, se espera realizar un ejercicio piloto, basado en dicho manual, para la primera semana de marzo de 2011. Dentro del equipo del DPE, se cuenta con una persona responsable de hacer el seguimiento en materia de género.

    Documento: INFORME DEL SECRETARIO GENERAL SOBRE LA IMPLEMENTACIÓN DEL “PROGRAMA INTERAMERICANO SOBRE LA PROMOCIÓN DE LOS DERECHOS HUMANOS DE LA MUJER Y LA EQUIDAD E IGUALDAD DE GÉNERO” DE CONFORMIDAD CON LA RESOLUCIÓN AG/RES. 2561 (XL-O/10) - paginas 13-23
    • Date:  4/8/2011    Paragraphs: 6, 11
    Parte III.

    III. ACCIONES DESARROLLADAS POR LOS ÓRGANOS, ORGANISMOS Y ENTIDADES DE LA OEA

    • A partir del curso presencial “Liderazgo en políticas públicas para la ciudadanía de las mujeres” se prepara un curso en línea, incluyendo una comunidad de práctica entre profesionales interesados y dedicados en el área. El curso, que viene siendo realizado conjuntamente con la CIM, busca fortalecer las capacidades de los organismos gubernamentales de los Estados Miembros, a través del desarrollo profesional de personas con capacidad para liderar y gestionar las políticas públicas para la igualdad entre hombres y mujeres, comprometidos con los cambios sociales y la transformación social requerida para una democracia ciudadana: desarrollar y/o fortalecer las capacidades para ejercer el liderazgo de profesionales de organismos gubernamentales y ONGs para impulsar la igualdad de género en los procesos de diálogo, concertación y diseño de las políticas públicas; y proveer un marco de referencia conceptual y metodológico sobre el liderazgo adaptativo con una dimensión de género, así como un conjunto de herramientas y estrategias para el ejercicio del liderazgo y de la autoridad en procesos de incidencia en políticas públicas.
    • En noviembre de 2010, fueron seleccionados dos cursos, a ser dictados en línea, para recibir cofinanciamiento por parte del Programa de Becas de Desarrollo Profesional, a decir: “El Liderazgo de Mujeres en los contextos actuales: renovando estrategias y prácticas”, a dictarse entre abril y junio de 2011, y el de “Ciencia, Tecnología y Sociedad: Aportes del enfoque de género, entre abril y mayo de 2011. Ambos serán lanzados en la plataforma de la FLACSO.
    • En el marco del Fondo Leo Rowe, se ha seguido compilando estadísticas desagregadas por sexo desde 1995 y reduciendo las diferencias en la distribución de los préstamos a estudiantes entre mujeres y hombres. El incremento en la participación de mujeres en cualquier nivel de educación es evidente en las estadísticas que el Fondo recopila. El porcentaje de préstamos otorgados a mujeres, el cual fue un tercio del total en 1995, ha incrementado constantemente. De hecho, y por coincidencia, en promedio, el número de préstamos otorgados a mujeres se ha mantenido en aproximadamente 50.0% desde 2001 con excepción de 2007 y 2008 (en 2007 el número y monto otorgados a mujeres sobrepasó notablemente al de hombres (72.2) y en 2008 decayó a 45.8%). Es así como en 2010, 49.5% de los préstamos nuevos fueron otorgados a mujeres. En general, si se incluyen todos los préstamos administrados por la Secretaria del Fondo Rowe en 2010, funcionarios y estudiantes internacionales, el promedio de préstamos otorgados a mujeres fue 50.9% y el monto en USD de 50.0% del total. Cabe notar que se administraron más préstamos a funcionarios hombres el año pasado.

    d) Departamento de Desarrollo Sostenible (DDS)
    El DDS alienta la participación plena e igualitaria de la mujer en la toma de decisiones a todo nivel, particularmente en lo relacionado a facilitar y promover el desarrollo armónico e integral del desarrollo sostenible y medio ambiente, incluyendo las tecnologías de la información en recursos hídricos, cambio climático, desastres naturales, biodiversidad y energía, teniendo en cuenta que las mismas son parte integrante de las actividades para la creación de sociedades en las que todos puedan participar y contribuir y que, por lo tanto, son instrumentos que pueden favorecer la igualdad del género. La perspectiva de género se ve reflejada en las labores dentro de los proyectos de sus diferentes áreas para el desarrollo profesional, relacionados a “Manejo de Riesgo y Adaptación al Cambio Climático”, a los programas de “Derecho Ambiental, Política y Gobernabilidad” y “Biodiversidad y Gestión Sostenible de la Tierra”.
    e) Fondo Especial Multilateral del Consejo Interamericano para el Desarrollo Integral (FEMCIDI)
    El tema de género es un tema transversal que se aplica en los proyectos FEMCIDI. Además, el Fondo cuenta con algunos proyectos focalizados en igualdad de género, a decir:
    • “Proyecto Red Regional de Mujeres en la Política para Gobernabilidad y Democracia”, que opera desde 2009, y está orientado a avanzar la igualdad de género en la gobernabilidad democrática y a mejorar la calidad y efectividad de la representación de las mujeres en la política. En este proyecto participa el Caribbean Institute for Women in Leadership.
    • “Proyecto Poverty Reduction and Capacity Building among Rural Women in Grenada”, ejecutado en 2010, orientado a reducir el nivel de pobreza entre los grupos de mujeres participantes en Grenada, mediante la capacitación y recursos para el mejoramiento de sus niveles de vida. A través de módulos de capacitación se ayudará en la organización de unidades empresariales de al menos 10 grupos de mujeres rurales. De 127 mujeres concursantes, 85 fueron escogidas para participar en el módulo ICT realizado recientemente.
    • “Proyecto Participación Política de las Mujeres, Elemento Clave para una Real y Efectiva Democracia”, ejecutado desde mayo 2010, orientado a promover reformas legales que contribuyan a mejorar las condiciones y oportunidades políticas de las mujeres panameñas. Se espera capacitar diputadas, alcaldesas, representantes de corregimientos y concejales, en cursos de formación política; así como sensibilizar diversos sectores mediante jornadas de capacitación. Se busca contar con un mayor número de mujeres electas.
    f) Young Americas Business Trust (YABT)
    La prioridad del YABT es promover el emprendimiento y generar oportunidades de empleo para los jóvenes, dentro de los cuales se encuentran las mujeres jóvenes y de comunidades indígenas. Esta tarea se viene desarrollando a través de programas de capacitación en desarrollo empresarial. En el marco del “Foro de Jóvenes de las Américas”, YABT brinda un espacio para mujeres jóvenes emprendedoras y mujeres indígenas, posibilitando así su participación en el proceso de la Cumbre de las Américas. Entre los programas de capacitación para mujeres empresarias y mujeres indígenas se encuentran aquellos realizados en Centroamérica y México; para los cuales se cuenta con el contenido desarrollado, la plataforma de apoyo y seguimiento establecido, así como entrenadores capacitados para implementar inmediatamente. Se destacan al menos 4 Mini-Laboratorios Empresariales para Mujeres Emprendedoras, realizados entre mediados 2009 e inicios de 2010, en que se capacitaron más de cien mujeres. Estos mini laboratorios hacen parte de un programa para el entrenamiento de capacidades empresariales; una metodología para iniciar a los jóvenes en el tema del emprendimiento a través de la experiencia práctica. Es resultado de las Alianzas Público Privadas, a nivel local e internacional, en un esfuerzo por promover la generación de negocios responsables con enfoque en género y en línea con las prioridades de la de la iniciativa “Caminos para la Prosperidad” de promover el desarrollo de mujeres emprendedoras. Recientemente tuvo lugar un mini-laboratorios empresarial para mujeres emprendedoras (Jalisco, noviembre 2010), en colaboración con la CEPAL.
    6. Secretaría de Seguridad Multidimensional (SSM)
    a) Secretaría Ejecutiva de la Comisión Interamericana para el Control del Abuso de Drogas (CICAD)
    En seguimiento al PIA y a la estrategia hemisférica sobre drogas en género, durante el periodo, la CICAD viene trabajando en los siguientes proyectos:
    • “El nexo entre la droga y la violencia en las Américas: Una perspectiva de género”, que busca determinar la relación entre las drogas y la violencia doméstica. A fin de elaborar una metodología adecuada, el Observatorio Interamericano de Drogas propuso realizar una encuesta de la población en general, una encuesta de los servicios de atención de la salud y un estudio de las víctimas de la violencia. Organizó una reunión de dos días en Panamá, en mayo 2010, con la participación de Argentina, Brasil, Chile, El Salvador, México, Panamá, Perú, y Trinidad y Tobago, para determinar los aspectos prácticos de este tipo de investigación. Las deliberaciones se centraron en conceptos teóricos, definiciones de la violencia, parámetros demográficos, metodología, logística y temas adicionales a explorar. Este esfuerzo se realiza en alianza con el Center on Addictions and Mental Health, Canadá y la Universidad de California.
    • “Proyecto Intervención de niñas y adolescentes en conflicto con la ley en El Salvador”, de dos años de duración está orientado a: i) mejorar los recursos humanos para hacer frente a la formación psico-social y las necesidades de empleo de los jóvenes; y a ii) capacitar y rehabilitar en el lugar en que aumentará la probabilidad de que las internas puedan obtener y conservar un empleo en la industria tecnológica, sigan fuera de las pandillas, no cometan otro delito y dejen de usar las drogas. A la fecha, se ha iniciado un proyecto piloto de atención integral a las niñas y adolescentes en conflicto con la ley en El Salvador. La iniciativa incluye diagnósticos, capacitación para el personal del centro de readaptación juvenil, rehabilitación, formación vocacional y alternativas de reinserción para las internas. Este proyecto es financiado por los Estados Unidos y participan la Fundación Panamericana y el Instituto Salvadoreño de Desarrollo Integral de la Niñez y Adolescencia (ISNA).

    Documento: INFORME DEL SECRETARIO GENERAL SOBRE LA IMPLEMENTACIÓN DEL “PROGRAMA INTERAMERICANO SOBRE LA PROMOCIÓN DE LOS DERECHOS HUMANOS DE LA MUJER Y LA EQUIDAD E IGUALDAD DE GÉNERO” DE CONFORMIDAD CON LA RESOLUCIÓN AG/RES. 2561 (XL-O/10) - páginas 13-23
    • Date:  4/8/2011    Paragraphs: 6, 11
    Parte II
    III. ACCIONES DESARROLLADAS POR LOS ÓRGANOS, ORGANISMOS Y ENTIDADES DE LA OEA
    5. Secretaría Ejecutiva para el Desarrollo Integral (SEDI)
    a) Departamento de Desarrollo Social y Empleo (DDSE)
    El DDSE continuó avanzando en la implementación del PIA, particularmente en sus disposiciones en materia de trabajo y empleo, en el marco de la Conferencia Interamericana de Ministros de Trabajo (CIMT). En particular, se siguió trabajando el “Componente de Género en el marco de la Red Interamericana para la Administración Laboral (RIAL)”, orientado a fortalecer las capacidades de los Ministerios de Trabajo en la transversalización del enfoque de género en su operación, políticas y programas. Se destaca el trabajo conjunto entre la DDSE, la CIMT y la CIM en este proceso hacia la institucionalización del enfoque de género y de derechos de las mujeres en el sector laboral. Se resumen los logros desde 2007, resultado de este proceso, que pueden servir como referente para otros sectores:
    • Elaboración del estudio “Igualdad de Género para el Trabajo Decente: Propuestas para la transversalización de género en las políticas laborales y de empleo en el marco de la CIMT”, presentado en la XV CIMT (Trinidad y Tobago, 2007) que sirvió de base para las “Líneas Estratégicas” de la Conferencia.
    • Aprobación de las “Líneas Estratégicas de la XV CIMT para avanzar hacia la igualdad y la no discriminación de género en el marco del Trabajo Decente” durante la XV CIMT en 2007, como un marco general de acción. Las autoridades de la CIMT en su Reunión de Planeación de diciembre, 2007 concretaron la realización de algunas de estas líneas.
    • Elaboración del estudio “Institucionalización del enfoque de género en los Ministerios de Trabajo de las Américas”, distribuido en la XVI CIMT (Buenos Aires, 2009), que cumple una de las Líneas Estratégicas. El estudio brinda un panorama sobre las estructuras internas de los Ministerios en materia de género, los tipos de oficinas, unidades o programas que existen, sus características y sus capacidades para lograr que la promoción de la igualdad de género sea un objetivo común. Además, plantea una propuesta de capacitación para fortalecer estas unidades, que se tuvo en cuenta para la realización de talleres subregionales en 2010.
    • Realización del Taller RIAL sobre “Transversalización del Enfoque de Género en los Ministerios de Trabajo de las Américas” (Buenos Aires, 2009), donde delegaciones de 25 Ministerios de Trabajo, en su mayoría representados por sus máximas autoridades de género, pudieron analizar su grado de avance en este tema y definir las necesidades prioritarias de capacitación. En el Taller se discutió la versión preliminar del estudio reseñado en el punto anterior, que fue enriquecido posteriormente con todos los insumos recibidos. Este Taller también da cumplimiento a las Líneas Estratégicas de la CIMT.
    • Participación y apoyo técnico a los Talleres Subregionales de Planeación Estratégica con enfoque de Género, liderados por CIM para los Ministerios de Trabajo y Mecanismos Nacionales para el Avance de la Mujer de todos los Estados Miembros, entre abril y octubre de 2010, con el apoyo de la OIT y el co-financiamiento de ACDI/CIDA, Canadá.
    b) Departamento de Desarrollo Económico, Comercio y Turismo (DDECT)
    • Mediante su “Programa de Empoderamiento Económico y Comercio”, desde 2010, el DDECT i) promueve la participación de las Micro, Pequeñas y Medianas Empresas (MIPYMEs) en el aprovechamiento de oportunidades de negocio vinculadas al comercio internacional y al turismo con orientación específica, a fin de favorecer la inclusión económica de MIPYMEs dirigidas por mujeres y grupos vulnerables (pequeños productores agrícolas, pequeñas empresas turísticas, grupos indígenas y jóvenes); ii) apoya el fortalecimiento institucional y humano en materia de negociación, implementación y administración de acuerdos comerciales; iii) fortalece un diálogo regional sobre políticas públicas; y iv) facilita el intercambio de experiencias y formación práctica sobre el uso de la propiedad intelectual como herramienta para apoyar a las comunidades indígenas y grupos de mujeres empresarias.
    Los principales logros incluyen: El establecimiento de diálogo entre las Autoridades Responsables del Comercio y las MIPYMEs, mediante el I encuentro “Políticas Públicas para Promover la Competitividad de las MIPYMEs” (México, noviembre). Asimismo, se capacitaron 200 funcionarios gubernamentales en varias áreas, incluyendo negociación e implementación de acuerdos comerciales en las Américas: perspectivas multilateral y hemisférica; solución de controversias en servicios financieros; propiedad intelectual como herramienta para la innovación y la competitividad. Se contó con el apoyo de ACDI/CIDA-Canadá, la Organización Mundial de Comercio, la UNCTAD, la Organización Mundial de la Propiedad Intelectual, el gobierno de España, entre otros. Asimismo, se realizó el taller “Utilización de la Propiedad Intelectual para proteger y promover las Artesanías, las Artes Tradicionales y el Empoderamiento de la Mujer”, (México, noviembre 2010), contando con 100 participantes, incluyendo autoridades y líderes comunitarios con responsabilidad en la promoción económica, género, artes populares, y comunidades indígenas de Centroamérica y México. Socios en este esfuerzo fueron el Instituto Internacional de la Propiedad Intelectual, la Oficina de Patentes y Marcas de los Estados Unidos y el Instituto Mexicano de la Propiedad Industrial.
    • “Proyecto Mujeres en las nuevas empresas de turismo”, que empezará a ejecutarse próximamente, está orientado al desarrollo empresarial de mujeres empresarias con micro y pequeñas empresas en el sector turístico: (i) con un concepto viable para iniciar su primera empresa, y (ii) con las empresas en los dos primeros años de operación, para fortalecer su gestión, operaciones y viabilidad.
    • Proyecto “Increasing Productivity and Competitiveness through Gender Equality in the Caribbean”, fue preparado conjuntamente con la CIM y presentado al Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo para financiamiento. De ser aprobada esta propuesta, se espera contribuya al desarrollo de capacidades nacionales para aumentar la productividad y competitividad a través de la igualdad de género en las políticas públicas sobre SMEs en el Caribe.

    c) Departamento de Desarrollo Humano, Educación y Cultura
    Bajo el DDHEC recaen i) la Oficina de Educación y Cultura (OEC); ii) la Oficina de Becas, Capacitación y Fortalecimiento de la Capacidad; iii) el Portal Educativo de las Américas; y iv) el Fondo Leo Rowe. A continuación se indican los esfuerzos del periodo.
    • A través de la OEC, se continuó implementando el “Proyecto Regional de Indicadores Educativos (PRIE)”, que apoya a los gobiernos con la recopilación y difusión sistemáticas de datos estadísticos desagregados por sexo. El PRIE recoge y analiza información relativa a paridad de género para monitorear los objetivos de la Cumbre en educación. Como parte de la información que proporciona, indica que entre los índices de término de la educación secundaria se observa que en 14 países existe un índice de paridad favorable a las mujeres. Son socios en este proyecto la Secretaría de Educación Pública de México, como Coordinador del Proyecto, UNESCO, como organismo técnico especializado, la OEC/OEA, como parte del Comité Directivo del proyecto, y los responsables de los sistemas de información y estadísticas educativas de los países, que han realizado las acciones correspondientes al plan de trabajo.
    • Como parte del proyecto “La cultura en el desarrollo: Una red interamericana de información”, en diciembre de 2009 se lanzó una convocatoria para identificar prácticas exitosas en la región que ilustren la importancia del rol de la cultura en el desarrollo. Dentro del formulario de solicitud se pedía que describieran la población beneficiaria del programa y que en ese sentido especificaran el número de hombres y mujeres participantes. Como resultado, se recibió una práctica de México del proyecto Taller Flora, el cual está dirigido al sector de la moda con el objetivo de mejorar la calidad de vida de las comunidades artesanales a través del desarrollo de una industria creativa que integre las creaciones y procesos artesanales a la cadena productiva, beneficiando a toda la cadena de creativos y productores que la integran. En este proyecto participan mujeres de grupos indígenas de México, artesanos urbanos y madres solteras.
    • A través del Portal Educativo de las Américas se ofrecen cursos virtuales, como “Género y liderazgo político en el contexto Latinoamericano y del Caribe” (1ra. Edición, julio-sept.), orientado a fortalecer las capacidades sobre la lectura crítica de la realidad, reflexividad, responsabilidad social y participación alrededor del tema del género y el liderazgo político, para aplicarlas de manera integral y sistemática a los proyectos sociales impulsados en el ámbito Latinoamericano y del Caribe. Se capacitaron 109 funcionarios/as públicos y profesionales vinculados/as a ONGs de la región que trabajan en la formulación, diseño e implementación de políticas, proyectos y programas sociales que, a su vez, reconocen la importancia de la perspectiva de género como eje transversal; además de docentes universitarios, profesionales y formadores/as del sector público, privado y de organizaciones de la sociedad civil con experiencia en el campo de la investigación e interés en temas de género. Como resultado de esta primera implementación, y ante la solicitud de varios de los ex participantes, se abrió el primer espacio de comunicación virtual para estos/as, el cual sirve actualmente como un ambiente propicio para la construcción de ideas y proyectos de una auténtica comunidad de práctica.

    Documento: INFORME DEL SECRETARIO GENERAL SOBRE LA IMPLEMENTACIÓN DEL “PROGRAMA INTERAMERICANO SOBRE LA PROMOCIÓN DE LOS DERECHOS HUMANOS DE LA MUJER Y LA EQUIDAD E IGU
    • Date:  4/8/2011    Paragraphs: 6, 11
    Parte I.

    III. ACCIONES DESARROLLADAS POR LOS ÓRGANOS, ORGANISMOS Y ENTIDADES DE LA OEA

    En base a la información recibida de las distintas instancias, esta sección aborda las acciones específicas realizadas por las mismas en seguimiento al PIA para el período.

    A. ENTIDADES Y ORGANISMOS DE LA OEA

    1. Departamento de Asesoría Legal

    En su calidad de consultor jurídico, este Departamento resolvió diversas consultas planteadas por la CIM y prestó asesoría legal en las distintas reuniones de esa Comisión.

    2. Secretaría de Cumbres de las Américas (SCA)

    La SCA manifiesta tener una política permanente de promover una participación equitativa entre hombres y mujeres en sus actividades con actores sociales. Esto aplica tanto para la selección de los participantes financiados, como en la selección de expositores/moderadores. Asimismo, manifiesta tener un compromiso activo con la CIM para facilitar la inclusión de los resultados de las discusiones de alto nivel sobre Género (proceso ministerial) en el proceso de Cumbres de las Américas. Se mantienen conversaciones con la Secretaría Permanente de la CIM para fomentar la integración de la perspectiva de género en el proceso de Cumbres a través de la Comunidad Virtual de Cumbres y a través del Sistema de Seguimiento de Cumbres de las Américas (SISCA), el cual recopila información sobre la implementación de los mandatos y compromisos relacionados con género.

    3. Secretaría de Asuntos Jurídicos (SAJ)

    a) Oficina Ejecutiva del Secretario de Asuntos Jurídicos

    El “Programa Interamericano de Facilitadores Judiciales (PIFJ)” en respuesta al PIA, ante la falta de acceso a la justicia, ha contribuido a la promoción de la equidad e igualdad de género y los derechos humanos de la mujer a través de diferentes acciones. Mediante el “Proyecto Servicio Nacional de Facilitadores Judiciales”, desde 2006, se promueve el acceso a la justicia de la población vulnerable. Al respecto, 3 países cuentan con servicio, 3,600 facilitadores operando, lo que representa un 25% de la población de más escasos recursos de dichos países. El proyecto cuenta con la participación de las Cortes Supremas de Justicia. Asimismo, desde 2009, a través del “Diplomado sobre Acceso a Justicia”, para operadores de justicia, se han graduado a mil operadores. Este esfuerzo, que cuenta con la participación de universidades locales, busca dotar de herramientas a jueces, fiscales, policía y otros operadores de justicia para el manejo del Servicio Nacional de Facilitadores y para que adquieran habilidades para la administración de sus despachos teniendo en cuenta las particularidades en el acceso a justicia de diversos sectores, particularmente las mujeres.

    b) Departamento de Derecho Internacional

    Desde enero de 2009, el Departamento se ha dotado de un “Programa de acción para fortalecer la participación de los pueblos indígenas en el sistema interamericano”, el que ha puesto énfasis en la equidad de género en sus actividades de formación y difusión. En este sentido, se trasladan habilidades para que los nuevos facilitadores efectúen replicas fomentando la capacidad local y el empoderamiento. Las réplicas son 100% sostenibles, los/as participantes con el apoyo de sus organizaciones financian y/o buscan alianzas estrategias con socios y/o contrapartes. Asimismo, se presta apoyo técnico y seguimiento a proyectos en desarrollo llevados a cabo por los participantes, quienes utilizan las herramientas que se les brinda en las capacitaciones. Se ha contribuido a la sensibilización de la temática indígena entre los representantes de los Estados Miembros de la OEA, y a un mayor acceso de participación de los pueblos indígenas en el sistema interamericano.

    c) Departamento de Cooperación Jurídica

    El DCJ actúa como Secretaría Técnica en las áreas relacionadas con el combate a la corrupción, particularmente en lo relacionado al Mecanismo de Seguimiento a la Implementación de la Convención Interamericana contra la Corrupción (MESICIC) y en el marco de las reuniones de Ministros de Justicia y otros Ministros, Procuradores o Fiscales Generales de las Américas (REMJA), incluyendo los temas sobre asistencia mutua en materia penal y extradición, y delito cibernético. La perspectiva de género es un importante elemento en todas actividades del DCJ; un tema transversal en el combate contra la corrupción. Se destaca que el Comité de Expertos del MESICIC, durante su XIV sesión (septiembre 2009), eligió a una mujer como su Presidenta, en la persona de la Experta Titular de Brasil. Actualmente, de los 30 Expertos 12 son mujeres.

    d) Departamento de Programas Jurídicos Especiales

    El DPJE viene trabajando a través de varias acciones, incluyendo:
    • El proyecto “Red Consumo Seguro y Salud OEA/OPS - SAJ 1001”, aprobado en 2010, para el que ha sido cuidadosamente redactado en un lenguaje sensible al género y se ha identificado a las consumidoras como uno de los grupos de la sociedad en los cuales enfocar el trabajo de protección que la Red busca emprender.
    • Se ha supervisado el desarrollo del “Programa de Acción para el Decenio de las Américas por los Derechos y la Dignidad de las Personas con Discapacidad (2006-2016)”; teniendo como objetivo lograr el reconocimiento y el ejercicio pleno de los derechos y la dignidad de las personas con discapacidad y haciendo énfasis en la no discriminación por razón de género. Se ha trabajado de forma localizada en Haití a raíz de los sucesos que afectaron particularmente a dicho país.
    • En materia de acceso a la justicia, se ha implementado desde marzo el proyecto piloto para el desarrollo e implementación de programas de reforma judicial para promover el acceso a la justicia y asistencia legal a grupos en desventaja, concentrando las actividades, primero, en El Salvador y Paraguay, y luego diseñando su ampliación a Brasil, Guatemala y Uruguay para el 2011. En ese sentido, se ha acordado con la Universidad de la República en Uruguay la creación de una oficina especializada de atención legal a reclusas en la Cárcel de Mujeres de Montevideo, con un enfoque multidisciplinario que incluirá apoyo psicológico y familiar, particularmente tratando temas de infancia. Por su parte, en Guatemala se ha acordado con las Universidades Rafael Landívar, Mariano Gálvez y San Carlos el apoyo a la actividad de los bufetes populares, que emprenderán actividades especializadas en grupos vulnerables por razón de género, discapacidad y poblaciones indígenas.
    • Se participó en el “I Encuentro y Diálogo para Mujeres Centroamericanas”, organizado por la organización Vital Voice en Mayo de 2010.

    4. Secretaría de Asuntos Políticos (SAP)

    a) Departamento para la Cooperación y Observación Electoral (DECO)
    El DECO viene implementando el proyecto “Incorporación de la Perspectiva de Género en las Misiones de Observación Electoral”, el cual está orientado a mejorar la labor de observación electoral de la OEA mediante la integración de la perspectiva de género en la metodología de observación. Esto le permitirá a la OEA analizar sistemáticamente la situación en cuanto a la participación igualitaria de hombres y mujeres en los procesos electorales en todos los niveles: como votantes; como candidatos y candidatas en elecciones nacionales y locales; como líderes en instituciones del Estado; dentro de los organismos electorales; dentro de las estructuras de los partidos políticos, etc. Asimismo, la metodología de observación sensible al género permitirá investigar temas como la existencia de barreras para la participación política de las mujeres en los países, dentro del contexto específico de un proceso electoral observado. Este esfuerzo se viene realizando con el apoyo financiero de los gobiernos de Alemania, Canadá y España.
    b) Departamento de Gestión Pública Efectiva
    • A través de su “Programa de Universalización de la Identidad Civil (PUICA)”, ha preparado un manual de buenas prácticas sobre registro civil que recopila las experiencias exitosas de registros civiles en América Latina y el Caribe, incluyendo aquellas enfocadas en beneficio de las mujeres y niñas. Además, a través de foros regionales, promueve la inclusión del registro de mujeres, que según se ha observado son las mas afectadas en la problemática del subregistro.
    • “Proyecto de Fortalecimiento del Sistema de Registro Hospitalario en El Salvador”, llevado a cabo desde 2008, está orientado a implementar un sistema de registro hospitalario en el hospital de Sonsonate, que permita la inscripción inmediata de los recién nacidos y reduzca así el subregistro de nacimiento de manera permanente. A la fecha, más de 7,000 niños han sido registrados; 500 madres sensibilizadas mensualmente sobre la importancia del derecho a la identidad; se ha promovido la expansión del Registro Nacional de las Personas a 3 hospitales más a nivel nacional y la adopción de una legislación que establece la instalación del registro hospitalario a nivel nacional.
    • Campañas de Registro de personas en Bolivia, Guatemala, Haití y Perú, se llevan a cabo desde 2007, a fin de facilitar el acceso al registro civil de poblaciones vulnerables mediante la ejecución de campañas de registro móviles. Más de 4.7 millones de personas han sido beneficiadas con proyectos de apoyo de la OEA que facilitan el acceso al registro civil, muchas siendo niñas y mujeres. El Departamento manifiesta que se ha está contribuyendo en el fortalecimiento de una cultura de registro y a sensibilizar a la población sobre la importancia de inscribirse en el registro civil para facilitar el ejercicio de sus derechos.



    Documento: INFORME DEL SECRETARIO GENERAL SOBRE LA IMPLEMENTACIÓN DEL “PROGRAMA INTERAMERICANO SOBRE LA PROMOCIÓN DE LOS DERECHOS HUMANOS DE LA MUJER Y LA EQUIDAD E IGUALDAD DE GÉNERO” DE CONFORMIDAD CON LA RESOLUCIÓN AG/RES. 2561 (XL-O/10) - páginas 13-23
    Related Resources
    "Programa Interamericano sobre la Promoción de los Derechos Humanos de la Mujer y la Equidad e Igualdad de Género”
    Informes Nacionales de los Estados Miembros y del GTCC, reportes de la temática Asuntos de Género y mujeres
    Informes Nacionales de los Estados Miembros y del GTCC, reportes de temas transversales con información desagregada por género referente a asuntos de género y mujeres.
    Strategic Plan 2011-2016 of the Inter-American Commision of Women (CIM)
  • Health
    Ministerials
    Paragraphs Related to the Theme
    Reports
    • Date:  1/8/2018    Paragraphs: 7
    Initiative: Community Spoke women on Nutrition in Guatemala

    Brief description of initiative:
    Guatemala has one of the highest malnutrition rates in Latin America and the Caribbean; and is the fifth country in the world in cases of chronic malnutrition in children. The current administration has created the "Zero Hunger Pact" program that aims to reduce child malnutrition by 10% during the 4 years of its administration and in March 2016 has launched the National Strategy for the Prevention of Chronic Malnutrition (NSPCM) in children aged from 0 to 2 years old. This project seeks provide strategies and tools to strengthen the capacity of the Guatemalan government on community based approaches to address behavioral changes and prevent malnutrition of families of the Dry Corridor Zone

    The project activities aim to promote changes in eating habits of families; ii) the integration of initiatives carried-out at the national and local levels; Within those components, activities proposed comprise the implementation of capacity building and technical assistance processes targeted to public officials to enhance the implementation of the NSPCM, and the delivery of training workshops targeted to local leaders who will be in charge of transmitting the knowledge to families from benefited communities.
    During 2017, the Department of Social Inclusion began implementing the initiative by conducting a needs assessment visit mission to the country as well as producing a report to define training and technical assistance needs.

    Beneficiaries: The Secretariat for Food and Nutritional Security (SESAN) and the Ministry of Social Development (MIDES)

    Partnerships and Financing:
    Financing: Permanent Observer Mission of the People's Republic of China to the OAS
    • Date:  3/15/2017    Paragraphs: 8
    Initiative: Building partnerships to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

    Reducing maternal mortality has been the only Millennium Development Goal in which efforts have been insufficient so it has been incorporated by the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. The causes for maternal mortality are directly linked to poverty, inequality and low levels of education. That is why the OAS General Secretariat has made efforts to strengthen relations and cooperation with other regional organizations of the Inter-American system and of the United Nations to join efforts, experiences and knowledge in order to support Member States in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, particularly those that address issues related to maternal health and the well-being of vulnerable groups in the Americas.

    Activities:
    Activities carried-out during 2016:
    1) Partnership with the Panamerican Health Organization (PAHO) on thes 2030 Agenda and the SDGs signed in August 2016 to address particularly social determinants of health, inequality and social inclusion.
    2) Partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Bureau of Latin America and the Caribbean signed in October 216 to make progress on improving maternal health, universal access to quality and promoting the well-being of women, children, and adolescents in the Americas with an equity perspective.

    3) Affiliation of the OAS to the Regional Technical Group for the Reduction of Maternal Mortality (GTR) in October 2016. The GTR promotes collaboration to implement policies and programs to reduce maternal mortality in Latin America and the Caribbean. The GTR is composed by technical agencies of the United Nations such as PAHO, UNFPA, UNICEF, multilateral and bilateral cooperation entities, such as USAID, the IDB and the Word Bank as well as NGOs and professional networks.

    Beneficiaries: OAS Member States;

    Partnership and financing: PAHO, UNFPA, OAS
    Partnerships:
    PAHO, UNFPA, GTR
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Initiative: The Inter-American Task Force on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs)
    The Inter-American Task Force on NCDs was officially launched on 17 June 2015, with the aim of promoting intersectoral work and coordinating activities within the Inter-American system, and associated international institutions and agencies, towards the achievement of the Plan of Action for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases in the Americas 2013-2019. Through this alliance the Task Force will leverage expertise and resources within the region to improve technical cooperation on NCDs and their risk factors.

    Activities:
    The first meeting of the Inter-American Task Force on NCDs was held on July 15, 2015, where specific first year activities, Task Force objectives and agency contributions were discussed.

    On September 15, 2015, the Task Force held its second meeting aimed at:
    1) refining the Task Force objectives;
    2) developing the Task Force Work Plan (2015-2019) with specific milestones, results and indicators, and harmonization with agencies’ frameworks, strategies and action plans; and
    3) agreeing on time-frames, outputs, resources, program leads, and roles and responsibilities to guide the work of the Task Force.

    Currently, all Task Force members are working on an internal mapping exercise to determine what activities are being undertaken within their respective organizations pertaining to NCDs. The Third meeting of the Task Force will be held in November to review the mapping exercise and further refine the Task Force's workplan and objectives.

    Partnership and financing:
    Pan American Health Organization, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, Economic Commission on Latin American and the Caribbean
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Iniciativa: Reducción de la Demanda con Enfoque de Salud Pública
    A través de la colaboración interinstitucional, se fomenta la integración multisectorial de agencias e instituciones en los países, para desarrollar políticas públicas e intervenciones con las que se pueda responder ante el reto que representan los diferentes aspectos del consumo de drogas, particularmente el impacto en la salud pública.

    Actividades: • En el marco de la colaboración interinstitucional con la Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS) y el Consejo de Ministros de Salud de Centroamérica y República Dominicana (COMISCA), se han llevado diferentes foros y talleres para favorecer la implementación de políticas públicas de Reducción de la Demanda de Drogas, con enfoque de Salud Pública.

    • En conjunto con la Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS), y los Estados Miembros Centroamericanos, se han definido las funciones y competencias de los perfiles profesionales que componen el personal de salud que atiende a personas con problemas por consumo de sustancias psicoactivas.

    • Actualmente están en desarrollo las currículas de capacitación para los siguientes perfiles profesionales: medicina, psiquiatría, enfermería, psicología y consejería

    Beneficiarios:
    • Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS)
    • Consejo de Ministros de Salud de Centroamérica y República Dominicana (COMISCA)
    • Estados miembro: Belice, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, República Dominicana,

    Socios y financiamiento: US INL; Contribuciones financieras y en especie por los estados miembros implementando el modelo PROCCER
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Initiative: The Training and Certification Program for Drug and Violence Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation (PROCCER)
    PROCCER is a model that provides for inter-agency, inter-institutional, and interdisciplinary organization at the national and regional levels, such that it can offer training and certification in the therapeutic intervention fields of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation for drug dependence and drug-associated violence as well as in aspects of program organization and operation.
    The components of the PROCCER Model may be adapted and tailored to meet the needs of the specific member state or region in accordance with needs and capacity. The objective of PROCCER model implementation is to develop and strengthen the national and regional institutional and service provider capacities in intervention strategies. The increased capacity is intended to enhance the quality and efficacy of drug use and violence prevention programs, as well as programs for treating and rehabilitating drug dependency or violent criminal behaviors.

    Activities:
    PROCCER is presently working in coordination with 23 national drug commissions of member states, 14 universities, and over 3,804 NGOS and members of civil society; and trained more than 2,300 prevention and treatment service providers from governmental and non-governmental agencies.

    - PROCCER: Training of treatment service providers in Mexico, Central America- 6, Paraguay, Dominican Republic, the Latin American Federation of Therapeutic Communities (FLACT)-19, including Brazil through the Brazilian Federation of Therapeutic Communities (FEBRACT)
    - PROCCER: Training of prevention practitioners and treatment service providers in the Caribbean- 13
    - PROCCER: National-level certification of treatment service providers in Mexico, El Salvador, and Costa Rica
    - PROCCER: Regional-level certification of prevention specialists and treatment service providers in the Caribbean
    - Training in the Specialized Adolescent Treatment Training for treatment service providers working with high-risk adolescents in the Caribbean region and on a global level
    -Training in the Universal Prevention Curriculum and Universal Treatment Curriculum on a hemispheric level

    Website: http://www.cicad.oas.org/Main/Template.asp?File=/reduccion_demanda/proccer/proccer_eng.asp

    Beneficiaries: 23 Member States: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Dominican Republic, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago
    Of the 23 Member States: the national drug commissions and ministries of health, GO, NGO, and civil society that offer prevention and treatment services, and citizens of member states who suffer from the disease of addiction and violence associated with drugs

    Partnership and financing: US Department of State: Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL)

    Government of Canada: Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program (ACCBP)

    In-kind contributions from OAS Member States implementing PROCCER
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Iniciativa: Formación de recursos humanos en investigación científica en salud relacionado con drogas
    Asistencia técnica y financiera para apoyar la formación de recursos humanos en investigación en drogas desde el enfoque de salud pública.

    Actividades: Planificación del Curriculum.
    Convocatoria y selección de candidatos.
    Participación académica en el programa de capacitación de los estudiantes seleccionados, en Toronto, Canadá.
    Seguimiento al programa de investigación.

    Website: Brasil, Chile, Barbado, México, Trinidad y Tobago, Colombia, El Salvador, Haití y Venezuela

    Partnerships and Financing: Partners: Observatorios Nacionales de Drogas de las Comisiones de Drogas.
    Financiamiento: DFATD Canadá, OEA
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Inciativa: Avances en conocimiento proyecto de cocaínas fumables en el cono sur
    Asistencia técnica y financiera para apoyar a la generación de conocimiento para abordaje de prevención y tratamiento en usuarios de cocaínas fumables.

    Actividades:
    1.- Asistencia técnica y financiera a Estudio sobre caracterización de cocaínas fumables en los países.
    2.- Apoyo financiero a Estudio pre-clínico sobre el impacto de adulterantes en las cocaínas fumables
    3.- Asistencia técnica y financiera a Estudio sobre caracterización de oferta de tratamiento para usuarios de cocaínas fumables en los países.
    4.- Asistencia técnica y financiera a Estudio de seguimiento de usuarios de cocaínas fumables.
    5.- Asistencia técnica y financiera a Estudio sobre imágenes cerebrales de usuarios de cocaínas fumables

    Website: http://www.cicad.oas.org/Main/Template.asp?File=/oid/default_spa.asp

    Beneficiarios: Argentina, Brasil, Chile, Paraguay y Uruguay

    Socios y financiamiento: Partners: Observatorios Nacionales de Drogas de las Comisiones de Drogas.
    Financiamiento: INL, OEA
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Iniciativa: Generación de evidencia a través de estudios epidemiológicos en países del Hemisferio
    Asistencia técnica y financiera para apoyar a países en la conducción de estudios, análisis y elaboración de informes respectivos.

    Actividades: Capacitación y asistencia técnica y financiera a encuestas en población general en Jamaica, Suriname y Guyana, asistencia técnica y financiera a estudio en población universitaria en Uruguay, asistencia técnica a estudio en población universitaria en Panamá, y asistencia técnica en estudio en cárceles en Costa Rica.

    Website: http://www.cicad.oas.org/Main/Template.asp?File=/oid/default_spa.asp

    Beneficiarios: Jamaica, Suriname, Guyana, Bahamas, Uruguay, Panamá, Costa Rica

    Socios y financiamiento: Partners: Observatorios Nacionales de Drogas de las Comsiones de Drogas.
    Financiamiento: INL, DFATD Canadá, OEA, Open Society Foundation
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Iniciativa: Elaboración, publicación y difusión de Informe sobre Uso de Drogas en Las Américas, 2015
    Sobre la base de información epidemiológica generada por los Observatorios Nacionales de Drogas, se elaboró un nuevo informe que refleja el estado actual sobre el uso de drogas en los países del hemisiferio.

    Actividad: Recolección de la información, procesamiento y análisis, elaboración de informe, publicación y difusión.

    Website: http://www.cicad.oas.org/apps/Document.aspx?Id=3209

    Beneficiaries: Países miembros, academia e investigadores, otras organizaciones internacionales que trabajan en tema drogas, como PAHO, UNODC, EMCDDA, etc

    Partnerships and Financing: Partners: Observatorios Nacionales de Drogas de las Comsiones de Drogas.
    Financiamiento: USINL, OEA
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Iniciativa: Reducción de la Demanda con Enfoque de Salud Pública
    A través de la colaboración interinstitucional, se fomenta la integración multisectorial de agencias e instituciones en los países, para desarrollar políticas públicas e intervenciones con las que se pueda responder ante el reto que representan los diferentes aspectos del consumo de drogas, particularmente el impacto en la salud pública.

    Actividades: • En el marco de la colaboración interinstitucional con la Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS) y el Consejo de Ministros de Salud de Centroamérica y República Dominicana (COMISCA), se han llevado diferentes foros y talleres para favorecer la implementación de políticas públicas de Reducción de la Demanda de Drogas, con enfoque de Salud Pública.

    • En conjunto con la Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS), y los Estados Miembros Centroamericanos, se han definido las funciones y competencias de los perfiles profesionales que componen el personal de salud que atiende a personas con problemas por consumo de sustancias psicoactivas.

    • Actualmente están en desarrollo las currículas de capacitación para los siguientes perfiles profesionales: medicina, psiquiatría, enfermería, psicología y consejería

    Beneficiarios:
    • Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS)
    • Consejo de Ministros de Salud de Centroamérica y República Dominicana (COMISCA)
    • Estados miembro: Belice, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, República Dominicana,

    Socios y financiamiento: US INL; Contribuciones financieras y en especie por los estados miembros implementando el modelo PROCCER
    • Date:  4/29/2014    Paragraphs: 15
    Human rights of women living with HIV in the Americas
    As a follow-up to the project "Human rights, HIV and violence against women in Central America and the Caribbean" (2007-2011) and in response to the specific demands of that project's stakeholders (mainly women living with HIV), the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM) provided support to the adoption of General Assembly Resolution 2802 "Promotion and protection of the human rights of people vulnerable to, living with, or affected by HIV/AIDS in the Americas" (2013).

    This resolution has since resulted in the signing of a collaboration agreement between the OAS and UNAIDS, as well as the development of a joint UNAIDS / CIM Toolkit on the Rights of Women Living with HIV.

    Activities:
    - Conduct research on the situation of women living with HIV in the human, particularly with regard to the exercise of their human rights
    - Compile that research into a draft Toolkit on human rights of women living with HIV
    - Validate the draft Toolkit with key stakeholders (women's and human rights organizations, inter-governmental organizations, governments)
    - Publish and distribute the Toolkit
    - Organize capacity-building sessions using the Toolkit

    Beneficiaries:
    Women living with HIV in the Americas
    (Civil society) Groups that work with women living with HIV, HIV and human rights and/or violence against women, Governments (Ministries of Health, etc.), International organizations

    Partnerships: UNAIDS
    • Date:  5/30/2013    Paragraphs: 15
    Educational Portal of the Americas
    The Educational Portal of the Americas and the Pan-American Health Organization have jointly developed an online course on “Evidence-Based Chronic Illness Care”, delivered through the Portal’s Virtual Classroom. This topic is of pressing concern to health systems around the world as life expectancy and exposure to risks for chronic health problems rise.
  • Human Rights
    Paragraphs Related to the Theme
    Reports
    • Date:  10/3/2012    Paragraphs: 40, 85
    Information available in Spanish
  • Indigenous Peoples
  • Infrastructure and Transportation
    Paragraphs Related to the Theme
    Reports
    • Date:  3/15/2017    Paragraphs: -
    Inter-American Committee on Port (CIP)

    The OAS Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP) is the only permanent Inter-American government forum that brings together the National Port Authorities of all OAS Member States for the promotion of the development of competitive, safe, sustainable, and inclusive ports in the Americas with the active participation of the private sector. Member States have selected six priority areas in port management where several challenges have been identified:
    1. Port Protection and Security
    2. Logistics, Innovation and Competitiveness
    3. Sustainable Port Management and Environmental Protection
    4. Public Policy, Legislation and Regulation
    5. Corporate Social Responsibility, Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women
    6. Tourism, Inland Ports and Waterways, Ship Services and Navigation Safety
    The CIP and its Secretariat work on these areas according to the Plan of Action of Montevideo 2016-2018 (CIDI/CIP/doc. 6/16 rev.3) and through four main strategies: 1) strengthening and promotion of Inter-American port dialogue; 2) training of human capital and institutional capacity building; 3) Technical Assistance and port project development and implementation; and, 4) cooperation with the private sector.
    Members of the CIP Executive Board (CECIP) have stated that the CIP is “key to the economy of any country as ports are the strongest link in the maritime trade logistic chain, so the relevance of being competitive, secure, efficient and sustainable is clear.” The CIP will hold its XI Regular Meeting in Mexico in 2018 where new objectives, needs, and challenges will be discussed and where the next Plan of Action of Mexico 2018-2020 shall be approved considering issues like the modernization necessary for ports to improve connectivity, reduce costs and automatize processes.
    The CIP Secretariat is responsible for assisting Member States in their development efforts, for serving as Technical Secretariat for political meetings, for consolidating and expanding the training and capacity building offer and for promoting project implementation and public-private partnerships.


    ACTIVITIES:
    According to the Plan of Action of Montevideo 2016-2018 (CIDI/CIP/doc. 6/16 rev.3) The CIP will undertake the following activities:
    • XI Ordinary Meeting of the CIP-August 2018 (Mexico)
    • Annual Meetings of the Executive Board (CECIP) July 2017 (Barbados) and 2018 (Mexico)
    • Biannual virtual meetings of the CECIP and the Technical Advisory Groups on the 6 priority areas of the CIP
    • High level Hemispheric Seminars on the 6 priority areas of the CIP:
    ? II Conferencia Hemisférica sobre Puertos Interiores, Hidrovías y Dragado: El Transporte Fluvial como Motor de la Competitividad, Mayo 17 – 19, 2017, Buenos Aires, Argentina
    ? XI Foro y Feria Internacional sobre Protección Marítima y Portuaria, Agosto 2-4, 2017, Punta Cana, Republica Dominicana
    ? III Conferencia Hemisférica sobre Logística, Innovación y Competitividad, Octubre 4-6, 2017, Ciudad de Panama, Panama
    ? IV Conferencia Hemisférica sobre Gestión Portuaria Sostenible y Protección Ambiental, Octubre 18-20, 2017, México
    ? II Conferencia Hemisférica sobre Políticas Públicas, Legislación y Regulación, Noviembre 6 (por confirmar), 2017, Montevideo, Uruguay
    ? II Conferencia Hemisférica sobre Responsabilidad Social Empresarial y Equidad de Género, Mayo 2018, Lima, Perú
    • 145 Scholarships granted to port officials through the CIP bilateral, triangular, and hemispheric cooperation and high level technical assistance initiatives on 6 priority areas of the CIP.
    • 2 editions of the Annual Maritime Award of the Americas conducted
    • Dissemination and promotion materials of Ports of the Americas undertaken
    WEBSITE: portalcip.org
    BENEFICIARIES: 34 National Port Authorizes of the OAS Member States
    PARTNERSHIPS AND FINANCING: National Port Authorities of the Member States, IMO, IRU, Puertos del Estado de España, Fundación Valenciaport, Fundación SOGET-Le Havre, United States Coast Guard, ECLAC, AAPA, IADC, NAMEPA, Hudson Analytix, Rightship, ASA, CICTE, CIM, University of Miami, Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey, Puerto Ensenada, Puerto Lazaro Cárdenas, Puerto Altamira, among others
    • Date:  5/30/2013    Paragraphs: 2
    INTER-AMERICAN COMMITTEE ON PORTS (CIP)

    The Secretariat of the Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP) has supported mandate No. 2 of the VI Summit of the Americas (1) and is currently implementing the 2012-2013 Lima Action Plan “Ports of the Americas: Strengthening Physical Integration and Hemispheric Cooperation for Prosperity”, based on the theme of the VI Summit on integration of physical infrastructure.

    In this context, the Third Hemispheric Conference on Environmental Port Management, held on May 22-24, 2012 in Montevideo, Uruguay, emphasized the exchange of experiences among high governmental level and private sector by seeking solutions for environmental protection, security and efficiency to protect fluvial – maritime, coastal and port environments. The conference was attended by 98 representatives from Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Uruguay, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Spain as permanent observer to the OAS.

    From May 2012 – May 2013, the CIP has strengthened capacities for 341 officials and executives of the port industry in the Americas in the Dominican Republic, Uru guay, Peru, Spain and France. In addition, 47 scholarships were granted thank to strategic partners such as State Ports of Spain, Valencia port Foundation, Port of Le Havre and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).


    (1) Note: Mandate No. 2 of the VI Summit of the Americas: “2. To promote the exchange of experiences and the participation of the public and private sectors, taking into account current and future national, subregional, and regional physical infrastructure programs and projects that connect and integrate the Americas, which should, in accordance with our respective needs and full respect for our domestic laws, contribute to the development of synergies of national physical infrastructure agendas.”
    • Date:  11/8/2012    Paragraphs: 5
    Initiative:
    Connecting the Americas 2022

    Description:
    Connecting the Americas 2022 is a regional initiative that seeks to create a business environment to accelerate the development of renewable energy, attract private investments, and bring the best in energy technology to the market with the aim of delivering affordable electricity to all communities in the Americas by 2022. This initiative, which is being led by Colombia and the United States, was launched at the Sixth Summit of the Americas in April 2012. Five months later, the region’s foreign ministers met in New York to further discussions on the strengthening of regulatory frameworks and electrical interconnections to achieve access to electricity for all citizens within a decade and improve the quality of life of the peoples of the Americas.

    Activities:
    • Support for projects of smart grid technology in Latin America.
    • Technical assistance to support the development of commercially sustainable energy exchanges between regions of Central America, Mexico and Colombia.
    • Studies of electrical inter-connectivity between Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands and St. Kitts and Nevis.
    • Ministerial dialogue with countries in the Caribbean, donor governments and regional institutions to discuss possible electrical connections via underwater cables and development of renewable energy.
    • Improvement of electricity trade between the US and Canada through the consultative energy mechanism.

    Partnerships:
    Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
    World Bank
  • Joint Summit Working Group
  • Justice and Rule of Law
  • Labor
    Ministerials
    Paragraphs Related to the Theme
    Reports
    • Date:  7/31/2012    Paragraphs: 13
    Information available in Spanish
    • Date:  7/31/2012    Paragraphs: 13
    Information available in Spanish
    • Date:  6/23/2011    Paragraphs: 15
    In addition to fostering political dialogue, the OAS has contributed to strengthening the region’s Ministries of Labor, and to intensify technical cooperation and support through the Inter-American Network for Labor Administration (RIAL). This Network was created by the Ministries themselves, and, since 2006, it has trained more than 700 government officials, 60 labor union and company representatives, it has involved more than 16 international organisms including the members of the Joint Summits Working Group (JSWG) and especially ILO, 27 research centers and NGOs, and it has counted on the active participation of all Member States. RIAL’s web page: www.rialnet.org provides an account of a fruitful exchange and of the results of the Network in the Ministries, which include the design of new services, the improvement of execution programs, the definition of internal procedures, and a reform to the legal and normative frameworks.
    Related Resources
    OAS Website
  • Migration
    Paragraphs Related to the Theme
    Reports
    • Date:  1/8/2018    Paragraphs: 1
    Continuous Reporting System on International Migration in the Americas (SICREMI).
    Since its inception in 2009, the objective of the SICREMI project has been to compile, analyze and publish statistics on international migration in the Western Hemisphere, and also from the countries of the Americas to OECD countries. The publication shows recent changes in migratory movements and policies in the Americas.
    During 2017, the Department of Social Inclusion of the OAS and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), presented in the framework of the celebration of “International Migrants Day” on December 18th, 2017 the “Fourth Report of the Continuous Reporting System on International Migration in the Americas (SICREMI 2017).”
    The study highlighted that in recent years, the deceleration of economic growth in Latin America and the global recovery in advanced countries have led to an increase in outflows from LAC, in particular to Spain and to the United States. In the Americas, as in other parts of the world, migration trends have been reinforced by the increase in the number of people fleeing their countries, whether from natural catastrophes, or economic or political instability.
    In addition, the report notes that a significant proportion of the increase in intra-American migration, however, can be attributed to persons fleeing conflict zones, natural catastrophes or conditions of economic collapse or underdevelopment.
    Partnerships: the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
    Financing: The Spanish Agency for International Development and Permanent Observer Mission of China to the OAS
    Beneficiaries: (e.g. Country/Institutions/specific groups,etc.): OAS Member States
    Website:

    http://www.oas.org/documents/spa/press/SICREMI-2017-espanol-web-FINAL.pdf?utm_source=OAS+Press+Subscription+List&utm_campaign=bef75e4cfa-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_12_18&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c0f6eeace4-bef75e4cfa-415758697
    • Date:  2/13/2017    Paragraphs: -
    The Establishment of Small Business Development Centres (SBDCs) in CARICOM Member States - Phase II

    The Goal of the Caribbean SBDC programme is to contribute to the sustainable improvement of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sector in the CARICOM region with a view to increasing the capacity of the sector to contribute to economic growth, productivity, employment and standards of living, particularly for women and youth in the CARICOM region. Phase two of the project is designed to build on the work undertaken in the first phase with the first five beneficiary countries - Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Jamaica and Saint Lucia - while expanding the Caribbean adaptation of the U.S. SBDC model to an additional three countries - Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas within the CARICOM region. The project will account the recently gained experience in the efforts at introducing and transferring the SBDC methodology in the region and will involve concentrated technical assistance throughout the process of consolidation and establishment of the model in the Caribbean.

    Phase II Project Components – First Five Beneficiary Countries
    ? In partnership with the Caribbean Export Development Agency conduct Pro – Net Certificate train- the – trainer programmes for centre advisors
    ? Train – the – trainer programmes for centre advisors on the incorporation of disaster risk management strategies in business planning
    ? SBDC advisors trained in the use of value chain analyses to facilitate MSME participation and upgrading in local and regional value chains giving consideration to women and youth led enterprises.
    ? Conduct Value Chain Analyses for two selected high growth sectors identified by each of the first five beneficiary countries.
    ? Development of strategies for establishing links to promote trade among the clients of Caribbean SBDCs and targeted international SBDCs
    ? Assist in the development of alternative financing strategies for MSMEs in partnership with public funding agencies and private financial and insurance institutions paying particular attention to issues affecting women and youth entrepreneurs.
    ? Assist in the development of a governance model for the creation of a regional network of SBDCs to facilitate the sharing of best practices, the development of intra - regional trade linkages and bolster advocacy efforts for the regional MSME sector
    Phase II Project Components – New Beneficiary Countries
    ? Analysis of current MSME support environment in country including situational and gap analysis and stakeholder mapping.
    ? Development of policy and implementation guide to support the elaboration of an MSME framework to underpin the adaptation of the SBDC model.
    ? Technical visits of designated inter – ministerial steering committee to the University of Texas at San Antonio SBDC and Washington D.C. to promote an understanding of the operation of the SBDC Model through exposure to best practices in network administration and MSME policy creation and oversight.
    ? Transference and adaptation of the SBDC Model through a week long Counsellor and Director Certification training programme and follow – up technical support and guidance in implementation
    ? Purchase of licenses and follow up training sessions in the use and customization of Neo Serra software which is designed to allow for the measurement of national MSME interventions in countries.

    Beneficiaries: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, The Commonwealth of the Bahamas

    Partnerships and Financing: The programme is funded by the Permanent Mission of the United States to the OAS
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Initiatives: MIGRATION - Prevention of crimes related to irregular migration in Mesoamerica
    The project's objective is to contribute to the current efforts in the areas of crime prevention in the context of irregular migration, strengthening human and institutional capacities to prevent and combat these crimes and promoting public policies that protect irregular migrants' human rights, with particular attention to vulnerable groups and crime victims.

    Activities: The project has three main components: prevention, combat and protection.
    a) prevention, aiming to prevent crimes in the context of irregular migration raising awareness about the risks of migrating in irregular condition particularly developing media campaigns, education campaigns in schools, working with community leaders and journalists.

    b) combat, aiming to face all crimes in the context of irregular migration such as migrant smuggling, trafficking in persons, extortions, kidnappings, document falsifications, among others; particularly training national authorities on border and documentation control and implementing a system for the exchange of information and illegal traffic alerts

    c) protection, aiming to protect irregular migrant's human rights particularly of those vulnerable groups and victims of crime, through the design and implementation of special programs for protection of their rights.

    Website: http://community.oas.org/programadeprevencionmigracionirregular

    Beneficiaries: Countries: Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico, Panama
    Institutions: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministries of Interior, Ministries of Migration, Police, Justice Sector, Civil society.

    Partnerships and Financing: The program is executed with funds from the European Union. Our main implementing partners are the International Organization for Migration and the UN Refugee Agency.
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Iniciativa: SISTEMA CONTINUO DE REPORTES SOBRE MIGRACION INTERNACIONAL EN LAS AMERICAS
    Contribuir al diálogo y debates de políticas informados a nivel hemisférico para la promoción y desarrollo de políticas públicas que conduzcan a mejorar la gestión migratoria en la Américas.

    Los países participantes del proyecto cuentan con información periódica, sistematizada, oportuna y confiable sobre migración internacional en la región, en los períodos intercensales.

    El SICREMI está basado en la metodología empleada por el sistema de información SOPEMI (sigla del francés del denominado Sistema de Observación Permanente de Migración) de la Organización para la Cooperación Económica y el Desarrollo (OCDE), con la correspondiente adaptación a las realidades de los países participantes. La estrategia de recolección de datos, compilación y generación de información consiste en el establecimiento de una red de corresponsales a nivel nacional apoyados por aquellas instituciones clave en la producción de información migratoria (direcciones o institutos de migración, oficinas nacionales de estadísticas, oficinas de registro civil, etc.). Los informes nacionales son integrados por parte del equipo técnico de SICREMI para generar el Informe Anual SICREMI sobre Migración.

    Actividades:
    Actividad 1.1: Coordinación general, implementación, y monitoreo.

    1.1.1) Planificación y coordinación de acciones con los corresponsales e instituciones productoras de información migratoria en cada Estado Miembro participante.
    1.1.2) Negociación de acuerdos y convenios con los Estados Miembros para su incorporación al proyecto.
    1.1.3) Elaboración de informes de progreso a la Comisión de Asuntos Migratorios (CAM) del Consejo Interamericano para el Desarrollo Integral
    1.1.4) Elaboración de informes financieros
    1.1.5) Apoyo logístico y administrativo para la ejecución del Taller Técnico de Corresponsales..


    Actividad 1.2: Creación y/o fortalecimiento de redes institucionales en cada Estado Miembro para la producción de información de estadísticas, marcos legales y políticas públicas sobre migración internacional con el apoyo de las OTCs

    1.2.1 Apoyo técnico al corresponsal en la formación e implementación de la red institucional, a través de metodologías y mecanismos de coordinación entre las distintas unidades de producción de información que integran la red.
    1.2.2 Promoción del intercambio de experiencias entre los países participantes en la creación de las redes institucionales y en el manejo de la información.


    Actividad 1.3: Asesoría técnica a los corresponsales y sus redes institucionales

    Actividad 1.4: Elaboración de informes técnicos y documentos de base para el Tercer Taller Técnico de Corresponsales SICREMI

    Actividad 1.5: Planificación, análisis , discusión, elaboración y edición del Informe SICREMI..
    Actividad 1.6: Edición, traducción, impresión y difusión del Informe SICREMI.

    Actividad 1.7: Organizar el Tercer Taller Técnico de Corresponsales SICREMI para capacitación de corresponsales, definición de la estructura del siguiente informe SICREMI 2017, revisión de la información básica, discusión y análisis de temas específicos, evaluación de disponibilidad de información, entre otros, con el apoyo de las OTCs.

    Actividad 1.8: Diseminación de los resultados del informe a través de presentaciones en los foros sub-regionales de migración, en la Comisión de Asuntos Migratorios de la OEA, en foros académicos, entre otros.

    Actividad 1.9: Desarrollo, difusión y análisis de la encuesta sobre el uso de la información disponible por el SICREMI a funcionarios de las instituciones involucradas en la formulación de las políticas migratorias.

    Website: http://www.migracionoea.org/index.php/es/sicremi-es.html

    Beneficiaries: Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brasil, Canadá, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estados Unidos, Guatemala, Jamaica, México, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, República Dominicana, y Uruguay

    Socios y financiamiento: Financiamiento : Agencia Española de Cooperación
    Instituciones participantes:
    Argentina
    Dirección Nacional de Migraciones
    Barbados
    Immigration Department
    Belize
    Statistical Institute of Belize
    Bolivia (Estado Plurinacional de)
    Dirección General de Asuntos Consulares, Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
    Brasil
    Departamento de Estrangeiros, Secretaria Nacional de Justiça,Ministério de Justiça
    Canadá
    Research and Evaluation, Citizenship and Immigration Canada
    Chile
    Dirección General de Asuntos Consulares, Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
    Colombia
    Dirección de Asuntos Migratorios, Consulares y Servicio al Ciudadano, Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
    Costa Rica
    Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería
    Ecuador
    Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Movilidad Humana
    El Salvador
    Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería, Ministerio de Justicia y Seguridad Pública r
    Estados Unidos
    Departamento de Seguridad Nacional de Estados Unidos y el Departamento de Estado de los
    Estados Unidos
    Guatemala
    Dirección General de Asuntos Consulares y Migratorios, Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
    Jamaica
    Population and Health Unit, Social Policy, Planning and Research Division, Planning Institute of Jamaica
    México
    Unidad de Política Migratoria, Secretaría de Gobernación de México
    Paraguay
    Dirección de Atención a las Comunidades Paraguayas en el Extranjero, Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
    Panamá
    Servicio Nacional de Migración Panamá
    Perú
    Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática
    República Dominicana
    Dirección General de Migración
    Uruguay
    Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas
    • Date:  5/2/2014    Paragraphs: 12
    Continuous Reporting System on International Migration in the Americas - SICREMI
    More people than ever are living abroad. In 2013, 232 million people, or 3.2 per cent of the world’s population, were international migrants, compared with 175 million in 2000 and 154 million in 1990. In 2013, migrants born in Latin America and the Caribbean represented the second largest diaspora group with the majority, 26 million, living in North America.

    The growth of migration movements in the region has compelled national governments to take action to address some of the most urgent issues both in countries of origin, destination and/or transit. There have been efforts to conduct research into the phenomenon in order to help guide policies targeted at both the migrant population and sending and receiving communities. Research has been heavily constrained by a lack of periodic and current information to shed light on the main trends and characteristics of international migration in the region. Thus, the demand for education and health care services, commerce, housing, among other things, is based on estimations derived from the latest census-generated data, which at best is produced every ten years, not to mention the ever-changing nature of the phenomenon of migration. Also, international migration, and in this case, hemispheric migration, requires information at the regional level in order to provide input for policy dialogue and debate as well as for the formulation and execution of public policies on the subject.

    The Organization of American States (OAS)-spearheaded Continuous Reporting System on International Migration in the Americas (SICREMI) is a concrete response to these challenges in the area of information gathering and reporting. It aims to contribute to the monitoring of international migration movements in the region through rigorous and up-to-date information on migration flows. It also covers the principal policies and programs which the governments of the hemisphere direct towards an ever-growing migrant population, both in the countries of the Americas themselves and in the countries of destination of their emigrants.

    The partnership between the OAS and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) allows for an integral approach to the phenomenon in the Americas. The OECD contributes its experience in the development of its international migration information system for its Member Countries, the Permanent Observation System on Migration (SOPEMI), as well as the information on the emigrants of the Americas in OECD countries, where more than 80% of our migrants reside. The OAS, with its network of national correspondents, provides the information on emigrants from the Americas who settle in countries of the Americas, as well as updated information on the national legal framework and public policies governing international migration, providing a holistic perspective of migration issues in the hemisphere. Migration always entails receiving and sending countries, thus the partnership OAS-OECD allows the SICREMI to offer annually an overview both of those who migrate to the countries of the Americas, and of those who migrate to other continents.
    VII. Timeline of the SICREMI project

    Official project launch in March 2009, in conjunction with the OECD. During the first year, the tasks of technical project design and drawing up the working methodology were carried out jointly with the OECD and ECLAC -CELADE and also with the correspondents of the participating countries.

    There have been two technical workshops with the participation of the national correspondents and OECD and OAS experts, in preparation of the SICREMI 2011 and 2012 reports respectively. The first report International Migration in the Americas was released on July 11, 2011, and the second on January 17th, 2013. The second report represented a significant increase in the informational content over the 2011 Report, featuring information such as immigration by category type and nationality, acquisition of nationality, emigration from the Americas to OECD countries through destination countries taking into account all of the nationalities of origin in the Americas, principal continents of origin of immigrants and a special section on remittances written by the Inter-American Development Bank. This Second Report was financed by Spain’s fund for the OAS. Currently, the OAS technical team is preparing the Third SICREMI report on International Migration in the Americas with the participation of twenty countries so far.

    The SICREMI Report is positioned as a hemispheric benchmark in generating reliable and current information on flows, laws, and public policies in the area of migration, as well as increased institutional interaction at the national and international level (ECLAC, IADB, and the International Organization for Migration - IOM) in dealing with specific migration issues.

    Activities:
    The production of the third edition of the SICREMI report implies the following activities that are being implemented:
    1. Invite those OAS Member states that are not yet participating in the project to join this regional effort.
    2. Prepare and send the information request to national correspondents of participating countries
    3. Prepare technical documents, organize and implement the third national correspondents technical workshop
    4. Prepare the third edition of the report
    5. Edit, translate and publish the report
    6. Disseminate the report

    Beneficiaries:
    OAS Member States
    National institutions linked to migration management such as Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Departments of Immigration, National Statistics Institutes, among others.
    Migrant populations are indirect beneficiaries of the initiative.

    Partnerships:
    Organisation for Economic Development and Cooperation - OECD
    Inter-American Development Bank

    Both reports can be viewed at: http://www.migracionoea.org/sicremi/
    • Date:  7/31/2012    Paragraphs: 12
    Continuous Reporting System on International Migration in the Americas (SICREMI)

    SICREMI aims to contribute to the monitoring of international migration movements in the region through rigorous and up-to-date information on migration flows. It also covers the principal policies and programs which the governments of the hemisphere direct towards an ever-growing migrant population, both in the countries of the Americas themselves and in the countries of destination to their emigrants.

    The SICREMI report collects data from diverse sources (censuses, surveys, administrative records, etc.) in order to process and disseminate information regarding the magnitude, trends, and characteristics of international migration in the countries that participated in this first phase: Argentina, Belize, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico and Uruguay.
    http://www.migracionoea.org/

    Activities:
    The methodology of this report is based on the Permanent Observation System on Migration (or SOPEMI) of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, adjusting to the needs of the region in accordance with a participatory process involving the countries of the Americas through a network of national correspondents and the participation of national and international organizations working in the field of migration. The information compiled under the project is used to prepare the Report on International Migration in the Americas, which is the principal document produced with the data compiled.The publication will evolve over time, incorporating more and more countries in America. As of today, 9 more countries have accepted to participate in the SICREMI 2012; Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Dominican Republic. The report will include in future years, an annual review of developments in migration policies. Its continuation requires the active support of the governments of the region.

    Beneficiaies:
    Member States of the OAS
    National offices of migration
    National Institutes of statistics
    National institutes of population
    Ministers of labor
    Institutes for attention to migrants

    Partnerships: ECLAC and OECD

    Financing:
    Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores del Gobierno de España
    Agencia Española de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID)
    • Date:  6/23/2011    Paragraphs: 17
    The OAS Migration and Development Program, in response to mandate 17 of the Declaration of Port of Spain, constructed the Database on Legal Frameworks, Regulations, Policies, and Programs on Migration in the Americas (MILEX). One of the specific objectives of this database is to generate comparative matrices about the status of ratification, reserves, and deposits of international transfers applicable to the Inter-American System on human rights, with an emphasis on migrant human rights. In addition, the Program has implemented a virtual information tool and the Interactive Map of Temporary Employment Programs for Migrant Workers (MINPET) with the objective of offering the region an instrument for comparative learning that will promote safe, orderly and controlled migration processes.

    Further, OAS has developed a portfolio of projects and technical studies in which various areas of the Organization participate; more than 21 discussion and analysis forums, 7 special sessions, and 3 workshops at the center of the Special Committee on Migration Issues (SCMI) have been carried out in order to analyze priority topics such as child and youth migration, migrant women, human capital flight, consular protection, migration and natural disasters, extra-continental migration, and the return of migrants to their community of origin, among others.
    Related Resources
    OAS Website
  • OAS
  • Public and Private Cooperation
    Paragraphs Related to the Theme
    Reports
    • Date:  5/30/2013    Paragraphs: 8
    OFFICE OF COMPETITIVENESS

    The purpose of the OAS Competitiveness Program is to promote productivity and innovation in the member states through dialogue, cooperation, exchange of best practices, and adoption of initiatives whose purpose is to improve public policy and human and institutional capacity building. The multilateral public-private policy dialogue on competitiveness has continued its process of consolidation through the Inter-American Competitiveness Network (RIAC). The network brings together high-level competitiveness authorities and public/private councils of competitiveness and innovation of the Americas.

    The 2012 Annual RIAC meeting brought together the competitiveness authorities and councils of 31 countries on the occasion of the VI Americas Competitiveness Forum (Cali, Colombia, October 22-24, 2012). The ACF featured plenary sessions on innovative cities, culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, international trade, enabling business environment and infrastructure. There were also special workshops for Caribbean Member States, on sub-national competitiveness and one for the medical device industry.

    The RIAC presented the “Signs of Competitiveness Report”, a summary of profiles of best practices shared by member countries which included specific offers of supply and demand of cooperation. The Report was prepared by the Chair Pro Tempore, Colombia, with the support of the Technical Secretariat (OAS). It includes 53 successful experiences from 16 countries and two institutions (Compete Caribbean and CAF-Development Bank of Latin America) on the 10 competitiveness principles approved by RIAC members in the Consensus of Santo Domingo in 2011. It also features a section on the innovation regional landscape with contributions from RIAC support institutions (IDB, ECLAC, CABEI) and experts (key note speakers, Oxford Economics, GFCC, IIPI). These profiles have allowed cooperation initiatives and technical exchanges among member states.

    RIAC members also agreed to create a working group of experts on sub-national competitiveness. This initiative on regional competitiveness is working to identify the elements of regional competitiveness that will be useful as a point of reference when putting together and implementing agendas of specific public policies (at the state, provincial or municipal level) that nurture relative competitiveness and that can be replicated in the countries of the Americas that are interested in this issue.
    • Date:  5/30/2013    Paragraphs: 8
    OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR - CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY:

    Mandate
    In the Declaration of Port of Spain (2009), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is linked to reducing poverty, inequality and inequity “To reduce poverty and hunger, eradicate extreme poverty, create dignified and decent work, and raise the standard of living of all our people, we must achieve higher levels of business development and sustainable economic growth with equity. Subject to the domestic laws of each country, we will continue to promote diversified economic activity in the energy, transport, tourism, communications, services, financial services and agricultural sectors. We are committed to facilitating investment and public-private partnerships in infrastructure and other relevant sectors in order to promote business development, economic growth and social development with equity. We will continue to promote increased corporate social responsibility and improved competitiveness, to which the Americas Competitiveness Forum in Chile in 2009 will contribute.

    CSR Projects and Activities

    The OAS CSR Program focuses on three principal work areas:

    1. Integrating CSR into the business practices of SMEs in the Americas. SMEs are a key component of economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean and the OAS CSR workshops for SMEs offer theory, practical knowledge and tools for businesses to develop innovative CSR solutions and strategies;
    2. Raising awareness about CSR among parliamentarians in the region to support a policy framework that is conducive to implementing responsible business practices. This component focuses heavily on promoting public-private partnerships; and
    3. Creating a CSR community of practice, which is a platform designed to facilitate knowledge exchange, share CSR solutions, provide tools, and promote partnerships between the private and public sectors, academia and other key actors.

    The OAS CSR Program assists the region in incorporating CSR principles and guidelines into the business strategies of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and ensuring it is included in government agendas. Since 2003, the Program has trained approximately 800 SMEs in LAC on the importance of CSR as a strategic tool to enhance their productivity and competitiveness. Furthermore, and has trained policymakers in the region about the advantages of CSR.

    In 2013, the OAS CSR Program has developed and launched a new methodology for SMEs, which aims to provide SMEs with tools to implement responsible practices into their business strategies. The new methodology moves beyond CSR awareness and into CSR implementation. The first pilot workshop that utilized the new methodology was held in Quito, Ecuador in March 2013 and the Ecuadorian SMEs indicated that they were extremely pleased with the workshop methodology, content, and format and they appreciated the concrete ideas, solutions, and tools that were presented throughout. The OAS CSR Program will be holding similar workshops in Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama in 2013.
    • Date:  5/30/2013    Paragraphs: 8
    Capacity Strengthening
    Create Higher Education dialogue platforms to encourage institutional capacity strengthening and technical cooperation between member states through partnerships. The DHDEC in collaboration with Anton de Kom University of Suriname organized a Seminar "Strengthening Higher Education Institutions for International Cooperation and Integral Development" for high level authorities in higher education. The Seminar was attended by 17 high-level authorities of higher education in the region and representatives from Latin American and Caribbean networks such as UDUAL (Union de Universidades de America Latina y El Caribe), CKLN (Caribbean Knowledge Learning Network), UNICA (Network of Universities from the Capitals of Europe), GCUB (Grupo Coimbra de Universidad Brasileras) and UNESCO Open Educational Resources Network.

    To create higher Education dialogue platforms to encourage institutional capacity strengthening and technical cooperation between member states, the DHDEC and the CGBU (Coimbra Group on Brazilian Universities) organized a Symposium of International Cooperation between Brazilian, Latin American and Caribbean Higher Education Institutions. New programs on academic mobility, language courses and joint graduate degrees were discussed. The event was held November 28-30, 2012 under the umbrella of the V CGBU General Assembly. The Symposium was attended by 12 University Presidents from Latin America, 7 high level representatives from Higher Education Institutions in the Caribbean, and more than 30 Brazilian University Presidents.

    In connection with the XIII International Symposium Virtual Educa Panama (June 18-22), the DHDEC, Virtual Educa, UDUAL (Union de Universidades de America Latina y El Caribe) and the Universidad de Panama organized a Multilateral Forum on "Higher Education, Innovation and Internationalization". The Forum was attended by approximately 150 higher education representatives from OAS member and observer states. Some of the presenters were authorities from Latin American University Networks such as the Consejo Superior Universitario Centroamericano, AUALCPI (Asociación de Universidades de America Latina y El Caribe para la Integración) and UDUAL (Union de Universidades de America Latina y El Caribe).

    Develop new strategic partnerships for capacity strengthening of educational institutions in member states under the following criteria: a) consistent positive education results and learning outcomes, b) visible impact in the geographic area they serve, c) utilization of a social access and inclusion approach, d) proven models that can be brought to scale, e) development of core educational elements that are transferable in the region, f) low cost interventions, and g) willingness to offer technical cooperation to other countries. The DHDEC has been able to identify more than 30 educational institutions from the public, private and civil society sector willing to provide technical cooperation in education in the areas described in the needs assessment above. These institutions meet our operational criteria of success in innovative educational approaches and currently have or are seeking resources to implement these initiatives. Additionally, more than 20 education experts willing to offer in-kind services in regional technical cooperation have also been identified.
    Partnerships between Higher Education institutions that attended are being monitored.
  • Public Management Improvement
    Paragraphs Related to the Theme
    Reports
    • Date:  10/2/2012    Paragraphs: 63
    Initiative:
    Inter-American Network on Government Procurement

    Description:
    The INGP supports the institutions responsible for government procurement at the central government level, in their efforts to become more transparent and efficient by taking advantage of the opportunities offered by information and communication technologies.

    Activities:
    - Technical workshops
    - Research
    - Technical advise
    - Hemispheric coordination
    - Horizontal technical cooperation
    - Online training through the OAS Virtual Campus

    Beneficiaries:
    - Managers and government officials working at offices responsible for government procurement in Latin America and the Caribbean.

    Partnerships:
    - Inter-American Development Bank, IDB
    - International Development Research Center, IDRC
    • Date:  10/2/2012    Paragraphs: 69
    Initiative:
    RED GEALC, e-Government Network from Latin America and the Caribbean

    Description:
    RED GEALC groups all Directors of e-government from Latin American and Caribbean countries with the aim of accelerating their efforts to bring in information and communication technologies to the functioning of the public administration.

    Since 2009, RED GEALC has also a Ministerial level working space that will have its second meeting in 2012 in Costa Rica.

    Activities:
    - Onsite and online training
    - Horizontal cooperation
    - Knowledge generation
    - Annual awards
    - Ministerial meetings.

    Beneficiaries:
    - e-Government Managers from Latin America and the Caribbean

    Partnerships:
    - Inter-American Development Bank, IDB
    - International Development Research Center, IDRC
  • Security
    Ministerials
    Paragraphs Related to the Theme
    Reports
    • Date:  1/15/2018    Paragraphs: 3
    Initiative:
    Program for the prevention of crimes related to irregular migration in Mesoamerica
    Brief description of initiative: The OAS Department of Public Security, in coordination with IOM and UNHCR, is implementing this Program to promote and support strategies for the prevention of crimes related to irregular migration, especially in those areas with high propensity for migration; create and strengthen human and institutional capacities to combat the smuggling of migrants; and to promote the formulation and implementation of policies for the protection of the human rights of migrants, particularly groups in vulnerable contexts like women, children and adolescents, indigenous people, persons with disabilities, and LGBT persons.
    The program is designed with an integral approach focused around 3 strategic lines of action:
    1) supporting current efforts in the area of prevention of crimes related to irregular migration and to prevent the migration of children and adolescents by focusing on interventions in schools and local communities;
    2) combating the networks of organized crime, seeking their dismantling so that fewer people are victims of these crimes; and
    3) articulating national stakeholders to effectively assist migrant populations in need of special attention and specific protection.
    Activities: (List the different activities for implementation of this Initiative)
    ¥ Elaborate country specific diagnostic reports of the current legal framework in all eight participating countries, as well as the characteristics and challenges presented by irregular migration in those countries.
    ¥ Engage government officials, leaders, journalists and other stakeholders in local communities in round table discussions, to identify recurrent local obstacles for the reduction of irregular migration.
    ¥ Design and implement awareness campaigns in the media, educational campaigns in high schools and incorporate community stakeholders in preventing irregular migration at the local level.
    ¥ Organize train-the-trainers courses for national authorities in border control, the detection of fraudulent documents, identification of trafficking networks, and special needs of victims of crimes related to migration.
    ¥ National workshops for migration and customs officers, carried out by trainers taught by the program, on border security, detection of fraudulent documents, and human rights of victims of irregular migration;
    ¥ Design, validate and implement a system for the exchange information and alerts about evolving sub-regional trends in crimes related to irregular migration;
    ¥ Promote the application of more effective data collection and data entry techniques, through national capacity building workshops;
    ¥ Organize national seminars for judges, prosecutors, police officers and other officials involved in the prosecution of crimes related to irregular migration, about the best practices and techniques for the identification and prosecution of human trafficking networks;
    ¥ Organize and convene meetings of interinstitutional national forums to formulate and execute special programs designed to address the protection needs of irregular migrants, particularly groups in vulnerable scenarios.
    Coordinate national and multinational interinstitutional dialogue tables to strengthen synergies and coordination between governments in protecting the rights of victims of irregular migration.
    Website: http://community.oas.org/programadeprevencionmigracionirregular
    Beneficiaries: Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Panama.
    Partnerships and Financing: The program is executed with funds from the European Union (EU). Our main implementing partners are the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
    Organization of American States
    Department of Public Security
    Cristian Taboada / [email protected] / 202-370-5076
    • Date:  1/15/2018    Paragraphs: 7
    Initiative:
    “A New Path”: Promoting a Healthy Environment and Productive Alternatives for Juvenile Remandees and Offenders in Jamaica
    Brief description of initiative: The project is designed to improve the quality of, and access to, reintegration services (educational, vocational, and internship/employment opportunities), technical training (marketable technical skills, life/social skills), as well as individualized psychosocial/emotional services for juvenile detainees of the four juvenile facilities in Jamaica: South Camp, Metcalfe, Rio Cobre and Hill Top.
    The project is divided in two pillars:
    1) Track 1: is designed to impart capacity building and training workshops and curriculum for local partner NGOs, in order for them to be able to implement vocational, education, and rehabilitation programs in South Camp, Metcalfe, Hill Top and Rio Cobre. In addition, during this phase the GS/OAS and the Trust will provide the technical expertise for the construction, implementation and training of local service providers in a comprehensive new case management system that includes a follow-up post release component for youth South Camp, Metcalfe, Hill Top and Rio Cobre.
    Track 2: is a series of activities meant to provide immediate support to prior juvenile remandees and offenders upon their release, focusing on social reintegration and economic inclusion. GS/OAS will thus partner with local organizations, private sector, and government to ensure comprehensive follow-up for all youth released from South Camp, Metcalfe, Hill Top and Rio Cobre for at least six to twelve months. Each releasee will be assigned a case manager who will assist in arranging educational, vocational, or internship/job opportunities, as well as provide key psychosocial support and guidance while the releasee reintegrates into society.
    Activities: (List the different activities for implementation of this Initiative)
    ¥ Carry-out a Needs Assessment evaluation to determine the nature and magnitude of existing reintegration and training programs in the juvenile facilities
    ¥ Design and implement an electronic case management system for the Department of Correctional Services
    ¥ Train staff from the Department of Correctional Services, NGO representatives, and/or social workers in case management and case follow-up techniques for youth in juvenile detention facilities
    ¥ Elaborate a comprehensive reintegration curriculum for the reintegration of juveniles placed in the facilities
    ¥ Carry-out training of trainers for the staff of the Department of Correctional Service to enable the implementation of the reintegration curriculum
    ¥ Implement Reintegration, Education, and Vocational Training for detainees at the juvenile facilities
    ¥ Organize "pitch tank" simulation events where releasees can pitch product and service ideas to a panel of external judges and develop their business ideas and plans
    ¥ Support training, education, and internship opportunities for releasees
    ¥ Assign a case manager to each releasee in their local community shortly after his/her release
    Website: http://www.oas.org/dsp/english/links/Three_pager_A%20New_Path_revised.pdf
    Beneficiaries: Country: Jamaica
    Specific groups: (i) Juvenile remandees and charged offenders of Jamaica; (ii) staff of the Department of Correctional Services
    Partnerships and Financing: The program is executed with funds from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Our main implementing partner is the Trust for the Americas (TRUST).
    Organization of American States
    Department of Public Security
    Cristian Taboada / [email protected] / 202-370-5076
    • Date:  1/15/2018    Paragraphs: 1
    Initiative:
    Gestión de la Red Interamericana de Prevención de la Violencia y el Delito
    Brief description of initiative:
    La Red Interamericana de Prevención de la Violencia y el Delito fue establecida a través de la Resolución 2866/2014 junto con un fondo de contribución voluntaria. La Red es un espacio de intercambio de información, articulación intersectorial, apoyo técnico para el diseño e implementación de políticas públicas y de marco para implementación de intervenciones preventivas bajo en Programa Interamericano de Prevención de la Violencia y el Delito.  
    La Red cuenta con un Comité de Asesoría Técnica ad hoc, que es conformado en caso de necesidades específicas. Dos Grupos de Trabajo están vinculados actualmente a la Red de Interamericana de Prevención: el (1) Grupo de Trabajo para formular un plan de acción para la prevención y reducción de la violencia letal; y el (2) Grupo de trabajo para articular mecanismos y herramientas de cooperación sobre los servicios de emergencia de la región. El primer Grupo está siendo impulsado por Colombia y el segundo por Ecuador.
    El sitio de la Red consiste en una herramienta colaborativa. El sitio cuenta con noticias, biblioteca digital, una galería multimedia con entrevistas y fotos exclusivas, herramientas de encuestas, foro virtual y un blog. Hay también una parte dedicada a la Plataforma para Prevención y Reducción de Homicidios. Una plataforma sobre prevención y enfrentamiento a la trata de personas está prevista para 2018.
    Dos universidades ya se aliaron a la Red: la Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina) y la Universidad de George Washington (E.E.U.U). Un foro presencial ya fue realizado y una serie de otros están programados para 2018. Los foros pueden ser asistidos en vivo (directo) desde el sitio de la Red.
    Activities: (List the different activities for implementation of this Initiative)
    1. Lanzamiento del sitio de la Red Interamericana de Prevención de la Violencia y el Delito: http://www.oas.org/ext/es/seguridad/red-prevencion-crimen/;
    2. Realización sobre 3 foros presenciales, siendo dos sobre prevención y reducción de homicidios y uno sobre prevención a la trata de personas;
    3. Dos Grupos de Trabajo instalados: 1) sobre mecanismos y herramientas de cooperación sobre los servicios de emergencia de la región; 2) para formular un plan de acción en la prevención de la violencia letal;
    Consolidación de alianza de colaboración con la Universidad de George Washington.
    Website: (if applicable)
    http://www.oas.org/ext/es/seguridad/red-prevencion-crimen/
    Beneficiaries: (e.g. Country/Institutions/specific groups,etc.)
    Entidades gubernamentales, no gubernametales,. sociedad civil, sectores académico y privado.
    Partnerships and Financing: (e.g. International Organizations/ Institutions/Groups/Governments,etc.)
    Fondo de contribución voluntaria. Aportación voluntaria de USD 50 mil realizada por Guatemala
    Organizacion de los Estados Americanos
    artmento de Seguridad Pública
    Paulina Duarte – [email protected] – 202 370 9691
    Anna Uchoa – [email protected] – 202 370 4653
    • Date:  1/5/2018    Paragraphs: 4
    The Hemispheric Plan of Action on Drugs 2016-2020, approved at the sixtieth CICAD regular session in Nassau, November 2016, is a guide for continuing the implementation of the Hemispheric Drug Strategy (2010) and the commitments undertaken by member states in the Declaration of Antigua, Guatemala, “For a Comprehensive Policy against the World Drug Problem in the Americas” (2013); in the Resolution of Guatemala, “Reflections and Guidelines to Formulate and Follow up on Comprehensive Policies to Address the World Drug Problem in the Americas” (2014); and in the outcome document of the Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly on the world drug problem (UNGASS), entitled, “Our Joint Commitment to Effectively Addressing and Countering the World Drug Problem” (2016), in addition to relevant OAS resolutions. Additionally, the Plan of Action acknowledges the UN’s 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development and notes that efforts to achieving its Sustainable Development Goals and to effectively address the world drug problem are complementary and mutually reinforcing. The current Plan of Action replaced the first Plan of Action, which covered 2010-1015.
    Through the Plan of Action, member states reiterate their commitment to continue furthering progress in the Hemisphere; addressing the world drug problem; placing individuals at the core of drug policies; taking into account gender, age and cultural issues; as well as, when appropriate, taking into account inputs from civil society. Furthermore, the Plan of Action addresses new challenges faced by countries, within the framework of the three United Nations international drug control conventions and other relevant international instruments, in full respect of the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, international law, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Plan sets five strategic areas and identifies objectives and priority actions to be developed by 2020 in each of the OAS member states. The Plan of Action also includes a cross-cutting perspective on human rights, gender, development, and social inclusion, taking into account relevant criteria of culture and age group. The Plan requires close and horizontal coordination between the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) and the various relevant bodies within the OAS with expertise in related issues, particularly in the areas of corruption, money laundering, transnational organized crime, and public security, with a view to building a coordinated and consultative framework in areas of common interest, seeking to contribute positively to the efforts of member states to address the challenges and complexities of the world drug problem in our hemisphere.
    The Plan of Action is a reference guide for designing national drug policies, programs and projects, making it possible to align and generate synergies between the national agendas and the hemispheric agenda being developed through CICAD. The CICAD Executive Secretariat is now composed of two sections: the Drug Control Capacity Building and Technical Assistance Section, and the Evidence-Based Drug Policy Section: Information, Design, Implementation, Monitoring, Evaluation and Data Collection and Analysis. The former includes the Institutional Strengthening (IS), Supply Reduction (SR), and Demand Reduction (DR) units, through which the CICAD Executive Secretariat assists member states in strengthening their institutional, technical and human capabilities for the implementation of comprehensive drug control programs. The IS Unit’s programming includes assisting member states in formulating and bolstering their national drug policies and strategies; monitoring, tracking and assessing legislative and regulatory changes; and drug–related judicial sector reforms, including alternatives to incarceration, diversion programs, judicially supervised drug treatment programs, sentencing reform, and problem solving courts. The activities managed by the SR Unit include training counterdrug law enforcement; fostering improved customs and border control of drugs and other contraband; fostering improved control of chemicals, pharmaceutical drugs and synthetic drugs (including new psychoactive drugs, or NPS); controlling maritime narcotrafficking; and developing and analyzing counterdrug intelligence. The DR unit supports countries in strengthening human and institutional capacity in drug prevention, treatment and rehabilitation by taking a public health approach to these interventions. DR programming includes the development of hemispheric standards for drug abuse prevention and treatment, and providing training and member state-en¬dorsed certification to frontline health care workers, prevention profes¬sionals, and treatment service providers.
    The Evidence-Based Drug Policy Section: Information, Design, Implementation, Monitoring, Evaluation and Data Collection and Analysis includes the Inter-American Observatory on Drugs (OID) and the Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism (MEM) units. The OID gathers, analyzes, disseminates and promotes scientific research on drugs so as to provide evidence for the design and introduction of public policies. Additionally, the OID provides assistance to member states in establishing, developing and strengthening national drug observatories and information systems, and promotes technical training for professionals that work with data and statistics. The MEM’s seventh round instruments (including the questionnaire of indicators, manual for evaluators, and procedural manual), were approved at the sixty-second regular session of CICAD in December 2017, paving the way for the new round to commence in 2018. The MEM’s seventh round entails a more robust and comprehensive assessment of member states’ drug efforts, detailing key evolving progress and challenges faced throughout the past six rounds, and where those actions currently stand. The evaluation will cover the cross-cutting issues of human rights, gender, age, culture and social inclusion in accordance with the operational recommendations contained in the UNGASS 2016 Outcome Document and the objectives of the United Nations 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. The MEM, which was mandated by the 1998 Summit of the Americas in Santiago, Chile, will publish national evaluation reports in 2019, together with a hemispheric evaluation report which will provide a broader analysis of trends in the region in 2020.
    CICAD continues to promote dialogue among member states, and provide the forum at its biannual regular sessions for an open discussion of drug-related issues and targeted improvement of the hemispheric capacity to address the drug problem. Since UNGASS 2016, member states have debated and assessed the achievements and shortcomings of the UNGASS process at the CICAD regular sessions. This has set the basis for an interactive discussion on the implementation of the UNGASS 2016 Outcome Document and in the run-up to the 2019 revision of the 2009 UN Political Declaration and Plan of Action on International Cooperation towards an Integrated and Balanced Strategy to Counter the World Drug Problem. OAS member states have been called upon to promote the regional implementation of the UNGASS recommendations through national events. In this regard, CICAD has been collaborating with countries in national dialogues, for example Mexico’s series of national dialogues, and Trinidad and Tobago’s UNGASS 2016 workshop for national level consideration of the UNGASS operational recommendations.
    Additionally, CICAD continues to identify areas for future continuation of the debate and dialogue established at UNGASS. In this regard, CICAD’s expert advisory groups provide the Commission with continued reporting and analysis on the following specific issues: demand reduction, maritime narcotrafficking, pharmaceutical products and chemical substances, comprehensive and sustainable alternative development, and money laundering control.
    • Date:  12/20/2017    Paragraphs: -
    Initiative: Creating a Career Path in Digital Security

    Brief description of initiative:
    The overarching goal of the Project is to target economically disadvantaged youths and young adults (ages 18-25) and provide them technical training in information / digital security and job readiness. Youth at risk often find it challenging to complete traditional schooling. However, the advent of the Internet has opened up doors and opportunities for trained and talented individuals to have a fulfilling career in digital security.

    In the medium-term, it is expected that the Project will prepare youth from low-income families to pursue a career path in the digital sector, by providing them the nascent knowledge and skills needed. Additionally, the communities targeted through the workshops will learn to apply good online practices, therefore contributing to their successful inclusion in the digital economy and society.

    In the long-term, this Project is expected to increase the incomes of participating youths and young adults and advance their socio-economic posture. Targeted countries will also benefit from this new pool of skilled workers in information / digital security, which will contribute to improve their level of cybersecurity capabilities. It is also expected that the communities will be digitally engaged, strengthening their local economy. Finally, the education on information / digital security will also contribute to the active and secure participation of low-income communities in the digital society, reducing the digital divide.

    Activities:
    1. Youth from low-income communities trained in information/ digital security and Job readiness
    a. 1 week trainings in Colombia, Dominican Republic, Peru and Costa Rica, 40 students/country
    b. Brightest students (40) will be divided in two groups. The first group will have access to an Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program in Spain, a one week training to empower technical people with entrepreneurial and managerial skills to fund their own cybersecurity company which will be specifically designed for them with the help of the Spanish National Institute of Cybersecurity (INCIBE). They will also participate in the Cybersecurity Summer BootCamp that will take place in Spain in July, 2018. The Summer BootCamp is a two week-long training event co-organized by the OAS Cybersecurity Program and the Spanish Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE). This event seeks to educate and train specialists on the technical aspects of incident management in cybersecurity, as well as the latest techniques for combating cybercrime. The targeted audience includes specialists from security bodies such as state security forces and law enforcement authorities, as well as policy makers and technicians from public CERTs. The second group of talented individuals will be placed in internship opportunities in the private and public sector of their countries.
    2. Increased awareness in cybersecurity for SMEs with a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) - FREE
    a. Online Course – 3000 participants (in Spanish) – 7 weeks

    Beneficiaries: (e.g. Country/Institutions/specific groups,etc.)
    The following countries: Colombia, Dominican Republic, Peru and Costa Rica.
    160 economically disadvantaged youths and young adults (ages 18-25) 40 per country

    Partnerships and Financing: (e.g. International Organizations/ Institutions/Groups/Governments,etc.)
    Partners:
    • Trust of the Americas
    • Instituto Nacional de Ciberseguridad de España (INCIBE)
    • Governments of host countries
    • Universities at host countries
    Financing:
    • Citi Foundation

    Cybersecurity Program at the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism, Secretariat for Multidimensional Security.

    Gonzalo Garcia-Belenguer, [email protected] 202 370 9885
    • Date:  12/14/2017    Paragraphs: 4
    Brief description of initiative:
    The Group of Experts for the Control of Money Laundering is the hemispheric forum for discussion, analysis and formulation of conclusions in the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

    Activities: (List the different activities for implementation of this Initiative)
    - From September 25 to 26, 2017, the XLIV Meeting of the Group of Experts for the Control of Money Laundering was held in Asunción, Paraguay, in which the following recommendations were approved:
    To approve the Report on the “Study on best practices for the coordination between administrative and judicial authorities with the specialized agencies for the administration of seized and forfeited assets”;
    To approve the Report on the “Study on the needs of training on the topic of administration of seized and forfeited assets of the OAS Member States””;
    To approve the Report on the “Diagnostic study on expert reports utilized by countries in cases of money laundering” ;
    To approve the “Study on new typologies of money laundering, especially in the use of virtual currency”;
    To accept To approve the proposal of the Strategic Plan of the GELAVEX for 2018-2020;
    To approve the Work Plan 2017-2018;
    To approve the candidacies of Bolivia and Colombia to the Presidency and Vicepresidency, respectively, for the period 2018-2019.

    Website: (if applicable) http://www.cicad.oas.org/main/aboutcicad/activities_eng.asp?IE=PYO015

    Beneficiaries: (e.g. Country/Institutions/specific groups,etc.)
    34 OAS Member States

    Partnerships and Financing: (e.g. International Organizations/ Institutions/Groups/Governments,etc.)
    Financing: GS / OAS; USA (INL); and Paraguay (current Chair of the GELAVEX).

    Organization:
    15512

    Contact name / email / phone number:
    SMS/DDOT
    NELSON MENA
    202-370-5431
    • Date:  12/14/2017    Paragraphs: 4
    Initiative: Training Program on Money Laundering for Judges and Prosecutors

    Brief description of initiative:
    The program aims to train judges and prosecutors on money laundering issues, such as: (i) typologies; (ii) international legal principles and frameworks; (iii) national money laundering legislation; (iv) procedural and criminal aspects related to money laundering proceedings; and (v) international legal cooperation. Under the program, activities such as seminars and workshops for judges and prosecutors, trials and mock investigations on money laundering and organized crime cases were developed.

    Activities: (List the different activities for implementation of this Initiative)
    REGIONAL ACTIVITIES:

    -Regional Anti-Money Laundering Workshop for Judges and Prosecutors: From the May 22 to 24, 2017, in Bridgetown, Barbados, this regional workshop was carried out, co-organized by the DTOC/OAS and the Regional Security System of the Caribbean (RSS) and with the financial support of Canada; 28 prosecutors and judges from Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago participated with the purpose of receiving training in prosecution and trialing of money laundering offences.

    Beneficiaries: (e.g. Country/Institutions/specific groups,etc.)
    Barbados, Belice, Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kits and Nevis, Santa Lucía, San Vicente y Las Granadinas y Trinidad y Tobago.

    Partnerships and Financing: (e.g. International Organizations/ Institutions/Groups/Governments,etc.)
    Financing: GS / OAS; USA (INL); and Paraguay (current Chair of the GELAVEX).

    Organization:
    15512
    Contact name / email / phone number:
    SMS/DDOT
    NELSON MENA
    • Date:  12/14/2017    Paragraphs: 4
    Initiative: Training Program on Money Laundering for Law Enforcement Agencies

    Brief description of initiative:
    This program provides guidance and training in the application of special investigative techniques (establishing the commission of the crime, identifying its perpetrators and participants and related assets), as well as strategies for the asset investigation that facilitates their seizure and forfeiture and other related evidences in the commission of these crimes. Thus, the investigators will be able to strengthen their operations and build an effective response in the fight against money laundering.

    Activities: (List the different activities for implementation of this Initiative)
    REGIONAL ACTIVITIES:

    a) Regional Workshop on Special Investigative Techniques applied in money laundering cases: From May 16 to 18, 2017, in Kingston, Jamaica, this workshop, co-organized by the DTOC/OAS and the Regional Security System of the Caribbean (RSS), and with the financial support of Canada was carried out; 32 prosecutors and investigators from Belize, Dominica, Granada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago participated with the objective of being trained in the use of special investigative techniques.
    NATIONAL ACTIVITIES:
    b) National Workshop on Forensic Auditing and Creative Accounting Applied to the Investigation of Money Laundering Cases: From June 19 to 21, 2017, in Lima, Peru, this national workshop was implemented, co-organized by the DTOC/OAS and the “Superintendencia de Banca, Seguros y AFP” of Peru (Superintendence of Banking, Insurances and AFP), with the financial support of the United States; 32 employees of the Office of Public Prosecutors, “Dirección de Investigación de Lavado de Activos de la Policía Nacional” of Peru (Directorate of Investigation of Money Laundering of the National Police of Peru) and Analysts of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) participated with the objective of strengthening their abilities in the development of financial investigations through theoretical and practical training in forensic auditing and other techniques of accounting investigations.
    c) Technical Assistance Project to Peru: meeting of the Multisectoral Executive Committee against Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (Comisión Ejecutiva Multisectorial contra el Lavado de Activos y el Financiamiento del Terrorismo - CONTRALAFT). From August 21 to 24, 2017, in Lima, Peru, DTOC specialists met with members of COTRALAFT to assist Peru's relevant authorities in preparing for the GAFILAT ML/FT Mutual Evaluation.

    Beneficiaries: (e.g. Country/Institutions/specific groups,etc.)
    Belice, Dominica, Granada, Guyana, Jamaica, Santa Lucía, San Vicente y Las Granadinas, Surinam y Trinidad y Tobado, y Perú.

    Partnerships and Financing: (e.g. International Organizations/ Institutions/Groups/Governments,etc.)
    Financing: EEUU (INL); Canada.
    Strategic partners: Regional Security System of the Caribbean (RSS); Comisión Ejecutiva Multisectorial contra el Lavado de Activos y el Financiamiento del Terrorismo (CONTRALAFT) of Peru; CFATF and GAFILAT.

    Organization:
    15512
    Contact name / email / phone number:
    SMS/DDOT
    NELSON MENA
    202-370-5431
    [email protected]
    • Date:  12/14/2017    Paragraphs: 4
    Initiative: Training Program for Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs)

    Brief description of initiative:
    This program seeks to establish and/ or strengthen the Financial Intelligence Units by providing them with legal, administrative, IT and human resources tools for the control of money laundering. Thus, it seeks to improve the analysis capacity of the FIUs through training in the management of intelligence analysis tools and the implementation of IT tools for the collection, storage, analysis and delivery of information. Within the framework of this program several activities were held, such as workshops on analysis, links and relationships; Specialized courses in forensic accounting and analysis of financial intelligence information; and workshops to foster dialogue between the public and private sector on AML /CFT matters.

    Activities: (List the different activities for implementation of this Initiative)
    NATIONAL ACTIVITIES:

    - From April 17 to 21, 2017, and from October 16 to 20, 2017, in Montevideo, Uruguay, the DTOC continued supporting the Technical Assistance Mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to improve the capacities of the Financial Intelligence Unit of Uruguay in the areas of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism.

    Beneficiaries: (e.g. Country/Institutions/specific groups,etc.)
    Uruguay

    Partnerships and Financing: (e.g. International Organizations/ Institutions/Groups/Governments,etc.)
    This activity was funded by the International Monetary Fund, and coordinated in conjunction with the DDOT.

    Organization:
    15512
    Contact name / email / phone number:
    SMS/DDOT
    NELSON MENA
    202-370-5431
    [email protected]
    • Date:  12/14/2017    Paragraphs: 4
    Initiative: Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Program

    Brief description of initiative:
    Forfeiture Program and Asset Recovery provides technical assistance to States interested in developing and improving systems for identification, location, retrieval and management of seized and forfeited assets. The working plan allows for the implementations of actions against criminal offenses related to organized crime and it helps Member States to improve their legislation, administrative and management practices related to the assets, instruments or effects of crime.

    Activities: (List the different activities for implementation of this Initiative)
    a) Regional Meeting of Professionals in Asset Recovery of the Caribbean (ARIN-Carib): The first phase of this initiative was initiated with the objective of establishing an Asset Recovery Network in the Caribbean Region based on the experience of the six other networks around the world , through this expert meeting held on 15th and 16th of November 2016 in Bridgetown, Barbados. This meeting was attended by experts in Asset Recovery (judicial and law enforcement authorities) from 32 jurisdictions in the Caribbean along with experts from different ARINs around the world. The meeting was co-organized by the Department against Transnational Organized Crime (DTOC/OAS) and the Regional Security System of the Caribbean (RSS), and had the participation of several International Organizations such as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Financial Action Task Force of the Caribbean (CFATF), the Financial Action Task Force of Latin America (GAFILAT), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). In the end, participants agreed to create an Asset Recovery Interagency Network for the Caribbean (ARIN-CARIB) and the discussions generated suggestions concerning membership, structure, and function that would later be included in a “Statement of Intent.”
    b) Steering Group Meeting for the establishment of an Asset Recovery Interagency Network in the Caribbean: Continuing with the process of establishing the ARIN-Carib, on February 7th and 8th, 2017, in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, the Steering Group, created in the experts meeting held in Bridgetown, Barbados, met with the purpose of writing a document that presents the conditions of membership and functioning of the network: this document would constitute the draft Statement of Intent.
    c) First Meeting of National Points of Contact of ARIN-Carib: From June 28 to 29, 2017, the inaugural ceremony of ARIN-CARIB was celebrated in Miami, United States of America, co-organized by the DTOC/OAS and the Regional Security System of the Caribbean (RSS). With the adoption of the Statement of Intent, ARIN-Carib was created, composed of 32 jurisdictions of the Caribbean region, and open so that any country or intergovernmental body with similar functions or objectives can be elected to be a part of the Membership.
    d) "Regional Workshop on Investigation of Financial Flows and Illicit Economies": from November 20 to December 1, 2017 in Rome, Italy, co-organized by the DDOT / OAS and the Scuola di Polizia Tributaria and the Guardia di Finanza of Italy, with financing from the government of Italy; in which 35 officers of judicial investigation police and prosecutors with competence in the investigation and prosecution of organized crime cases participated: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama , Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic and Uruguay.

    Website: (if applicable)
    https://www.cfatf-gafic.org/index.php/home/cfatf-overview/cfatf-news/490-targeting-illegally-obtained-criminal-wealth-in-the-caribbean-launch-of-the-asset-recovery-inter-agency-network-arin-carib

    Beneficiaries: (e.g. Country/Institutions/specific groups,etc.)
    COUNTRIES:
    Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe (FR), Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique (FR), Montserrat, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Martin (FR), St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands.

    Partnerships and Financing: (e.g. International Organizations/ Institutions/Groups/Governments,etc.)
    Funding: USA (INL)
    Strategic partners: Regional Security System of the Caribbean (RSS), and had the participation of several International Organizations such as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Financial Action Task Force of the Caribbean (CFATF), the Financial Action Task Force of Latin America (GAFILAT), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

    Department:
    DDOT
    Organization:
    15512
    Contact name / email / phone number:
    SMS/DDOT
    NELSON MENA
    202-370-5431
    [email protected]
    • Date:  3/15/2017    Paragraphs: -
    Connecting Ports in the Caribbean for Enhanced Maritime Security and Operations

    With the introduction of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), most countries established separate security agencies to perform port security functions. Unfortunately, this has meant that these agencies are not directly involved in their countries’ mainstream security apparatuses. Further, the agencies responsible for port security in the region do not communicate efficiently with one another.
    Lack of efficient communication among the Caribbean’s ports compounds their mutual security risks. This heightened risk requires ports and Port Security Officers (PSOs) to have better mechanisms of information exchange. The establishment of a secure communication platform will improve regional port security connectivity and communication. This project is intended to improve connectivity in order to provide ports and PSOs of the OAS Members States in the Caribbean Basin (both English- and Spanish-speaking) with an efficient, secure, real-time, online communication platform to improve communication, cooperation, and operations.
    This project proposes the creation of an online communication mechanism to increase coordination among PSOs in the Caribbean region. Specifically, the efficient, secure, real-time, online communication platform among PSOs will promote more cooperation on issues of port and maritime security and safety. The platform will provide PSOs with a mechanism with direct and secure lines of communication for assistance, particularly during real-time incidents that require the exchange of information among Member States.
    This platform will be set within the context of the XI-2 Chapter of the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea, as well as the ISPS Code, particularly as it refers to PSO functions and PSO interactions with counterparts in other ports across the region.

    Activities:
    Identify specific security and information technology capabilities, as well as an initial capability-based gap analysis that will be facilitated through surveys and questionnaires
    Design a platform architecture
    Design and specify IT equipment to sustain the platform
    Design, produce, and distribute promotional material
    Train officials to use the platform
    Establish a mechanism for ensuring platform sustainability
    Establish a monitoring and evaluation mechanism to determine the effectiveness of the program and identify lessons learned for ongoing improvements.
    Beneficiaries: National Port Authorities, Ministries of Transport, Ministries of Defense, National Coast Guards, Police Enforcement authorities of the Member States from the Caribbean region. (Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Venezuela)
    Partnerships and financing: Hudson Analytix, CICTE. (Development stage - Financing to be determined)
    • Date:  2/13/2017    Paragraphs: -
    Consultative Committee of the Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and Other Related Materials (CIFTA)

    The Consultative Committee of the CIFTA is a forum for states party and signatory states to meet annually to promote of the implementation of the Convention through cooperation and the exchange of information and best practices.

    The 17th Regular Session of the Consultative Committee of the CIFTA was held in Washington DC on the May 2, 2016. There, member states and the Technical Secretariat reported on activities carried out to implement the CIFTA Course of Action and in compliance with the Convention. Member States also discussed arrangements for the upcoming Fourth Conference of States Parties to the CIFTA.

    Specific Outcomes:
    - Development and approval of the document entitled "OAS Firearms Standards: Marking and Recordkeeping" which is a reference guide to assist states parties with the implementation of Articles 6 and 11 of the CIFTA as well as the CIFTA Model Legislation on Firearms Marking and Tracing.

    - Presentation of Manuals of procedures for protecting firearms stockpiles and standard operating procedures for destruction under safe conditions of excess quantities of arms, ammunition, and explosives included in the CIFTA.

    Beneficiaries:
    31 States Party and 3 Signatory States to the CIFTA.

    This initiative was financed by the OAS Regular Fund.
    • Date:  2/13/2017    Paragraphs: -
    Information available in Spanish
    • Date:  2/13/2017    Paragraphs: -
    Information available in Spanish
    • Date:  2/13/2017    Paragraphs: -
    Information available in Spanish
    • Date:  2/13/2017    Paragraphs: -
    Information available in Spanish
    • Date:  2/13/2017    Paragraphs: -
    Information available in Spanish
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Initiative: Inter-American Network for the Prevention of Violence and Crime
    The Inter-American Network for the Prevention of Violence and Crime was designed as a permanent mechanism of dialogue and consultation to facilitate the exchange of experiences, information, best practices, and data among key stakeholders, during the process of designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating public policies on violence and crime prevention.

    Activities:
    To facilitate and foster the permanent dialogue among stakeholders, the Inter-American Network for the Prevention of Violence and Crime contemplates two different and complimentary forums: virtual and in-person. There are part of the Prevention Network activities:

    - Develop a virtual platform to foster active community participation into the Network (virtual forums, chats, specialized digital library on violence and crime prevention, best practices catalogue on crime and violence prevention)
    - Develop mechanisms to compile systematic information and data to support the implementation of public policies, programs and activities related to crime and violence prevention in the Hemisphere;
    - Strengthen information flow on crime and violence prevention practices among stakeholders by information exchange through the virtual platform and a prevention of violence and crime stakeholders directory)
    - Gather prevention specialists and other stakeholders into prevention of violence and crime geared events to facilitate networking and knowledge exchange (meetings, conferences, seminars, etc)

    Beneficiaries:
    - Member States
    - Civil Society, Private Sector, Academia
    - Organization of American States

    Partnership and financing: To be financed through the specific voluntary contribution Fund created to support activities to prevent violence and crime, including the Inter-American Network for the Prevention of Violence and Crime.
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Initiative: The Training and Certification Program for Drug and Violence Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation (PROCCER)

    PROCCER is a model that provides for inter-agency, inter-institutional, and interdisciplinary organization at the national and regional levels, such that it can offer training and certification in the therapeutic intervention fields of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation for drug dependence and drug-associated violence as well as in aspects of program organization and operation.
    The components of the PROCCER Model may be adapted and tailored to meet the needs of the specific member state or region in accordance with needs and capacity. The objective of PROCCER model implementation is to develop and strengthen the national and regional institutional and service provider capacities in intervention strategies. The increased capacity is intended to enhance the quality and efficacy of drug use and violence prevention programs, as well as programs for treating and rehabilitating drug dependency or violent criminal behaviors.

    Actividades:
    PROCCER is presently working in coordination with 23 national drug commissions of member states, 14 universities, and over 3,804 NGOS and members of civil society; and trained more than 2,300 prevention and treatment service providers from governmental and non-governmental agencies.

    - PROCCER: Training of treatment service providers in Mexico, Central America- 6, Paraguay, Dominican Republic, the Latin American Federation of Therapeutic Communities (FLACT)-19, including Brazil through the Brazilian Federation of Therapeutic Communities (FEBRACT)
    - PROCCER: Training of prevention practitioners and treatment service providers in the Caribbean- 13
    - PROCCER: National-level certification of treatment service providers in Mexico, El Salvador, and Costa Rica
    - PROCCER: Regional-level certification of prevention specialists and treatment service providers in the Caribbean
    - Training in the Specialized Adolescent Treatment Training for treatment service providers working with high-risk adolescents in the Caribbean region and on a global level
    -Training in the Universal Prevention Curriculum and Universal Treatment Curriculum on a hemispheric level

    Webiste: http://www.cicad.oas.org/Main/Template.asp?File=/reduccion_demanda/proccer/proccer_eng.asp

    Beneficiaries: 23 Member States: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Dominican Republic, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago
    Of the 23 Member States: the national drug commissions and ministries of health, GO, NGO, and civil society that offer prevention and treatment services, and citizens of member states who suffer from the disease of addiction and violence associated with drugs

    Partnership and financing: US Department of State: Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL)

    Government of Canada: Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program (ACCBP)
    In-kind contributions from OAS Member States implementing PROCCER
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Initiative: The Training and Certification Program for Drug and Violence Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation (PROCCER)- Specialized Adolescent Treatment Training
    PROCCER is a model that provides for inter-agency, inter-institutional, and interdisciplinary organization at the national and regional levels, such that it can offer training and certification in the therapeutic intervention fields of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation for drug dependence and drug-associated violence as well as in aspects of program organization and operation.
    The components of the PROCCER Model may be adapted and tailored to meet the needs of the specific member state or region in accordance with needs and capacity. The objective of PROCCER model implementation is to develop and strengthen the national and regional institutional and service provider capacities in intervention strategies. The increased capacity is intended to enhance the quality and efficacy of drug use and violence prevention programs, as well as programs for treating and rehabilitating drug dependency or violent criminal behaviors.

    PROCCER Adolescents specifically seeks to provide treatment service providers working with high-risk adolescents with the necessary competencies, skills, and attitudes to provide the specialized treatment required by such a vulnerable population.

    PROCCER- Adolescents has been implemented in the Caribbean region-- piloted in Jamaica and training is presently being offered in Trinidad and Tobago. This training curriculum has also been offered on a global level in Bangkok, Thailand to 24 participants of 19 countries who are members of the International Society of Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Professionals.

    - Training in the Specialized Adolescent Treatment Training for treatment service providers working with high-risk adolescents in the Caribbean region and on a global level

    PROCCER- Adolescents has been implemented in the Caribbean region-- piloted in Jamaica and training is presently being offered in Trinidad and Tobago. This training curriculum has also been offered on a global level in Bangkok, Thailand to 24 participants of 19 countries who are members of the International Society of Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Professionals.

    - Training in the Specialized Adolescent Treatment Training for treatment service providers working with high-risk adolescents in the Caribbean region and on a global level

    - Development and implementation of the PROCCER-Adolescents Regional Certification Mechanism

    Website: http://www.cicad.oas.org/Main/Template.asp?File=/reduccion_demanda/proccer/proccer_eng.asp

    Beneficiaries: 13 Caribbean OAS Member States: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize,Dominica,Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago
    Of the 13 Member States: the national drug commissions and ministries of health, GO, NGO, and civil society that offer treatment services for high-risk adolescents; and adolescents of member states who suffer from the disease of addiction and violence associated with drugs

    Partnership and financing: US Department of State: Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL), Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI)

    Government of Canada: Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program (ACCBP)

    In-kind contributions from OAS Member States implementing PROCCER
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Information available in spanish
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Initiative: “A New Path”: Promoting a Healthy Environment and Productive Alternatives for Juvenile Remandees and Offenders in Jamaica

    “A New Path: Promoting a Healthy Environment and Productive Alternatives for Juvenile Remandees and Offenders in Jamaica” is a project implemented by the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (GS/OAS), through its Department of Public Security (DPS), with the support of the United States Agency for International Development. The project is designed to improve the quality of, and access to, reintegration services (educational, vocational, and internship/employment opportunities), technical training (marketable technical skills, life/social skills), as well as individualized psychosocial/emotional services for juvenile remandees of both South Camp and Metcalfe correctional facilities in Jamaica. With the transfer of young men from regular/high security prisons to the Metcalfe remand center in 2011, and the transfer of young female remandees to the South Camp remand center and correctional facility for girls, in 2013, in Jamaica, there was an unprecedented opportunity to work with this vulnerable population, as well as with the staff working in these facilities, in order to avoid/reduce recidivism. Through this project, the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (GS/OAS) seeks to contribute to reduce recidivism and, ultimately, crime and violence in Jamaica.

    To achieve the goals of the project, GS/OAS will:
    (1) prepare young women at the South Camp remand center and correctional facility with marketable technical skills, life skills, and individualized psychosocial attention to enable their successful reintegration into society;
    (2) assist releasees from South Camp and Metcalfe in accessing educational, vocational, and internship/employment opportunities after their release. This last component of the project entails the creation of an enhanced case management system –to be implemented in both centers- that will provide DPS/SMS/TRUST and the local staff of the two facilities, access to specific nuanced information on the individual level to ensure a more structured and successful integration of former juvenile remandees and offenders into society. This part of the project will engage –aside from the aforementioned staff serving in the correctional facilities- parole officers, social workers, and local civil society organizations serving young people in providing individual follow-up for each juvenile remandee and offender from South Camp and Metcalfe for six to twelve months following his/her release.

    Although the program has a nationwide impact, it will place emphasis both in Kingston, where South Camp and Metcalfe are located, as well as on regions to which the majority of juvenile remandees and charged offenders return after being released. The project was officially launched in November 2014 and is estimated to run until January 2017.

    Activities: • Carry-out a Needs Assesment evaluation to determine the nature and magnitude of existing reintegration and training programs for the girls housed at South Camp and the boys housed at Metcalfe and the interests and capacities of the youth housed at South Camp and Metcalfe; identify local implementing partners; and define monitoring and evaluation indicators
    • Design and implement a case management and case follow-up system at South Camp and Metcalfe
    • Design a standardized training curricula on Case Management techniques for trainers (NGO’s representatives, social worker and/or personnel), based on the implementation of the new case management system/software
    • Train South Camp and Metcalfe staff, NGO representatives, and/or social workers in case management, Individual/Personal Development Plans, and case follow-up techniques, for youth in juvenile detention facilities
    • Implement Reintegration, Education, and Vocational Training for Girls at South Camp
    • Implement a creative arts and communication skills curricula in South Camp (music, healing circles, creative writing and journalism, among others)
    • Organize "pitch tank" simulation events where releasees can pitch product and service ideas to a panel of external judges and develop their business ideas and plans
    • Support training, education, and internship opportunities for releasees
    • Create the public-private sector steering committee
    • Assign a case manager to each releasee in their local community shortly before his/her release

    Beneficiaries: Direct beneficiaries:
    - Two groups of juvenile remandees and charged offenders: (i) Young women in the South Camp female juvenile center and correctional facility; and (ii) Young men in the Metcalfe juvenile remand center for boys.
    - Target Remand centers and correctional facilities’ staff
    - Local Civil Society Organizations
    - Social Workers
    Indirect beneficiaries:
    - Government agencies (Department of Corrections Services, Child Development Agency)
    - University of West Indies- Social Work Department
    - Private Sector

    Partnerships and Financing: Implementing partner: Trust for the Americas (TRUST)
    Donor agency: United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Iniciative: Counterdrug Capacity Building Program
    To contribute to enhancing the capacity of OAS member states to effectively control narcotrafficking, to consider adopting common or compatible approaches to counter-drug activities and to improved coordination in counterdrug activities.
    The objectives are:
    - Increase awareness regarding new threats and challenges related to narcotrafficking and drug production or new investigative techniques or approaches that they might apply in whole or in part;
    - Increase capacity to respond to these threats or to apply counterdrug strategies, approaches, skills, tools/resources or programs;
    - Promote a common or compatible approach to counterdrug activities;
    - Promote cooperation and coordination in counterdrug activities and the exchange of information between agencies both nationally and internationally.

    Capacity Building Initiatives:

    1. Counterdrug Intelligence
    Officers will have increased their knowledge and competence in apply specialized techniques related to counterdrug intelligence development and analysis, through the following activities:
    - Regional Counterdrug Intelligence School of the Americas (ERCAIAD) established by CICAD
    - Strategic and operational counterdrug intelligence techniques
    - Specialized counterdrug intelligence techniques

    2- Counterdrug Law Enforcement
    Drug control officers including plain clothes and undercover have increased their knowledge and skills to safely and effectively monitor, detect, investigate and control the production, trafficking and use of illicit drugs and related contraband

    3. Control of Chemicals Used in the Production of Illicit Drugs
    Officers (police, customs, regulatory, administrative control, chemists, judges, prosecutors and others) from relevant agencies concerned with the control of chemicals will have increased their knowledge and skills in the administrative processes and specialized operational techniques to safely and effectively monitor, investigate, detect and control chemicals that can be used to produce illicit drugs. They will also understand what new chemical substances, precursors and processes are being used to produce drugs and new investigative approaches and techniques.

    4- Control of Synthetic Drugs (including Pharmaceuticals)
    Officers concerned with the control of synthetic drugs will have an increased level of awareness of this problem and the knowledge and skills in the administrative and specialized operational techniques to safely and effectively monitor, investigate, detect and otherwise control these drugs. Officers will be able to recognize the signs of clandestine laboratories, the type and how to safely investigate them. They will understand the effects of these drugs and how to recognize the signs of people under the influence of these substances

    5- Control of Narcotrafficking across International Borders
    Police, customs and other officers working at land borders, airports and marine ports will have increased their knowledge and skills to monitor, investigate, target, detect and interdict the movement of illicit drugs and related contraband. Increased awareness, knowledge and capacity will lead to more effective controls over these border points regarding drugs, chemicals and related contraband.

    6- Role of the Private Sector in Drug Control
    Private sector companies have increased their awareness of their role in controlling illicit drugs and related contraband in the distribution chain going through ports and the techniques they have to apply to prevent this from happening. More private companies will become more directly involved in securing the supply chain and the ports through which their goods pass.

    Activities:
    In the last six months the following activities were carried out by CICAD's Supply Reduction Section:
    - Regional 3-week course in strategic and operational intelligence (2 courses)
    - National 2-week seminar on specialized areas of counterdrug intelligence
    - National 1-week seminar on specialized counterdrug intelligence investigative techniques (2 seminars)
    - National 1-week seminar on street level drug dealing for regional counterdrug commanders
    - Meeting of the Group of Experts on Chemical Substances and Pharmaceutical Products
    - Meeting of Group of Experts on Maritime Narcotrafficking
    - National 1-week seminar to increase private sector involvement in port security through the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Programme
    - National 1-week seminar on advanced program to gather counterdrug intelligence, special Internet investigative techniques and in the use of Excel software to compile, manipulate and analyze counterdrug intelligence gathered during drug investigations
    - National 1-week seminar on the investigation of Internet sales of drugs (2 seminars)
    - National 1-week seminar on the illicit production and use of drugs
    - National 1-week seminar on chemical diversion control
    - National 1-week seminar on container control and security in collaboration with SMS/CICTE

    Website: http://www.cicad.oas.org/Main/Template.asp?File=/reduccion_oferta/default_eng.asp

    Beneficiaries: Direct Beneficiaries:
    - Officers and officials in member states responsible for controlling drugs, chemicals and related substances and for counterdrug activities.
    Indirect Beneficiaries:
    -Agencies in the countries that are responsible for policy, operational or regulatory aspects related to the control of drugs, chemicals and related substances and/or for counterdrug activities
    - All member states

    Partnerships and Financing: Narcotics Affairs Section in-country (U.S. Dept of State); Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP); National Police of Colombia (DIRAN); National Police of Peru (DIRANDRO); Ameripol/CLASIP; UNODC Office in-country and Vienna; Business Alliance for Secure Commerce (BASC); Government of France (CIFAD); CARMA; French Customs in Martinique); SMS/CICTE.
    Financing: Government of United States (INL/Dept of State); Government of Canada (DFATD); in-kind contribution from countries hosting activities.
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Initiative: Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism (MEM) - Sixth Evaluation Round
    The Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism (MEM) is a diagnostic tool, designed by all member states of the Organization of American States (OAS), to periodically carry out comprehensive, multilateral evaluations on the implementation level of the Plan of Action of the Hemispheric Drug Strategy of member states of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD). The MEM is considered “the only valid hemispheric tool for evaluating drug control policies in the countries that make up the inter-American system.” (Declaration of Antigua Guatemala, 43rd Regular Session of the OAS General Assembly, 2013).

    Activities: In December 2014, the 34 MEM Sixth Round national evaluation reports on drug control were publicly released via the CICAD/MEM website. The reports evaluate the level of implementation of 27 standard recommendations based on the 2010 Hemispheric Drug Strategy and its Plan of Action for 2011-2015, focusing on five areas of drug control: institutional strengthening, demand reduction, supply reduction, control measures and international cooperation.

    In May 2015, the Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism (MEM) concluded its Sixth Evaluation Round with the publication of the Hemispheric Report for the Sixth Round. The contents of the Report highlights the findings from the 34 national evaluation reports in the aforementioned five thematic areas of drug control.

    Website: http://www.cicad.oas.org/Main/Template.asp?File=/mem/reports/6/ronda_6_eval_eng.asp

    Beneficiaries: 34 OAS member states.

    Partnerships and Financing: Canadian Funding.
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Initiative: Working Group for the Preparation of the Plan of Action 2016 - 2020
    The Working Group for the Preparation of the Plan of Action 2016 - 2020 was established in November 2014 to include the participation of the 34 member states and a Chair to steer the Group. The Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism (MEM) Section of the CICAD Executive Secretariat is supporting the work of this Working Group given the direct role the MEM plays in evaluating the actions taken by member states in implementing the Plan of Action.

    Activities: The Working Group is following through and in line with the mandate in the Guatemala Resolution of September 19, 2014, "requesting CICAD to draft the Plan of Action 2016 – 2020, focusing on scientific evidence, experiences and impact indicators provided by the member states regarding the causes of the world drug problem and the new challenges emerging in the region, and taking into account the contributions made by the Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism and the progress achieved by the specialized organizations as well as by other relevant sectors.”

    During April 27 - 28, 2015, in Washington, D.C., the Working Group for the Preparation of the Plan of Action 2016 - 2020 held its first meeting to initiate in-person dialogue among delegations. The structure of the Plan was discussed and agreements were reached to continue the work. The MEM Section supported the Group's work through the creation of an online platform, providing the pertinent reference documents, translations and compiling country comments/input for the view of the delegates. In doing so, the MEM Section also worked with civil society organizations and specialized regional organizations to collect their comments and inputs to the Plan of Action 2011 - 2015 and uploading it to the online platform. Also, there were ongoing organizational and coordination conference calls and meetings held between the CICAD Executive Secretariat and the Chair in preparation of the first meeting of the Working Group and thereafter.

    Beneficiaries: 34 member states

    Partnerships and Financing: OAS Regular Fund
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Iniciativa: Tribunales de Tratamiento como Alternativa al Encarcelamiento para Infractores Dependientes de Drogas
    Establecer y/o mejorar los tribunales de tratamiento como alternativa al encarcelamiento para infractores dependientes de drogas. Contribuir a la reducción del: delito, consumo, y población penitenciaria en las Américas a través del establecimiento o expansión del modelo de TTD en los Estados Miembros de la OEA.


    Actividades: -Reuniones para empezar la tercera fase del Modelo de TTD y para expandir el modelo en Adolescentes en Costa Rica, Panama y Republica Dominicana).
    -Taller sobre Integracion Social de Infractores dependientes de Drofas dentro del contexto de TTD.
    -Sensibilizaciones de la política pública generada y marco legal evaluado en los Estados Miembros que ya tienen un piloto de TTD.
    -Intercambio y visitas de estudio llevadas a cabo entre Estados Miembros participantes del programa.
    -Desarrollo curricular (incluyendo el desarrollo de herramientas básicas para la aplicación de modelos de monitoreo y evaluación para equipos de los TTD), capacitación ofrecida para dichos equipos.
    -Borrador de una publicación de una Guía de Principios y Practicas de los TTD desde una Perspectiva Judicial y una Perspectiva de Tratamiento.
    -Borrador de una Publicación de una Guía de Buenas Practicas de Monitoreo y Evaluación de los TTD.
    -Presentacion del Modelo Mexicano de Tribunales de Tratamiento de Addiciones (Analisis del Tamizaje de las Entidades Federativas, Propuesta de Protocolo de Intervencion Sanitaria y Presentacion de un modelo piloto con base en la experiencia de los Estados de Chiahuahua, Durango, Estado de Mexico, Morelos y Nuevo Leon).
    -Reuniones para la expansión del modelo de TTD a otros Estados más en México (Chiapas, Guanajuato, Coahuila, Baja California), Colombia y Bahamas.
    -Implementación de TTD de Adolescentes en 3 Estados de Mexico (Morelos, Chihuahua y Nuevo León).
    -Puesta en marcha de proyectos piloto, consolidados o inaugurados (según país en Argentina, Barbados, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Panama, República Dominicana, y Trinidad y Tobago).

    Website: http://cicad.oas.org/main/template.asp?file=/fortalecimiento_institucional/dtca/main_spa.asp

    Beneficiarios: Instituciones e individuos: Directos: Sistemas de justicia (jueces, fiscales, abogados defensores, funcionarios de control de ejecución, personas de contacto); comisiones nacionales de drogas; agencias del cumplimiento de la ley; profesionales del ámbito de la salud (proveedores de tratamiento, trabajadores sociales); y de los ministerios de Interior y/o Seguridad Pública. Indirectos: infractores dependientes de drogas.
    Países beneficiarios: Abierto a todos los Estados miembros (actualmente trabajando con Canadá, Estados Unidos, México, República Dominicana, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Bahamas, Panamá, Trinidad y Tobago, Barbados, Argentina, Chile, Belice, Colombia y Perú).

    Partnerships and Financing: Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL)
    Center for Court Innovation (CCI)
    American University (AU)
    SEGOB (Secretaria de Gobierno)
    Comisiones Nacionales de Drogas (CONADIC, SENDA)
    NADCP (National Association of Drug Court Professionals)
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Iniciative: Contribute to strengthening the quality and effectiveness of National Drug Policies in the Latin American and Caribbean Region.
    Increasing the capacity of national officials to develop, implement, monitor and evaluate National Drug Policies, Strategies and Action Plans, including the development of local strategies.

    Activities: Follow up on National Drug Strategies and Plans of Action
    Promote Horizontal Cooperation
    Provide Technical Assistance when requested by Member states

    Website: http://www.cicad.oas.org/Main/Template.asp?File=/fortalecimiento_institucional/planesnacionales/default_eng.asp

    Beneficiaries: National Drug Commissions of all OAS member states

    Partnerships and Financing: Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL)
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Iniciativa: Legislación sobre Drogas en las Américas (LEDA)
    Se ha notado que algunos marcos legales nacionales sobre drogas y sus regulaciones subsecuentes son obsoletos o están desactualizados en cuanto a su aplicación y objetivo de reducir la producción, trafico y consumo de drogas. Como parte de su mandato de desarrollo institucional, la CICAD ha examinado la evolución de normas legales relativas a las drogas por medio de un enfoque multidisciplinaria e integrada, con el fin de fortalecer y contribuir a la armonización de las normas legales relativas a las drogas, de acuerdo con los instrumentos internacionales y la Estrategia sobre Drogas de la CICAD y su Plan de Acción.

    De acuerdo con el Plan de Acción de la Estrategia sobre Drogas (2010), la Secretaria Ejecutiva tiene el mandato de publicar y mantener las normas legales de los Estados miembros relativas a las drogas. El Programa LEDA ha cumplido con este mandato y actualmente mantiene el único compendio sobre legislación conocido públicamente en materia de drogas en el hemisferio, el cual incluye una colección de las normas legales y regulaciones mas actualizadas y relevantes de los 34 miembros.

    Actividades:
    -Creación y operación de la Red Legal para todos los estados miembros (LEDANET).
    -Nueva base de datos legal interna diseñada, levantada y en uso.
    -Análisis diagnóstico realizado en 5 paises piloto.

    Website: http://cicad.oas.org/Main/Template.asp?File=/fortalecimiento_institucional/legislations/compendiumlegislation_spa.asp

    Beneficiaries: Todos los Estados Miembros de la OEA y la sociedad civil

    Partnerships and Financing: Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL)
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Iniciativa: La reinserción de infractores dependientes de drogas, reduciendo la brecha
    Identificar y analizar la gama de alternativas de política pública que nos permiten apoyar la integración social de los infractores dependientes de drogas, comenzando en cinco Estados Miembros.

    -Diagnóstico en Panamá sobre alternativas existentes y posibles para los delitos de menor gravedad relacionados con las drogas. Objetivo: Primero, obtener información acerca de las alternativas existentes y posibles al encarcelamiento para delitos de menor gravedad relacionados con las drogas en Panamá,. Segundo, analizar las fortalezas, oportunidades, amenazas, tomando en cuenta la realidad de las infracciones, los patrones de uso, tipo de sustancia, y los marcos institucionales, culturales, políticos y normativos del país, para presentar un Informe de Estado de Situación, que incluye posibilidades viables para acción futura y lecciones aprendidas.

    -Diagnóstico en Colombia sobre alternativas existentes y posibles para los delitos de menor gravedad relacionados con las drogas. Objetivo: Primero, obtener información acerca de las alternativas existentes y posibles al encarcelamiento en Colombia para los infractores relacionados con las drogas,. Segundo, analizar las fortalezas, oportunidades, amenazas, tomando en cuenta la realidad de las infracciones, los patrones de uso, tipo de sustancia, y los marcos institucionales, culturales, políticos y normativos del país, para presentar un Informe de Estado de Situación, que incluye posibilidades viables para acción futura y lecciones aprendidas.

    -Publicación del Informe Técnico sobre Alternativas al Encarcelamiento para Delitos Relacionados con las Drogas y lanzamiento de base de datos con algunas alternativas prometedoras, las cuales fueron la base del informe presentado durante el 57 Periodo de Sesiones Ordinarias de la CICAD en Washington, DC. Objetivo: Elaborar un informe técnico sobre las alternativas existentes al encarcelamiento para los delitos relacionados con las drogas de conformidad con las convenciones internacionales de fiscalización de drogas, tomando en cuenta los marcos normativos de cada país y los contenidos de la Estrategia Hemisférica y el Plan de Acción 2011-2015.

    -Compendio de alternativas al encarcelamiento e intervenciones de integración social para infractores dependientes de drogas disponibles a nivel hemisférico y global.

    -Detalle y discusión de las opciones de intervención con los estados miembros participantes.

    -Diseño de intervenciones apropiadas (proyectos piloto).

    Website: http://cicad.oas.org/Main/Template.asp?File=/fortalecimiento_institucional/closinggap/default_spa.asp

    Beneficiarios: Perú, Panamá, Colombia, Costa Rica y la República Dominicana

    Socios y financiamiento: Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL)
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Iniciativa: Programa de Entrenamiento para Unidades de Inteligencia Financiera.
    Con este programa se busca establecer y/o fortalecer a las Unidades de Inteligencia Financiera dotándolas de herramientas legales, administrativas, informáticas y de recursos humanos idóneas para el control del lavado de activos, y con ello mejorar la capacidad de análisis de las UIF por medio de capacitación en el manejo de herramientas de análisis de información de inteligencia y la implementación de herramientas informáticas para la recolección, almacenamiento, análisis y entrega de información. En el marco de este programa se desarrollan talleres sobre análisis, vínculos y relaciones; cursos especializados en contabilidad forense y análisis de información de inteligencia financiera; y talleres para fomentar el dialogo entre el sector público y privado en materia ALD/CFT.

    Actividades: -a) En San Salvador, El Salvador, del 8 al 10 de septiembre de 2015, la SE/CICAD llevó a cabo una misión de asistencia técnica a la UIF salvadoreña para la elaboración del diseño del Proceso de Certificación de Oficiales de Cumplimento, mismo que fue entregado formalmente a la UIF durante el mes de noviembre de 2014;

    b) En Lima, Perú, se realizó un “Taller Regional sobre Análisis Estratégico ALD/CFT para UIFs”, del 9 al 13 de febrero de 2015, en cual participaron alrededor de 32 funcionarios de las Unidades de Inteligencia Financiera procedentes de los países miembros de GAFILAT Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, México, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, y Uruguay.

    Website: http://www.cicad.oas.org/Main/Template.asp?File=/lavado_activos/fius_spa.asp

    Beneficiarios: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, México, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, y Uruguay.

    Socios y financiamiento: Esta actividad fue financiada por FinCEN de EEUU y el Proyecto GAFILAT/UE, y coordinada junto con la SE/CICAD.
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Iniciativa: Programa de Capacitación sobre Lavado de Activos para Operadores Judiciales.
    El Programa tiene como objetivo capacitar jueces y fiscales en temas de lavado de activos, tales como: (i) tipologías; (ii) principios y marcos legales internacionales; (iii) legislación nacional sobre lavado de activos; (iv) aspectos procesales y penales vinculados a los juicios de lavado de activos; y (v) cooperación judicial internacional. En el marco de este programa se desarrollan seminarios y talleres para jueces y fiscales, juicios e investigaciones simulados sobre casos de lavado de activos y delincuencia organizada.

    Actividades: ACTIVIDADES REGIONALES:
    -Del 2 al 4 de diciembre de 2014, en Puerto España, Trinidad y Tobago se realizó el Curso Regional para Jueces y Fiscales para el Combate del Lavado de Activos. participaron alrededor de 39 funcionarios judiciales de Antigua y Barbuda, Barbados, Belice, dominica, Granada, Guyana, Haití, Santa Lucía, San Vicente y Las Granadinas, y Trinidad y Tobago.

    Website: http://www.cicad.oas.org/Main/AboutCICAD/Activities_spa.asp?S=09&Date=01-01-2014

    Beneficiarios: Antigua y Barbuda, Barbados, Belice, dominica, Granada, Guyana, Haití, Santa Lucía, San Vicente y Las Granadinas, y Trinidad y Tobago.

    Socios y financiamiento:
    Financia: EEUU (INL).
    Socio Estratégico: Grupo de Acción Financiera del Caribe (GAFIC)
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    iniciativa: • Programa de Entrenamiento sobre Lavado de Activos para Organismos encargados del Cumplimiento de la Ley.
    Provee capacitación y entrenamiento en la aplicación de técnicas especiales de investigación (establecer el cometimiento del delito, identificar sus autores y partícipes y los bienes vinculados), así como estratégicas para la investigación patrimonial que facilite la incautación y decomiso de bienes y demás evidencias relacionadas en la comisión de estos crímenes. Así, los investigadoes estarán en capacidad de reforzar sus operaciones y construir una respuesta efectiva en la lucha contra la comisión de estos delitos.

    Actividades:
    ACTIVIDADES NACIONALES
    PERU:
    -Febrero de 2015: Taller sobre Análisis Estratégico aplicados a casos de Lavado de Activos y Financiamiento de terrorismo, realizado en la ciudad de Lima.
    -Abril de 2015: 2 Talleres Nacionales sobre la aplicación del Manual para el Desarrollo del Plan de Investigación y Protocolos de Trabajo Conjunto entre Ministerio Público y Policía, realizado en las ciudades de Cusco y Lima.
    -Junio de 2015: 2 Talleres Nacionales sobre la aplicación del Manual para el Desarrollo del Plan de Investigación y Protocolos de Trabajo Conjunto entre Ministerio Público y Policía, realizados en las ciudades de Piura y Trujillo.
    ACTIVIDADES REGIONALES:
    -10 al 14 de noviembre de 2014, se ejecutó el Taller Regional “Investigación Simulada” en Asunción, Paraguay sobre un caso de Lavado de Activos y Crimen Organizado, en conjunto con UNODC-Brasil, en el cual participaron alrededor de 35 funcionarios, entre fiscales, investigadores y analistas de las UIF, de Brasil, Uruguay y Paraguay.
    -Junto al Comité Interamericano contra el Terrorismo (CICTE), del 10 al 12 de agosto de 2015, en Miami, Estados Unidos, se realizó el “Taller Regional sobre Flujos Ilícitos y redes criminales y terroristas”.
    -Junto al Comité Interamericano contra el Terrorismo (CICTE), del 17 al 21 agosto de 2015, en Panamá, se realizó el “Taller Regional AML/CFT: minimizar los riesgos de las zonas libres de comercio”.
    -14-17 de abril de 2015, Taller Regional Especializado contra el Terrorismo y su Financiación en Asunción, Paraguay, contando con la participación de 39 funcionarios de aplicación de la ley, entre fiscales, investigadores y analistas de UIF, de Argentina, Brasil, Paraguay y Uruguay.

    Website: http://www.cicad.oas.org/Main/AboutCICAD/Activities_spa.asp?S=09&Date=01-01-2015

    Socios y financiamiento: Financian: EEUU (INL)
    Socios estratégicos: Grupo de Acción Financiera de Latinoamérica; Grupo Egmont de Unidades de Inteligencia Financiera, Gobiernos del Perú, Red de Crímenes Financieros de Estados Unidos de América (FinCEN); Comité Interamericano contra el Terrorismo (CICTE), Dirección Ejecutiva del Comité contra el Terrorismo de ONU (CTED), la Oficina de las Naciones Unidas contra la Droga y el Delito (UNODC/TPB).
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Iniciativa: Proyecto de Bienes Decomisados en América Latina (BIDAL)
    El Proyecto BIDAL es un programa que ofrece asistencia técnica a los Estados interesados en desarrollar y mejorar los sistemas de identificación, localización y administración de activos incautados y decomisados, a través del establecimiento de normas de buen gobierno y transparencia administrativa en la gestión y administración de los bienes, con el objetivo de procurar el máximo beneficio y evitar actos de corrupción y desvío en su uso y disposición.

    El esquema de trabajo permite aplicar las acciones a delitos relacionados con la delincuencia organizada y servir para ayudar a los Estados miembros a mejorar sus legislaciones, sus prácticas administrativas y de gestión relacionados con los bienes, instrumentos o efectos del delito.

    Actividades:
    PROYECTO BIDAL-BRASIL:
    a) En el último trimestre de 2014, se después de la presentación del Proyecto ante las autoridades de Brasil, durante el mes de Agosto, se procedió a la elaboración y actualización del documento de diagnóstico situacional, el cual tiene la finalidad de servir como guía para conocer en forma precisa y detallada el sistema de incautación, administración de bienes incautados y destino final de los bienes y dinero decomisado. A través del diagnóstico situacional se abordaron los aspectos del marco normativo, técnico y de coordinación interinstitucional entre cada uno de los sujetos del proceso; b) Del 13 al 15 de mayo de 2015 se presentó el resultado del Diagnóstico Situacional a las autoridades brasileñas y, simultáneamente, se ejecutó en la ciudad de Brasilia el Seminario Nacional sobre Administración de Bienes Incautados y Decomisados”, c) Del 24 y 25 de junio de 2015 se realizó la Primera Reunión del Grupo de Trabajo Interinstitucional (GTI), en el cual participaron alrededor de 20 funcionarios de alto nivel de instituciones relacionadas con la ENCCLA (Estrategia Nacional para el Combate contra la Corrupción y el Lavado de Dinero); d) La Segunda Reunión del Grupo de Trabajo Interinstitucional (GTI) tuvo lugar los días 3 y 4 de septiembre y contó con la participación de veintidós funcionarios de tales instituciones; y e) durante los días 20-22 de octubre se desarrolla el Taller Regional sobre Sistemas de Decomiso en Brasilia, Brasil, con la participación de Brasil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, México, Paraguay y Perú.

    PROYECTO BIDAL-PARAGUAY
    a) Después de la suscripción del memorando de Entendimiento entre la Secretaría General de la OEA y las autoridades del Paraguay para la ejecución del proyecto BIDAL, los días 25 y 26 de marzo de 2015, con la participación de los representantes de las instituciones clave que harían parte del Proyecto BIDAL en el Paraguay, se presentaron en detalle cada uno de sus componentes, plan de trabajo a desarrollar y los resultados del Proyecto durante su ejecución en otros países beneficiarios; b) Los días 29 y 30 de abril de 2015, la SE/CICAD brindó a la Honorable Cámara de Senadores del Paraguay asistencia técnica sobre el “Proyecto de Ley de Extinción del Dominio”; c) A partir del 1 de julio de 2015 se efectuó el levantamiento de información sobre el sistema actual de Decomiso del Paraguay para la elaboración del Diagnóstico Situacional, que fue presentado ante las autoridades nacionales los días 17 y 18 de septiembre, fechas en las que, además, se conformó el Grupo de Trabajo Inter-Institucional (GTI) de Paraguay; y d) Los días 12 y 13 de octubre de 2015, se realizaron las sesiones de la 1ª Reunión del Grupo de Trabajo Interinstitucional (GTI) dentro del marco del Proyecto BIDAL, con la finalidad de elaborar una propuesta de mejoramiento del Sistema de Decomiso del Paraguay, en base al Diagnóstico Situacional realizado previamente y presentado ante las autoridades nacionales en el mes de septiembre pasado.

    Website: http://www.senad.gov.py/pagina/12637-proyecto-bidal.html
    http://www.cicad.oas.org/Main/Template.asp?File=/lavado_activos/bidal_spa.asp

    Beneficiarios: PAISES:
    Brasil y Paraguay en en el año 2015.
    ENTIDADES:
    Comisiones Nacionales de Drogas, Ministerios involucrados en los Consejos Nacionales de Drogas, operadores del sistema de justicia, autoridades encargadas del cumplimiento de la ley, organismos responsables de la administración de bienes incautados, poder legislativo.

    Socios y financiamiento: BIDAL-BRASIL:
    Financian: Brasil a través de UNODC; EEUU (INL) y Francia.
    Socos estratégicos: UNODC-Brasil; Departamento de Recuperação de Ativos e Cooperação Jurídica Internacional, Secretaria Nacional de Justiça Ministério da Justiça (coordina el Proyecto a nivel nacional).
    BIDAL-PARAGUAY
    Financian: Secretaría Nacional Anti-Drogas (SENAD) de Paraguay; y EEUU (INL)
    Socios estratégicos: SENAD (coordina el Proyecto a nivel nacional)
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Iniciativa: FORO DEL GRUPO DE EXPERTOS PARA EL CONTROL DEL LAVADO DE ACTIVOS (GELAVEX).
    El Grupo de Expertos constituye el foro hemisférico de debate, análisis y formulación de conclusiones en la lucha contra el lavado de dinero y la financiación del terrorismo.

    Actividades: -Del 19 al 20 de mayo de 2015, se celebró la XL Reunión del Grupo de Expertos para el Control del Lavado de Activos y de los Subgrupos de Trabajo, en Washington D. C., Estados Unidos de América, que tuvo como objetivo dar seguimiento al Plan de Trabajo aprobado por el pleno en septiembre de 2014, en Montevideo, Uruguay, y por la CICAD en diciembre del mismo año en su 56º Período Ordinario de Sesiones celebrado en Guatemala, sesión en la cual se aprobaron además importantes productos como: a) el Análisis de los sistemas de recolección de datos sobre bienes incautados y decomisados de origen ilícito en los Estados Miembros de la OEA, realizado en el marco del Proyecto BIDAL; b) la propuesta de Programa de Asistencia Técnica sobre Cooperación Internacional en materia de Recuperación de Activos; c) el Estudio Complementario sobre los Procedimientos y/o Criterios de Cooperación Internacional para la Compartición de Bienes; d) el Informe Comparativo entre Planes de Trabajo, Productos Desarrollados y Contactos de Socios Estratégicos en materia ALD/CFT; y e) la Guía para la Administración de Empresas Incautadas.

    -Del 1 al 2 de octubre de 2015, se celebró la XLI Reunión del Grupo de Expertos para el Control del Lavado de Activos en Lima, Perú, en la cual se aprobaron los siguientes documentos: a) documento Análisis de los derechos de las víctimas y terceros de buena fe en los procesos de decomiso de bienes de procedencia ilícita; b) documento de Análisis de Aplicabilidad y Efectividad de Instrumentos Jurídicos Modernos para la Enajenación de Activos Incautados y Decomisados; c) Propuesta de la SE/CICAD de conformación de un grupo de trabajo ad-hoc de composición abierta para la redacción de disposiciones marco en materia de recuperación de activos (GAH-REACT); d) Guía de Investigación Patrimonial; e) Propuesta de programa sobre fuentes de información abiertas como herramienta en el desarrollo de investigaciones de lavado de activos; f) recomendaciones o consideraciones para la seguridad e integridad de los funcionarios encargados del combate a los delitos de lavado de activos y delitos conexos; y g) Plan de Trabajo 2015-2016 de los Sub-Grupos de Trabajo del GELAVEX.

    Website: http://www.cicad.oas.org/Main/AboutCICAD/Activities_spa.asp?IE=PE0968

    Beneficiarios: 34 Estados Miembros de la OEA

    Socios y financiamiento: Financia: SG/OEA; SE/CICAD; EEUU (INL); Perú.
    Socio Estratégico: Super Intendencia de Bancos, Seguros y AFP (SBS) de Perú (Presidencia pro-tempore del Grupo de Expertos (GELAVEX).
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Initiative: Public Security Information and Knowledge Network
    The program aims at strengthening the institutional and technical capacity of Member States to produce and manage reliable data on public security.
    In collaboration with other international institutions, the Public Security Knowledge and Information Network strives for the standardization of indicators across countries to conduct valid comparative analysis and assess security issues from a regional perspective. It also seeks to raise awareness of the importance of conducting victimization surveys to complement administrative records, and support Member States in both designing a common regional questionnaire and applying victimization surveys in their own countries.
    The Public Security Knowledge and Information Network supports the design, implementation and evaluation of public security policies based on rigorous scientific evidence.
    The Network also promotes the development and sharing of national and regional public security studies in collaboration with prestigious Universities, research centers and thinks tanks; stimulates human resources development in data collection, management and analysis; and facilitates the exchange of initiatives, lessons learned and best practices regarding data management, information sharing and knowledge creation on public security.
    The Public Security Information and Knowledge Network is built upon three axis: the political axis, the management axis and the technical axis. Programmatic activities are included within the technical axis according to three areas: systems and processes, data and information gathering tools, and knowledge resources.

    Activities: Technical axis - Systems and processes
    1) Develop and implement a tool to assess current systems and processes for data gathering, processing and dissemination.
    2) Develop working plans as requested by Member States to strengthen institutional, technical and technological capacities.
    3) Draft guidelines for setting up integrated systems of security statistics and national observatories.
    4) Create a network of Observatories linked to the Hemispheric Security Observatory.

    Technical axis - Data and tools
    1) Work with Member States on the quality and standardization of a set of core indicators according to the International Crime Classification for statistical purposes and the United Nations Surveys on Crime Trends and the Operations of Criminal Justice Systems. A specific set of indicators regarding gender-based violence will also be included (paragraph 3).
    2) Work with Member States on the standardization of information gathering tools.

    Technical axis - Knowledge resources
    1) Develop directories with contact information of institutional and individual stakeholders related to public security.
    2) Develop databases with programs and project on relevant public security issues, including violence prevention, homicide reduction, among others.
    3) Create a digital library which would include the publications of the Public Security Department.
    4) Create a calendar with events related to public security.
    5) Develop a training module and a database with existing trainings and courses.

    Beneficiaries: 34 active Member States, Observatories (regional, national and local), universities, think tanks, NGOs, international and regional organizations, journalists.

    Partnerships and Financing: Within the management axis, there will be a management board composed of regional and international organizations. In addition, within the technical axis, particularly as part of the knowledge resources, the Network will create communities of practice linking together governmental and non-governmental specialists and practitioners.
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Initiatives: Working Group for the Preparation of the Plan of Action 2016 - 2020
    The Working Group for the Preparation of the Plan of Action 2016 - 2020 was established in November 2014 to include the participation of the 34 member states and a Chair to steer the Group. The Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism (MEM) Section of the CICAD Executive Secretariat is supporting the work of this Working Group given the direct role the MEM plays in evaluating the actions taken by member states in implementing the Plan of Action.

    Activities: The Working Group is following through and in line with the mandate in the Guatemala Resolution of September 19, 2014, "requesting CICAD to draft the Plan of Action 2016 – 2020, focusing on scientific evidence, experiences and impact indicators provided by the member states regarding the causes of the world drug problem and the new challenges emerging in the region, and taking into account the contributions made by the Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism and the progress achieved by the specialized organizations as well as by other relevant sectors.”

    During September 28 - October 2, 2015, in Mexico City, Mexico, the Working Group for the Preparation of the Plan of Action 2016 - 2020 held its second meeting to continue the drafting process of the Plan. As an outcome of the meeting, the Working Group decided that subsequent meetings would need to held to finish the work tasked to the Group, this request is pending approval of the CICAD Commissioners. The proposed dates for the third meeting of the Group is December 14 - 17, 2015 and for the fourth meeting is February 29 - March 4, 2016, both in Washington, D.C.

    The MEM Section continues supporting the Group's work through via an online platform, providing the pertinent reference documents, translations and compiling country comments/input for the view of the delegates. Also, ongoing organizational and coordination conference calls and meetings were between the CICAD Executive Secretariat and the Chair in preparation of the second meeting of the Working Group and thereafter.

    Beneficiaries: 34 OAS member states.

    Partnerships and Financing: Mexican Funds / OAS Regular Fund / US Funds.
    • Date:  5/6/2014    Paragraphs: 1
    International Cooperation (Part 2)
    a. Promotion of inter-agency coordination in the fight against transnational organized crime (Part 2)

    • In March 2013, the ES organized a technical visit with officials from El Salvador to Colombia, with the aim of exchanging experiences in management of seized and confiscated assets, as well as on in rem forfeiture matters;

    • In May, the First Meeting of Preparation of the Proposal for the Improvement of the BIDAL Project was held in Dominican Republic. It supported the Interagency Working Group (GTI) in the preparation and completion of the Proposal for the Improvement of the Forfeited Assets Management System, along with the writing and formal presentation of the Final Document to the national authorities;

    • The ES/CICAD, within the Implementation of Technical Assistance Plan on Anti-Money Laundering in Peru, which is developed with the active participation and collaboration of the Implementation and Monitoring Committee of the National Strategy to Combat Money Laundering Actives of Peru (CONTRALAFT), has performed the following activities in 2013: a) A First Diagnostic Mission for the development of the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Council of Legal State Defense took place in April, and a Second Mission for the delivery of Results and Training for the development of the Unit, took place in early July; b) In April, a workshop of Administration and Disposition of Seized and Confiscated Assets was conducted; c) Also in April, a Course on Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing was held for judges and prosecutors; d) In May and October, a Public/Private Sector Dialogue and Training Program against Money Laundering and Financing Terrorism was executed. This program promotes public (justice)/private (financial) sector dialogue and training against money laundering and financing of terrorism, and seeks to ensure that the justice and financial sectors effectively collaborate; e) A First Workshop on Special Investigative Techniques (TEIs) was conducted in July, involving judges, the Office of the Attorney General, investigators and UIF analysts, as well as the National Commission on Seized Assets (CONABI) and the State Law Defense Council officials; f) A Workshop on “Mock Investigation” on an AML case and Organized Crime was held in July; and g) In August, a Mock Trial of a Money Laundering Case was developed, with 80 officers from the State’s Legal Defense Council, the FIU, the National Police of Peru, prosecutors and member of the judiciary. This exercise created a space for interdisciplinary and inter-agency discussion, while motivating and boosting their performance by applying best practices for investigating and for intervening in public and oral trials.

    b. Agreements to strengthen international cooperation and technical assistance

    • In November 2012, in the framework of the Fifth Summit Meeting of the American Police Community, the appointment of the first liaison officers of the American Police Community (AMERIPOL) to the OAS was confirmed, effective March 2013. An officer from the Carabineros de Chile and the National Federal Police of Colombia.

    • DPS, in the framework of the Cooperation Agreement signed with Ameripol, carried out the seminar “Strategies for Police Public Safety, an initiative to promote innovative approaches developed by police institutions of the hemisphere, particularly regarding police service models that provide a timely and satisfactory response to citizens’ needs in terms of public security. The seminar was open to all Permanent Missions and police attaches of the Member States.

    • The Department of Public Security, representing the GS/OAS, signed technical assistance and cooperation agreements for stockpile management and destruction with El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, and with Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Panama, Peru, and Suriname for cooperation and assistance as part of the project “Promoting Firearms Marking and Tracing in Latin America and the Caribbean.”

    • Throughout 2012 and 2013, DPS also provided direct technical and financial assistance to: destroy of 21,294 firearms in Costa Rica (13,493), Dominica (180), El Salvador (3,638), Guatemala (983), and Honduras (3,000); destroy 1,361,828 units of ammunitions in Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala; clear 1,371 unexploded munitions in Nicaragua; deliver 23 firearms marking machines with computer database equipment and software, as well as 32 vices, to Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Panama, Peru and Suriname as part of the project “Promoting Firearms Marking and Tracing in Latin America and the Caribbean.”; deliver safety and analysis equipment and construction of a storage and handling facility for precursor chemicals at Estanzuela, Guatemala.

    Activities:
    a) Technical visit with officials from El Salvador to Colombia, with the aim of exchanging experiences in management of seized and confiscated assets, as well as on in rem forfeiture matters.
    b) First Meeting of Preparation of the Proposal for the Improvement of the BIDAL Project.
    c) A series of activities for the development of the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Council of Legal State Defense.
    d) Participation in the Fifth Summit Meeting of the American Police Community.
    e) Cooperation agreements signed for stockpile management and destruction with El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, and with Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Panama, Peru, and Suriname.
    f) A series of activities related to arms destruction.

    Beneficiaries:
    El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, and with Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Panama, Peru, and Suriname, among others.

    Partnerships: AMERIPOL
    • Date:  4/29/2014    Paragraphs: 1
    International Cooperation (Part 1)
    Promotion of inter-agency coordination in the fight against transnational organized crime

    • CICTE’s Cybersecurity program has forged important partnerships and cooperation agreements concluded with the private sector and civil society. For example, the Secretary General signed a cooperation agreement with the global awareness campaign “Stop. Think. Connect,” which seeks to raise Internet user awareness of cybersecurity risks. The OAS General Secretariat also signed the World Economic Forum’s Cyber Resilience Principles, which assist institutions in adapting appropriate cybersecurity principles.

    • In May 2013, CICTE published a joint report with the cyber security firm Trend Micro title “Latin American and Caribbean Cybersecurity Trends and Government Responses.” This report paired objective threat report data from Trend Micro with Member State-provided data concerning government responses to issues of cyber security and cybercrime. Filling a knowledge gap expressed by Member States, the report informed the future of CICTE’s cyber security work and exemplified the type of public-private relations that will strengthen cyber resilience in the Americas. Finally, it showed other regions in the world the dynamic perspective that is generated by working with non-government partners. CICTE also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Microsoft to start the development of joint training and capacity building initiatives in the Hemisphere.

    • CICTE’s Maritime Security program delivered several “best practices” workshops in topics such as risk assessment and management and drills and exercises based on the APEC Manual. The CICTE Secretariat conceived and spearheaded an effort to update and enhance this document based on the input of the joint OAS-APEC members, namely Canada, the U.S., Chile, Mexico and Peru. As a result, the manual has now been re-written and the modified text has been launched in four of our member states (Jamaica, Bahamas Honduras and Mexico).

    • With support from the OAS Department of Tourism, the CICTE Tourism Security program collaborated with the World Tourism Organization and the ministries of tourism of the Hemisphere to organize the Tourism Security in the Americas Conferences (Dominican Republic, 2011, Panama, 2013; and for the upcoming conference in Ecuador, 2014). The Tourism Security Program continues to develop relationships with tourism security agencies around the region, creating a strong network of partners, which include both public and private sector members.

    • CICTE’s Document Security and Fraud Prevention Program, in collaboration with INTERPOL, held national workshops in the area of integrated border management and database promotion. This partnership is expected to be strengthened in the future for the execution of a project enabling the countries to share and consult information through a national alert system on the latest trends in travel and identity document falsification and alteration. In parallel, activities on this front have promoted participation by civil registries, which has led to greater and better interagency cooperation at the national and regional levels, and to raised awareness of the importance of the travel document issuance process.

    • In 2012 members of the Supply Reduction staff were invited to attend several international counterdrug meetings to offer their expertise. The events included the Fifty-sixth Session of the Commission of Narcotic Drugs; COPOLAD Maritime Narcotrafficking Conference; International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts (IALEIA) Training Conference; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Sin Fronteras Project Meeting; Joint Task Force on Prism and Cohesion Meeting (INTERPOL); PRELAC/UNODC International Meeting on Control of Chemicals and the Private Sector.

    • As part of the training activities undertaken by CICAD, there were two Preparation Missions for the Implementation of a Technical Assistance Plan on Anti-Money Laundering, in July. The first one, in Peru, intended for presenting the Technical Assistance Program to the Committee for the Implementation and Monitoring of the National Strategy Anti-Money Laundering. The second one, in Honduras, was a validation workshop for the study “Regional Action Plan Against Money Laundering”, within the framework of the Support Plan to the Central American Security Strategy, the Central American Integration System (SICA, Spanish acronym) and the Central American Economic Integration Bank (CABEI).

    • In the month of December 2012 a legislative technical assistance mission took place. It was addressed to the National Commission of Seized Assets (CONABI) of Peru, with the aim of drafting the Regulation and Manuals of the organization and functioning of CONABI. Following CONABI last August, specific advice was given on handling storage, units of conservation, transport and all aspects related to the neutralization and/or destruction of chemical inputs.

    Activities:
    a) Several “best practices” workshops in topics such as risk assessment and management and drills and exercises.
    b) Tourism Security in the Americas Conferences (Dominican Republic, 2011, Panama, 2013; Ecuador, 2014).
    c) Two Preparation Missions for the Implementation of a Technical Assistance Plan on Anti-Money Laundering.
    d) Participation in: The Fifty-sixth Session of the Commission of Narcotic Drugs; COPOLAD Maritime Narcotrafficking Conference; International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts (IALEIA) Training Conference; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Sin Fronteras Project Meeting; Joint Task Force on Prism and Cohesion Meeting (INTERPOL); PRELAC/UNODC International Meeting on Control of Chemicals and the Private Sector.

    Partnerships:
    Commission of Narcotic Drugs; COPOLAD; International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts (IALEIA) e; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); INTERPOL; PRELAC/UNODC.
    • Date:  4/29/2014    Paragraphs: 1, 9
    Training to Combat Transnational Organized Crime (Part 6)

    f. Support for capacity-building to prevent and combat trafficking in persons

    • In 2012, the governments of Chile and Uruguay hosted the law enforcement and judicial capacity-building training program sponsored by the Department of Public Security. This program permitted police, immigration officers, prosecutors and judges to strengthen their knowledge and understanding of investigative and interviewing techniques and identifying procedures to protect victims of trafficking in persons. This same year, the Government launched the first national assessment on trafficking in persons.

    • The governments of Guatemala, Panama, Antigua and Barbuda, and The Bahamas hosted the “Specialized Training Program on Border Controls”, organized jointly by CICAD-CICTE-DPS to train immigration and customs officials to strengthen their techniques and instruments, in order to better identify the illicit trafficking of substances, persons, and issues related to terrorist threats in the Western Hemisphere.

    • During this period, the DPS/SMS/OAS continued to monitor the project “Strengthening the Security Forces, Immigration Officers, Prosecutors and Judges, to Prevent and Combat Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children” (Uruguay, December 2012). In addition to strengthening the areas of identification and protection of victims of trafficking in persons, the project created a space for criminal investigation techniques, operational management of the crime scene, and ethical research interviews to trafficked and exploited children through the Internet. This project also provided the opportunity to identify the importance of establishing standard operating procedures for immigration control input and output. Government representatives of the security and judicial sectors, received curriculum guides and training materials.

    • Within the framework of this project, the Department of Public Security has also created an information-sharing network of authorities responsible for preventing and combating trafficking in persons. To date, this network is composed of 20 Member States.

    • The Department of Public Security and the Educational Portal of the Americas created a virtual learning platform to train consular officers and diplomats in preventive mechanisms and identification of victims of trafficking. The online platform is expected to be released and made available to Member States by mid 2014.

    Activities:
    a) Law enforcement and judicial capacity-building training.
    b) Joint event DPS/CICAD/CICTE: “Specialized Training Program on Border Controls”.
    c) Creation of an information-sharing network of authorities responsible for preventing and combating trafficking in persons.
    d) Creation of a virtual learning platform to train consular officers and diplomats in preventive mechanisms and identification of victims of trafficking. The online platform is expected to be released and made available to Member States by mid 2014.

    Beneficiaries: All OAS member states.

    Partnerships: Educational Portal of the Americas of the GS/OAS.
    • Date:  4/29/2014    Paragraphs: 1
    Training to Combat Transnational Organized Crime (Part 5)
    • Through a partnership with the Government of Israel and the Government of Canada, CICTE delivered its first Joint Aviation Security Program in Panama, which focused on the identification and interdiction of passengers with suspicious behavior. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) provided expertise on anti-crime behavioral detection methods through their JETWAY Program and from the Israel Security Agency (ISA) shared their experience in counter-terrorism behavioral detection methods.

    • The Strengthening Strategies on Emerging Terrorist Threats Program seeks to strengthen Member States’ capacity to respond to potential bio-terrorist threats. This program is implemented primarily through tabletop practical exercises and technical assistance missions to address specific issues and develop National Response Plans.

    • Over the last five years, this program has provided critical training to over one thousand government officials in over 30 Member States. As a result, regional knowledge and awareness have been greatly increased, and several nations – including Trinidad & Tobago, Panama, Guatemala and Chile – have initiated, completed or improved upon existing national response plans. In addition, this program has also improved interagency cooperation within the Members States, as well as regionally.

    • In the last two years, some twenty (20) tourist security courses have been imparted to strengthen national capacities and create partnerships for cooperation between the public and private sectors in countries and tourist destinations of the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Mexico. This has led to the creation of a network of tourist security liaisons for the exchange of experiences and best practices. In that connection, the program has enabled tourism police and private sector security chiefs in each locale to work in a harmonized manner with the other providers of tourism services, taking advantage of the social network technological platform.

    • During 2013, the CICTE Secretariat conducted six training activities on tourism security in Costa Rica, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Mexico, and Peru. These activities were carried out in collaboration with partners such as: the FBI, the Pan-American Health Organization, the UN World Tourism Organization, the Integrated Secretariat of Tourism of Central America (SITCA), CARICOM-IMPACS- (Implementation Agency for Crime and Security), the Association of Caribbean States, and the CARICOM Disaster and Emergency Management Agency.

    • Since its launch in 2006, the Document Security and Fraud Prevention Program has enhanced security in the issuance and control of travel and identity documents in the member states. The Secretariat has implemented different activities and training courses in the region, notable among them advanced training on the detection of fraudulent documents and impostors, and subregional workshops on best practices in travel document security and identification management.

    • In addition, in 2013 CICTE carried out a sub-regional workshop on Border Controls and Integrated Border Management in collaboration with SICA and subject matter experts from INTERPOL. This workshop focused on improving inter-agency and cross border communication and coordination on travel document security and border controls issues.

    e. Support for crime and violence prevention

    • The Department of Public Security created a methodology to strengthen police responses to cases of violence (particularly gender-based) and to promote prevention initiatives from a community-based approach. With funding from the United States, this methodology is being applied in a program currently implemented in Costa Rica since 2013 to promote dialogue and build greater trust and cooperation among local police, community representatives, and key organizations. The methodology can be adapted to different contexts throughout the region, based on a country’s particular needs and/or challenges.

    Activities:
    a) Training on the destruction of explosive and small caliber ammunition.
    b) Training in ammunition management and safety.
    c) Training in firearms marking and record-keeping.
    d) Training in firearms destruction.
    e) Training course on analysis, handling, transport, storage and elimination of hazardous chemical substances.
    f) Four workshops on mitigating vulnerable ICS (Industrial Control Systems) from cyber risk.
    g) Technical assistance to ports, for compliance with the International Maritime Organization standards, and other international port security norms.
    h) More than 15 joint workshops (DPS/CICAD/CICTE) to raise awareness among border officials of risk management and to strengthen institutional relations among border control authorities.
    i) Three trainings related to the Customs Controls Program.
    j) Training on the identification and interdiction of passengers seeking to traffic in illicit items.

    Partnerships:
    The Government of Israel, The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), The FBI, the Pan-American Health Organization, the UN World Tourism Organization, the Integrated Secretariat of Tourism of Central America (SITCA), CARICOM-IMPACS- (Implementation Agency for Crime and Security), the Association of Caribbean States, and the CARICOM Disaster and Emergency Management Agency, Interpol.
    • Date:  4/29/2014    Paragraphs: 1
    Training to Combat Transnational Organized Crime (Part 4)
    c. Support for implementing the Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related Materials (CIFTA)

    • The Department of Public Security provided training on the destruction of explosive and small caliber ammunition to a total of 83 national personnel from Costa Rica (29 police), El Salvador (12 military), and Honduras (42 military). In addition, 45 military personnel from Guatemala received training in ammunition management and safety. Under a cooperation agreement with the Ministry of Defense of Spain, DPS coordinated the training of a total of 33 personnel from Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras to be supervisors and instructors in specialized techniques for explosive ordnance disposal (EOD level 3).

    • With regards to firearms marking and recordkeeping, the Department of Public Security trained a total of 131 national personnel from Antigua and Barbuda (6), Argentina (10), Dominica (9), Dominican Republic (13), Ecuador (10), El Salvador (18), Guatemala (4), Haiti (15), Jamaica (12), Panama (10), Peru (14), and Suriname (10).

    • A total of 76 national personnel from five countries -- including Costa Rica (19 police), Dominica (10 police), El Salvador (15 military), Guatemala (17 military), and Honduras (15 military) -- received training from DPS on destruction of firearms.

    • In Guatemala, the Department of Public Security organized a training course on analysis, handling, transport, storage and elimination of hazardous chemical substances for a total of 54 personnel representing the National Civilian Police, Ministry of Interior, National Institute of Forensic Sciences, Ministry of Health, Ministry of the Attorney General, the Judicial Branch, and the OAS Program of Assistance for Control of Arms and Munitions.

    d. Support for border, document and tourism security issues

    • CICTE’s Cybersecurity program began implementing a new cyber security project on protecting internet-facing critical infrastructures. As evidenced by a joint report published with the cyber security firm Trend Micro, attacks on the industrial control systems—ICS—that administer our most critical services are under constant and evolving attack. In Colombia, CICTE delivered its first of at least four workshops on mitigating vulnerable ICS from cyber risk. The event convened a mix of policy and technical-level officials, providing them a space to learn about the threat landscape and measures that should be taken to safeguard systems from digital penetration.

    • The Maritime Security Program has provided training for officials of 31 member states, including technical assistance to ports, for compliance with the International Maritime Organization standards, and other international port security norms. The main objective has been to strengthen anti-terrorist activities and law enforcement capacities at port installations and to improve coordination among governmental authorities involved in maritime security. The program now makes available diversified training to the member states in the following areas: container security; maritime domain awareness; port state control, supply chain security; risk assessment and management, drills and exercises; and information security systems, among others.

    • The migration and customs program initially sought to raise awareness among border officials of risk management and to strengthen institutional relations among border control authorities. Based on this approach, workshops were held in 15 countries of Central America and the Caribbean, working in coordination with the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) and the Department of Public Security (DPS). Thereafter, in response to the priorities indicated by the member states, the approach was modified to address the issue of container and cargo ship security so as to ensure the safety and efficiency of the flow of trade in the region.

    • CICTE’s Immigration and Customs Controls program executed three activities in 2013. The first activity, a Specialized National Workshop on Immigration and Customs Controls, was held in St. Kitts and Nevis, in February. This activity, which brought together customs, immigration, police, and other border security authorities for a multidisciplinary training on various aspects of border security, concluded CICTE’s two-year “Specialized OAS Capacity-Building Project on Border Controls.”

    • The CICTE Aviation Security program has provided training for 26 states of the region on the identification and interdiction of passengers seeking to traffic in illicit items. These techniques entail no implementation costs beyond personnel skills. Therefore, several countries have established behavior analysis units at their airports.

    Activities:
    a) Training on the destruction of explosive and small caliber ammunition.
    b) Training in ammunition management and safety.
    c) Training in firearms marking and record-keeping.
    d) Training in firearms destruction.
    e) Training course on analysis, handling, transport, storage and elimination of hazardous chemical substances.
    f) Four workshops on mitigating vulnerable ICS (Industrial Control Systems) from cyber risk.
    g) Technical assistance to ports, for compliance with the International Maritime Organization standards, and other international port security norms.
    h) More than 15 joint workshops (DPS/CICAD/CICTE) to raise awareness among border officials of risk management and to strengthen institutional relations among border control authorities.
    i) Three trainings related to the Customs Controls Program.
    j) Training on the identification and interdiction of passengers seeking to traffic in illicit items.

    Partnerships:
    Ministry of Defense of Spain
    Trend Micro -Cyber security firm
    • Date:  4/29/2014    Paragraphs: 1
    Training to Combat Transnational Organized Crime (Part 3)
    b. Support for supply reduction and control measures (part 2)
    • The sale of drugs over the internet is a growing global problem that presents major challenges for those tasked with controlling this aspect of drug trafficking. ES/CICAD working with the Swedish National Police delivered seminars in Barbados and Mexico on the investigation of internet sales of drugs. Participants learned how the internet works and techniques and tools that they can use to investigate drugs sales over the internet. A total of 50 officers from Barbados, Grenada, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines participated in these seminars.

    • The diversion of pharmaceutical drugs and the illicit production and trafficking of synthetic drugs including New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) is a growing global problem. It is a dynamic situation presenting many challenges for CICAD member states. Regulatory officials and counterdrug enforcement officers need to be aware of these changes including the new chemicals and processes being used to illegally produce these substances, how they are diverted and the new drugs that are being produced illegally.

    • ES/CICAD and the RCMP partnered to deliver a seminar in the illicit production of synthetic drugs in Guatemala. A total of 113 officers from Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago participated in these seminars.

    • During 2013 ES/CICAD continued its collaboration with the Swedish National Police to deliver seminars on the investigation of the sale of drugs over the internet. The seminars were delivered in St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Lucia. They focused on the techniques and tools that can be used to investigate drugs sales over the internet. Participants were surprised to uncover evidence of this problem taking place in the host countries at that time. A total of 48 officers from Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines participated in these seminars.

    • With the collaboration of the Government of France through its Inter-Agency Drug Control Training Center (CIFAD) and Customs/Coast Guard, both in Martinique, five training seminars were delivered in various subject areas to control the international movement of drug-related contraband. A total of 112 officers from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Dominican Republic, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay participated.

    • Working with various chapters of the Business Alliance for Secure Commerce (BASC) the ES/CICAD organized three events on supply chain security and port security in Costa Rica, Colombia and Brazil involving 280 participants from the private and public sectors. A seminar was also delivered in the Dominican Republic. Participants included 85 individuals from the private and public sectors.

    • Five seminars on Customs and Immigration Control and Border Security were delivered in partnership with the two other dependencies of the Secretariat for Multidimensional Security (SMS): the Committee against Terrorism (CICTE) and the Department of Public Security (DPS). These seminars took place in Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Guatemala, Panama and St. Lucia involving 228 participants. Another seminar was held in St. Kitts and Nevis for 45 customs and immigration officers from the host country.

    • ES/CICAD and CICTE also organized and delivered a two-week seminar on container control in Jamaica. This was a train the trainer seminar that included a total of 47 participants. The program looked the ways that narcotraffickers use containers to smuggle drugs and related contraband and how to target interdiction efforts.

    Activities:
    a) Seminars in Barbados and Mexico on the investigation of internet sales of drugs.
    b) Seminar in the illicit production of synthetic drugs in Guatemala.
    c) Five training seminars were delivered in various subject areas to control the international movement of drug-related contraband.
    d) Three events on supply chain security and port security.
    e) Five joint seminars (DPS/CICAD/CICTE)on Customs and Immigration Control and Border Security.
    f) Two-week "training of trainers" seminar on container control.

    Beneficiaries:
    Barbados, Grenada, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica, Colombia, Brazil, the Dominican Republic.

    Partnerships:
    Swedish National Police
    Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
    The Government of France through its Inter-Agency Drug Control Training Center (CIFAD) and Customs/Coast Guard
    Business Alliance for Secure Commerce (BASC)
    • Date:  4/29/2014    Paragraphs: 1
    Training to Combat Transnational Organized Crime (Part 2)
    b. Support for supply reduction and control measures

    • In 2012 ERCAIAD celebrated its first full year of operation under the management of the Colombian National Police. Three four-week multinational courses on strategic and prospective counterdrug intelligence were delivered in Bogotá. Additionally, three more two-week regional seminars dealing with certain specialized areas of counterdrug operational intelligence were delivered in Argentina, Ecuador and Mexico in collaboration with national law enforcement entities. A total of 174 counterdrug officers from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, México and Venezuela participated in these courses/seminars.
    • ERCAIAD completed another successful year of operation under the leadership of the Colombian National Police. During 2013 three four-week multinational courses (79 participants) took place on strategic and prospective counterdrug police intelligence in Colombia with funding support from the United States. Within the framework of ERCAIAD four additional two-week regional seminars on specialized operational counterdrug intelligence subjects were delivered in Argentina, Chile, Guatemala and Panama for a total of 110 officers from these countries.
    • With funding support from Canada, ES/CICAD made significant progress towards establishing a parallel regional counterdrug intelligence training school for the Caribbean. The Government of Trinidad and Tobago indicated its support for the initiative and its agreement to host the school. ES/CICAD organized a meeting of senior counterdrug intelligence officials from the region and others from relevant agencies in Trinidad and Tobago to more precisely define the framework of the initiative and map the way ahead to a pilot seminar to be held in Port of Spain in 2014.
    • Effective and successful counterdrug enforcement relies heavily on the development and use of intelligence to carry out monitoring, investigation and operational activities. Six seminars on a variety of counterdrug investigative techniques were delivered under this program. A total of 343 officers from Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Grenada, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and Uruguay participated in these seminars.
    • In collaboration with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), 2 two-week train the trainer seminars were delivered in Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago on “Jetway” as well as one-week seminar in St Lucia. Jetway is an investigative technique that uses human behavior to identify travelers who may be carrying illicit drugs or other contraband. The RCMP also collaborated with the delivery of a seminar on clandestine laboratories in Ecuador.
    • Two two-week train-the-trainer seminars were delivered in Bogota, Colombia and Bridgetown, Barbados. A total of 68 officers participated in these seminars. Trainers from these two seminars will be used to replicate the training in their own country and will be used to assist in similar train the trainer seminars in other countries.
    • Two seminars were organized in partnership with the Colombian National Police: micro trafficking investigations with the Directorate of Intelligence (DIPOL) and chemical diversion investigations and interdiction operations with the Directorate of Counter Narcotics (DIRAN). Additionally, three seminars on specialized operational/investigation law enforcement skills were delivered in collaboration with the counterdrug branch of the Peruvian National Police (DIRANDRO).
    • During 2013 ES/CICAD delivered seven seminars on various counterdrug investigative technique specialties. These seminars took place in Barbados, Colombia and Peru with 218 officers participating.
    • Working in collaboration with the Government of France through its Inter-Agency Drug Control Training Center (CIFAD), ES/CICAD delivered a seminar in Argentina on the analysis of drug-related information using Excel. A total of 20 officers from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay participated in this seminar.
    • The Caribbean Regional Drug Law Enforcement Training Centre (REDTRAC) helped organize a regional seminar on the control of chemicals used in the manufacture of illicit drugs in Jamaica. Additional seminars were delivered in the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Grenada with the collaboration of both National Drug Offices. Particular emphasis was placed on the issue of officer safety and how to handle what are often toxic and otherwise dangerous chemicals. A total of 86 officers from Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Dominica, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, participated in these seminars.

    a) Three four-week multinational courses on strategic and prospective counterdrug intelligence.
    b) Two-week regional seminars dealing with certain specialized areas of counterdrug operational intelligence.
    c) Meeting of senior counterdrug intelligence officials from the region.
    d) Six seminars on a variety of counterdrug investigative techniques
    e) Two, two-week train the trainer seminar on "Jetway".
    f) Two two-week train-the-trainer seminars
    g) Two seminars on micro trafficking investigations
    h) Seven seminars on various counterdrug investigative technique specialties.
    i) Regional seminar on the control of chemicals used in the manufacture of illicit drugs in Jamaica.

    Beneficiaries:
    Argentina, Ecuador, Mexico, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, St Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay Bahamas, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica.

    Partnerships:
    United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee (UNCTED), the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC/TPB) and the South America Financial Action Task Force (GAFISUD)
    • Date:  4/29/2014    Paragraphs: 1
    Training to Combat Transnational Organized Crime (Part 1)
    a. Support for counter-money laundering activities

    • The CICAD Executive Secretariat sponsored or participated in 12 training events in 2012, both country- and region-specific, that reached 440 judges, prosecutors, public defenders, law enforcement agents and FIU analysts. In March, it delivered two workshops (Ecuador and Uruguay) to train FIU analysts in performing links and relationships analysis on reporting on suspicious banking activity and cash transactions.
    • In partnership with the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE, Spanish acronym), the CICAD conducted three Workshops on Anti-Terrorism Financing in 2012. These courses were held in the Dominican Republic and Peru, in March, and in El Salvador, in July. In these workshops, judges and prosecutors were trained in the preparation of financial intelligence reports and in the combat against terrorist financing.
    • As part of a coordinated effort by international organizations, CICAD joined with OAS/CICTE, the Executive Directorate of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee (UNCTED), the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC/TPB) and the South America Financial Action Task Force (GAFISUD) to create the MECOOR Initiative to develop joint capacity building projects to prevent and fight money laundering and terrorism financing. In 2012, they organized a national training event on combating money laundering and terrorism financing for judges and prosecutors in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia and a regional training event in Lima for judges and prosecutors from four countries.
    • CICAD carried out several workshops on Administration and Disposition of Seized and Confiscated Assets, in Panama (November 2012); Dominican Republic (March 2012); Costa Rica (June), and Chile (August 2012). These workshops strengthened the technical capacity of the officials of the agencies involved in the seizure, forfeiture, administration and allocation of assets of illicit origin.
    • Within the framework of the Seized and Forfeited Assets Management Project (which is known by its Spanish acronym, BIDAL) have been undertaken various activities, training around 330 officers. First, the Third Meeting of Preparation of the Proposal for the Improvement of the BIDAL Project took place in El Salvador, in March this year, which aimed to support the Interagency Working Group (GTI, Spanish acronym) in the preparation and completion of the Proposal for the Improvement of the Forfeited Assets Management System, along with the writing and formal presentation of the final document to the national authorities. Secondly, two workshops have been executed so far this year as part of the BIDAL Project. In March, we held a National Workshop in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and in June, a Regional Seminar took place in San Jose, Costa Rica, which involved more than 50 people from several countries of the region, among them Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and Dominican Republic. Both workshops are part of the BIDAL Project’s expansion into Central America.
    • CICAD organized an Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Course for Judges and Prosecutors that explored elements for analysis and practical problem solutions from Spanish and Peruvian doctrine and jurisprudence concerning investigation of money laundering cases. This initiative was carried out in Peru in April 2013 and in El Salvador in October 2013, totaled 90 participants.
    • A workshop on seized and forfeited assets administration was held in Honduras (January/February), Peru (April), Paraguay (June), Mexico (July) and Uruguay (July), and in total 300 participants attended, including judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officers.

    Activities:
    a) 12 training events hat reached 440 judges, prosecutors, public defenders, law enforcement agents and FIU analysts.
    b) Three joint seminars between CICAD and CICTE on Anti-Terrorism Financing.
    c) National training event on combating money laundering and terrorism financing for judges and prosecutors
    d) Several workshops on Administration and Disposition of Seized and Confiscated Assets

    Beneficiaries:
    All initiatives are intended to benefit all OAS member states.
    Some of the activities above have already benefited the following countries, among others: Ecuador, Uruguay, Dominican Republic, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile, Panama and El Salvador.

    Partnerships:
    United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee (UNCTED), the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC/TPB) and the South America Financial Action Task Force (GAFISUD)
    • Date:  4/29/2014    Paragraphs: 4
    Study on Women and Drugs in the Americas
    Claims by the media, paired with the scarce data available, suggest that in recent years, the participation of women in the international drug industry has increased significantly. Nevertheless, while this participation is visible in the news, it has been largely absent from the research and other activities of most governmental and inter-governmental bodies in the Americas. Preliminary research conducted by the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM) of the OAS indicates that in many countries, the majority of women denied liberty are fulfilling sentences for drug-related crimes.

    At the request of the Member States of the CIM, the Secretariat published a study "Women and drugs in the Americas: A policy working paper" that offers a country-by country review and analysis of available information, including reflections on the efficacy of current drug control policies and their consequences, as well as recommendations for public policy and other areas from a gender, development and human rights perspective.

    The working paper was then launched during an OAS policy round-table on "Women, drugs and incarceration in the Americas," which looked at the growing participation of women in all aspects of the illegal drugs trade in the Americas, the dynamics of their participation and their increased presence in the prisons of the region as a result of drug-related crimes.

    Activities:
    - Questionnaire circulated to Member States on the gender dimensions of their approach to addressing the issue of drugs
    - Literature review conducted of existing data and other evidence on this topic
    - Results compiled into a policy working paper and launched during a round-table event on March 31st 2014

    Beneficiaries:
    Government and other bodies responsible for public policy and programs on drugs, drug-related crime and penal systems.

    Partnerships:
    Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD)
    International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC)
    Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA)
    Government of Uruguay (Office of National Security)
    Government of Mexico (Ministry of the Interior)

    http://www.oas.org/en/cim/womenanddrugs.asp
    • Date:  4/29/2014    Paragraphs: 3
    System of Progress Indicators for Measuring the Implementation of the Belém do Pará Convention
    The Follow-up Mechanism to the Belém do Pará Convention (MESECVI) is a systematic and ongoing multi-lateral evaluation methodology, based on a forum for permanent dialogue and technical cooperation between the States Party to the Convention and a Committee of Experts. The goal of the MESECVI is to analyze progress in the implementation of the Convention by its States Party, as well as persistent challenges to an effective response to violence against women.

    In 2013, the MESECVI adopted a series of rights-based progress indicators related to the different provisions of the Convention. The aim of these indicators is to provide a more nuanced evaluation of efforts to implement the Convention and to generate an idea of the real impact of these efforts on women's ability to live free of violence.

    These indicators were circulated to the States Party tot he Belém do Pará Convention in July 2013, and thus far the MESECVI has received 17 replies, which will serve as the basis for national reports and a consolidated hemispheric report on the implementation of the Convention.

    Activities:
    - Conduct a review and assessment of existing efforts to monitor and evaluate the (State) response to violence against women
    - On the basis of this review (good practices/lessons learned) and in keeping with the provisions of the Belém do Pará Convention, identify a series of indicators the measure a) the implementation of the Convention; and b) women's ability to exercise their right to a life free of violence
    - Validate the indicators with the MESECVI Committee of Experts
    - Circulate the indicators to the States Party to the Convention
    - Compile the State Party responses into a series of national reports and a consolidated Hemispheric Report
    - Use these reports to develop information and awareness-raising tools and products on the prevalence of violence against women and the measures needed to effectively prevent and address it.

    Beneficiaries:
    Government entities responsible for responding to violence against women (Ministries of Women, Education, Health, Justice, etc.)
    Women's (civil society) organizations involved with the issue of violence against women

    Partnerships:
    Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (OAS)
    Inter-American Institute for Human Rights (IIDH)
    Gender and Justice Foundation (ELA)
    • Date:  4/29/2014    Paragraphs: 3
    1. National strategies against transnational organized crime (Part 2)
    d) Counter-terrorism efforts
    • Since the adoption of the Comprehensive Inter-American Cybersecurity Strategy in 2004, the CICTE Cyber Security program has promoted the creation of Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs), whose numbers have risen from six (6) to eighteen (18) in the last decade. In parallel, countries such as Colombia, Panama, and Trinidad and Tobago have established national cybersecurity policies and strategies, while with support from the OAS Department of Information and Technology Services (DOITS), the Executive Secretariat has developed a mobile laboratory for conducting cybersecurity crisis management exercises, which has been used for training activities in six (6) countries. These three developments have consolidated capacities for response, both national and regional, to this type of threat.
    • In 2013, as part of its Maritime Security Program, CICTE concluded the Port Security Assistance Partnership Phase III (PSAP III) that had begun in May of 2010. The PSAP III included projects designed in consultation with Transport Canada and the United States Coast Guard, to carry out and complement activities that had been underway since 2007 on three main subprograms: Port Security Assessments and Follow on Trainings, Crisis Management Exercises (CMEs) and Best Practices Workshops.
    • 2013 marks the final year of CICTE’s 3 year project on Capacity-building in Travel Document Security and Identity Management in the Americas. This Program carried out capacity gap assessment missions on travel document security and identity management. These missions focused on identifying the challenges member states face regarding the security of document issuance processes and control of travel documents, while at the same time providing recommendations and suggestions on how to address those challenges.
    • CICTE’s Security in Major Events program promotes the building of national and regional prevention capacities through direct assistance to the member states, as was evident in the preparations for the 2010 Pan-American Games (Mexico) and 2013 Central American Games (Costa Rica).
    • Since 2011, CICTE has been assisting Mexico work towards UNSCR 1540 compliance by supporting authorities the drafting of a National Work Plan, followed by a 2-year tailored action-oriented program to address needs and challenges. This tailored capacity building and technical assistance program is conducted in partnership with the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the UNSCR 1540 Committee Group of Experts.
    • In Colombia, based on the tailored assessment and the needs and priorities identified in its National Action Plan of Colombia, CICTE in collaboration with the Colombian Government plans to host specialized training activities at in-country in the near future. The number of activities to be implemented depends on the available funding from donor countries for the Project. To date, funding sources have not been identified.
    • In addition, in partnership with Panamanian government authorities, the CICTE Secretariat is coordinating a meeting with relevant officials to take the first steps towards the drafting of a National Work Plan for the implementation of UNSCR 1540 in Panama. This activity will include the support of UNODA, the 1540 Committee and its Group of Experts.

    Activities:
    d) Counter-terrorism efforts

    Beneficiaries: All initiatives and intended to benefit all OAS member states.

    Partnerships: UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA)
    • Date:  4/29/2014    Paragraphs: -
    1. National strategies against transnational organized crime (Part 1)
    a) Preventing and fighting transnational organized crime
    • In 2012, the SMS/OAS developed a “Model to Strengthen Institutional Capacities to Address Citizen Security Concerns” to provide an overview of citizen security in a country by analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the following subsystems: Ministry of Security; National Police; Prison System; Judiciary; Public Ministry; Private Security; and the Parliament; by carrying out a study on the weaknesses of the existing relations between the subsystems analyzed from the perspective of functions National Security System; and by drafting concrete recommendations to address the problems identified. Between 2012 and 2014, and as per the request of each government, the Secretariat performed this needs assessment in Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Belize. Final reports and specific recommendations, in addition to technical projects for possible implementation, were provided to each government.
    • The Department of Public Security has created a Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy that seeks to help Member States reduce and/or mitigate the risks associated with violent and/or criminal situations in the hemisphere. Implemented in collaboration with partner institutions such as local governments, public and private networks, civil society organizations, schools systems, and others, the strategy gives priority to identifying risk factors for youth related crime and/or violence.
    b) Special investigative techniques
    • In order to strengthen the capacities of investigators responsible for conducting investigations of money laundering and organized crime, CICAD organized three workshops on Special Investigative Techniques (SIT) in Paraguay (1) and Peru (2). The course is based on the analysis of money laundering convictions in which SIT played an important function in the investigation and prosecution process, with the discussion of cases, experiences and best practices with a team of CICAD experts.
    • CICAD designed and implemented a workshop for prosecutors and law enforcement agents taking into consideration the importance of training in Special Investigative Techniques (SIT). Through numerous experiences and cases, the training explored the characteristics of the special investigative techniques, their complexities and risks, and best practices to achieve optimum preventive and judicial results. The SIT workshop was held in Nicaragua, Honduras and Peru in February, April and June 2013, respectively, and totaled 124 participants.
    c) Collection and dissemination of statistical data
    • The Secretariat has been helping to strengthen national, sub regional and regional capacities and capabilities to improve information on transnational organized crime and its activities since 2009. The Department of Public Security has helped to develop national, governmental centers and/or observatories for the collection, analysis and distribution of national information on crime and violence in Belize, Barbados, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Jamaica, Peru, Saint Kits and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay.
    • DPS is working with CARICOM-IMPACS and SICA-OBSICA to develop standardized indicators on crime and violence and helped to coordinate a meeting in El Salvador (August 2013) with OBSICA and the IDB’s Standardized Indicators System (SES).
    • The DPS is integral part of the executive committee that oversees the activities of the UNODC-INEGI Center of Excellence on Statistics on Governance, Public Safety, Victimization and Justice, in Mexico City. Since January 2012, within the Center of Excellence framework, the OAS participated in several activities with representatives of its Member States to strengthen information collection, information sharing and training of governmental officers on data collection and victimization surveys.
    • In 2012, the DPS worked with UNODC-INEGI Center of Excellence to develop indicators to measure TOC in the Americas. Furthermore, OAS/SMS/DPS worked with the World Economic Forum (WEF), in 2013, during a series of live and online discussions to develop projects for the WEF Global Agenda Council on Organized Crime (mainly a research on the economic cost of TOC). Additionally, DPS implemented together with economists and statisticians from Oxford Economics a research on indicators of TOC.
    • Since 2012, DPS has actively participated in the creation and implementation of an International Classification of Crime for Statistical purposes. The DPS participated in the last round of debate addressing the characteristics of TOC in the Western Hemisphere.
    • The OAS has been working in coordination with UNODC to collect, analyze and publish information on crime trends and judicial systems in the Western Hemisphere. Through the CTS process, 20 OAS member countries are collecting national data and informing the international community.
    (Continues in Part II)

    Activities:
    a) Preventing and fighting transnational organized crime
    b) Special investigative techniques
    c) Collection and dissemination of statistical data

    Beneficiaries:
    All initiatives and intended to benefit all OAS member states. Some initiatives have been implemented only, for now in Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Belize, Peru, Paraguay, Nicaragua, Barbados, Ecuador, Jamaica, Saint Kits and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay.

    Partnerships: UNODC-INEGI Center of Excellence on Statistics on Governance, Public Safety, Victimization and Justice
    CARICOM-IMPACS and SICA-OBSICA
    World Economic Forum (WEF)
    UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)
    • Date:  4/29/2014    Paragraphs: 5, 9
    Law Enforcement Matters
    • The Department of Public Security (DPS), within the framework of the Central American Security Strategy, and in collaboration with SICA, is implementing a project to address the impacts of violence related to transnational organized crime and to strengthen the national institutions responsible for assisting and protecting victims and/or witnesses of these crimes in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Specifically, DPS has begun to develop and homogenize a Model Protocol for the assistance and protection of victims and/or witnesses of transnational organized crime in the region.

    • DPS has also developed a program to help prevent and combat crimes related to irregular migration and specifically to protect the victims of irregular migration in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Central America. Within the framework of this project, the GS/OAS has committed to supporting strategies for the prevention of crimes that affect migrant population; creating and strengthening national human and institutional capacities to combat existing networks dedicated to the illicit trafficking of migrants; and promoting the formulation and adoption of public policies geared towards the protection of migrants, particularly vulnerable populations like women, children, indigenous populations, and others.

    • Also, DPS is developing a new police code of ethics for the National Police of Uruguay within the framework of the “Integrated Local Management of Citizen Security” program being implemented by the Government of Uruguay and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The code of ethics will be complemented by an awareness-raising plan in order to socialize it among the security actors, as well as a training program.

    • The Department of Public Security, together with Ameripol, published a report on “Best Practices, a model for effective intervention and transcendence in the Americas”. This compilation of best practices attempts not only to identify success stories from within the police institutions of the hemisphere, but also common threats for the consideration and implementation of a coordinated response by Member States.

    • In addition, within the framework of the Cooperation Agreement signed with Ameripol, DPS organized a seminar “Strategies for Police Public Safety”, to promote innovative approaches developed by police institutions of the hemisphere, in particular police service models that provide a timely and satisfactory response to citizens’ public security needs. The seminar was open to all Permanent Missions and police attaches of the Member States.

    • The Secretariat, together with the Commission to Reform Public Security in Honduras, created seven (7) bills to reform several of the law enforcement agencies in the country. The proposed bills are framed within the mandates of the Commission and include: Amendment to the National Police Act, Police Career Act, Amendment to the Administrative Litigation Jurisdiction Act. Amendment to the Public Prosecutor Act, Amendment to the Public Prosecutor Office’s Career Service, Amendment to the Judicial Council Act, Amendment to the Judicial Career Act. In addition, the Secretariat worked with Commissioners to create project proposals related to penitentiary reform processes and community police, among others.

    Activities:
    a) Addressing the impacts of violence related to transnational organized crime and to strengthen the national institutions responsible for assisting and protecting victims and/or witnesses of these crimes in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.
    b) Homogenize a Model Protocol for the assistance and protection of victims and/or witnesses of transnational organized crime in the region.
    c)Program to help prevent and combat crimes related to irregular migration and specifically to protect the victims of irregular migration in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Central America.
    d) New police code of ethics for the National Police of Uruguay.
    e) Report on “Best Practices, a model for effective intervention and transcendence in the Americas".
    f) Seminar: “Strategies for Police Public Safety”, to promote innovative approaches developed by police institutions of the hemisphere, in particular police service models that provide a timely and satisfactory response to citizens’ public security needs.
    g) Together with the Commission to Reform Public Security in Honduras, the SMS technically supported the elaboration of seven (7) bills to reform several of the law enforcement agencies in the country.

    Beneficiaries:
    All initiatives are intended to benefit all OAS member states.
    Some of the activities above have already benefited the following countries: Mexico, the Dominican Republic, the whole of Central America and Uruguay.

    Partnerships: Sistema de Integracion Centro Americana (SICA)
    Commission to Reform Public Security (CRPS) in Honduras
    • Date:  4/29/2014    Paragraphs: 1, 5
    Information sharing (Part 2)
    c. Meetings and events (Part 2)
    • In May 30-31, 2013, the XXXV Meeting of the Group of Experts for the Control of Money Laundering and Working Subgroups was held in Washington DC, United States. Its goal was to follow up on the Work Plan approved by the plenary in September 2012, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and by CICAD in November of the same year.

    • The second meeting of the Group of Experts was held in Brasilia, Brazil, in September 2013 and relevant documents were approved, such as: the “Self-Assessment Guide for the Forfeiture and Assets Administration”; the “Study to Identify International Cooperation Mechanism (formal and informal)” that provides an adequate exchange of information to prevent and combat money laundering, the financing of terrorism and the recovery of assets of criminal origin; “Recommendations for the Identification and Analysis of Risk Factors Associated with Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing at the Hemispheric Level”; and “Recommendations to Improve the Anti-Money Laundering Systems at the level of the OAS States Members”, as well as the 2013-2014 Work Plan of the GELAVEX Sub-Working Groups.

    • The meeting of the CICAD Group of Experts on Chemical Substances and Pharmaceutical Products, chaired by the Dominican Republic, finalized the “Guide for tracing chemical substances” and the “Guide and model training curriculum for judges and prosecutors.

    • The meeting of the CICAD Expert Group on Chemical Substances and Pharmaceutical Products, chaired by Peru, met and finalized “Guide of basic elements to consider in the implementation of mechanisms that allow authorities to evaluate the estimated requirements of controlled substances”, “Guide to Best Practices to Prevent the Counterfeiting of Precursor Chemicals”, “Guide for tracing seized narcotics and psychotropic substances”, and “Information Bulletin on New Psychoactive Substances (NPS)”.

    • The meeting of the CICAD Group of Experts on Maritime Narcotrafficking, chaired by Argentina, finalized “Guide for the Control for Small Vessels: Recreational, Pleasure, and Fishing”, “Guide for the Control of Narcotrafficking Over Lakes and Riverine Systems”, “Guide for the Control of “Go Fast” Boats”.

    • The meeting of the CICAD Expert Group on Maritime Narcotrafficking, chaired by Peru, finalized “Best practices Guide to prevent the spread of criminal activities and corruption in maritime port facilities” The Group also began work on a number of other resource documents. This document was approved by the Commission in Bogota, Colombia at which time Colombia was elected to the chair the Group.

    • CICTE hosted a Regional Workshop on Major Events Security and Crime Prevention in Chile in August 2013, to promote the design and development of a Knowledge Management System (KMS) on Major Event Security planning and crime prevention for the region. Since this event, the National Focal Points for Major Events have been using the platform to exchange information and knowledge on crime prevention, and share documents on best practices.

    Activities:
    a) XXXV Meeting of the Group of Experts for the Control of Money Laundering and Working Group.
    b) The second meeting of the Group of Experts on Money Laundering.
    c) The meeting of the CICAD Group of Experts on Chemical Substances and Pharmaceutical Products chaired by the Dominican Republic.
    d) The meeting of the CICAD Expert Group on Chemical Substances and Pharmaceutical Products chaired by Peru.
    e) The meeting of the CICAD Group of Experts on Maritime Narcotrafficking, chaired by Argentina.
    f) The meeting of the CICAD Expert Group on Maritime Narcotrafficking, chaired by Peru.
    g) Regional Workshop on Major Events Security and Crime Prevention.

    Beneficiaries: All OAS member states.
    • Date:  4/29/2014    Paragraphs: 1, 5
    Information sharing (Part 1)
    a. National points of contact

    • The Secretariat for Multidimensional Security has kept current the list of national authorities responsible for transnational organized crime, based on information provided by the Member States, a copy of which was distributed prior to this meeting. It also maintains a list of points of contact for the CIFTA Convention, national authorities responsible for trafficking in persons, and prison and penitentiary authorities.

    • Since its creation in 2006, CICTE’s National Focal Point Network program has provided a forum for sharing experiences and knowledge of planning and security for major events, and now has 28 designated national focal points. In 2012, a permanent information exchange mechanism, accessible to all national focal points, was launched, a tool that provides support to countries hosting major events for security planning and enhanced cooperation among public institutions and between the public and private sectors.

    b. Information gathering and analysis

    • The Inter-American Observatory on Public Security provides regional, sub regional and national data on Crime and Violence in all OAS Member States. The Observatory portal receives an average of 200 unique visitors a day, comprising mostly of government officials, academic professionals and representatives from civil society.

    • The Inter-American Observatory on Public Security includes a database of TOC laws, treaties, regulations (national, sub regional and regional) and documents. The database of TOC laws can be accessed at the following URL: http://www.oas.org/dsp/observatorio/database/resources.aspx?lang=en

    c. Meetings and events

    • The Department of Public Security helped organize the Third Meeting of National Authorities on Trafficking in Persons, hosted by the Government of Guatemala on October 15-16, 2012. High-level representatives of the OAS member states, civil society and international community addressed issues pertaining accomplishments, gaps and hemispheric challenges in combating trafficking in persons. Particular attention was given to the integral protection of trafficked victims.

    • Also, as part of the information-sharing and communication activities, in June 25th, 2013, the DPS/SMS/OAS, with the collaboration of the Department of External Relations of the GS/OAS, organized the 52nd OAS Policy Roundtable called “Awareness of Domestic Servitude in the Americas”. This meeting was intended to inform the representatives of Member States, the civil society and the international community of the challenges of the exploitation of men, women and children in domestic work, based on the 189 Convention of the International Labor Organization (ILO).

    • In April 2012, the Meeting of the GAFISUD’s Assets Recovery Network (RRAG, Spanish acronym) took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, instance in which the CICAD participated as a speaker and observer of this meeting for the exchange of experiences in assets recovery of criminal origin.

    • CICAD participated in two international conferences in May 2012. First, the CICAD was present at the Conference on Organized Crime of the Network of Anti-Organized Crime and Anti-Drug Trafficking Prosecutors in Central American and the Caribbean (REFCO) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, which promoted the exchange of experiences and good practices in the judicial management of the police investigation, and the attainment of better results in prosecuting the crimes of money laundering and organized crime.

    • On May 30-31, 2012 the XXXIV Meeting of the Group of Experts for the Control of Money Laundering was held in Washington DC to follow up on the recommendations of the plenary held in September 2011, and the Sub-Working Groups Meeting, in May 2011.

    • The ES supported and participated in the “Conference on money laundering proceeding from drug trafficking, the importance of asset investigation and of the asset recovery offices”, held in May 2013 in San Jose, Costa Rica. The conference was executed within the framework of the EU technical assistance through COPOLAD Consortium.

    • In October 2013, the ES participated and supported the Conference “Exchange of Experiences on Managing Seized Assets from drug trafficking and money laundering”, organized by COPOLAD and held in Montevideo, Uruguay.

    • From March to September 2013, two Meetings of the GAFISUD’s Assets Recovery Network (RRAG) were held: the first one in Bogota, Colombia, and the second in the city of Panama. In both of them, the ES/CICAD participated as a speaker and observer.

    • In July 15-19, the XXVII Plenary Session of GAFISUD was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in which the ES was actively involved in the working sessions and presented the respective report of activities.

    Activities:
    a) Third Meeting of National Authorities on Trafficking in Persons.
    b) 52nd OAS Policy Roundtable called “Awareness of Domestic Servitude in the Americas”.
    c) Participation in Conference on Organized Crime of the Network of Anti-Organized Crime and Anti-Drug Trafficking Prosecutors in Central American and the Caribbean (REFCO)
    d) XXXIV Meeting of the Group of Experts for the Control of Money Laundering.
    e) “Conference on money laundering proceeding from drug trafficking, the importance of asset investigation and of the asset recovery offices”.
    f) Conference “Exchange of Experiences on Managing Seized Assets from drug trafficking and money laundering”.
    g) Participation in the two meetings of the GAFISUD’s Assets Recovery Network (RRAG).
    h) Participation in the XXVII Plenary Session of GAFISUD.

    Beneficiaries:
    Chile, Uruguay, Guatemala, Panama, Antigua and Barbuda, and The Bahamas, among others.

    Partnerships: Department of External Relations of the GS/OAS.
    Cooperation Programme between Latin America and the European Union on Drugs Policies, (COPOLAD)
    • Date:  5/30/2013    Paragraphs: 2
    The Office of Education and Culture: Inter-American Program on Education for Democratic Values and Practices

    The project “Armando Paz: Building a Culture of Peace with Youth in Central America through Arts, Media and Social Dialogue”, concluded in September 2012. The program has been recognized in 2012 by the Organization of Ibero-American Youth (OIJ) as one of 20 good practices, has 2 publications and capacitated over 15, 700 young people.
    • Date:  5/30/2013    Paragraphs: 6
    The Office of Scholarships, Training and Capacity Strengthening

    The Department of Human Development, Educationa nd Culture supported the Department of Public Security from 2009-2012 with the administration of scholarships to participate in the Police Courses offered to member states
    • Date:  5/30/2013    Paragraphs: 7
    The Office of Education and Culture: Inter-American Program on Education for Democratic Values and Practices
    Working in collaboration with the Secretariat of Education of Hidalgo, Mexico the Project ¨Peace Leaders¨ was created to strengthen the capacities of secondary school teachers and students to develop and manage social projects aimed at building a culture of peace in their communities. A total of 80 teachers from 40 schools received training to work with 2,400 secondary school students on developing community projects oriented to prevent violence within schools and in their communities. The advances made on the student-developed projects may be viewed on: www.facebook.com/LideresDePazHidalgo.
    By the end of the Project, a forum will be organized to promote the exchange of ideas and experiences among participating students and teachers for teachers and students to continue to discuss and elaborate upon recommendations regarding potential lines of action to strengthen the way in which violence can be prevented at schools and how school environments may be improved to create a culture of peace and democracy.
    This activity is supported partially by the US Permanent Mission to the OAS as well as by the Secretariat of Public Education of the Government of Hidalgo, Mexico.
    • Date:  11/8/2012    Paragraphs: 4
    Initiative:
    Hemispheric Plan to Fight Transnational Organized Crime

    Description:
    The Hemispheric Plan to Fight Transnational Organized Crime is based on two pillars, one political and one operational, that will make use of existing international, regional, and sub-regional arrangements.

    Actividades:
    • Create an Inter-American Commission Transnational Organized Crime (CIDOT) within the Organization of American States (OAS) as a technical body that promotes political efforts against transnational organized crime.
    • Use the Hemispheric Network for information exchange for mutual assistance in criminal matters and extradition, and strengthen ties with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and other relevant United Nations bodies and activities.
    • Create an independent Coordinating Center against transnational organized crim e to encourage and facilitate comprehensive and systematic exchange of strategic, tactical and operational information in the areas of intelligence, investigation and prosecution. The Coordinating center will also develop strategic products that facilitate the process of decision-making, such as criminal threat assessments and geo-referenced maps.
    • Date:  11/8/2012    Paragraphs: 8
    Initiative:
    Hemispheric Drug Policy Analysis

    Presidential Directive:
    “We, the region's leaders, held an invaluable discussion on the global drug problem. We agreed on the need to analyze the results of the current policy in the Americas and to explore new approaches to strengthen this struggle and to become more effective. We have issued the OAS a mandate to that end.” President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, closing statement, Sixth Summit of the Americas.

    Activities:
    • Analytical report: An evidence-based and thorough analysis of drug policies in the Americas will pinpoint the strengths, successes, weaknesses as well as current and future challenges in implementing policies. The study will consider a range of issues including the relationship between drugs and public health; socio-economic impact; security challenges including the nexus between drugs, violence and organized crime; production and supply of drugs, pharmaceutical and chemical precursors; and existing regulations and laws related to the drug issue.
    • Scenario report: Based on the findings of the analysis, the scenario report will provide a comprehensive catalog of options around the drug issue that will be presented to governments for their consideration. Policy makers, stakeholders, leaders and experts will participate in and contribute to the elaboration of this report.
    • Publication of both reports: April 2013.

    Partnerships:
    Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Pan American Health Organization, Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA), Development Bank of Latin America
    • Date:  6/23/2011    Paragraphs: 72
    The OAS agency on Drug Abuse Control (CICAD) has approved its Hemispheric Drug Strategy, thus culminating a comprehensive reexamination of guidelines for national programs, regional cooperation and policy consensus on drug issues. The Commission began drafting a plan of action that translates the Strategy’s guidelines into more specific prioritized national and regional policy and program recommendations that should be measurable and attainable over a fixed period of time. The Commission also elaborated tasks for the SMS in support of Member States. This effort represents the most significant reassessment of drug control policy in 15 years.
    • Date:  6/23/2011    Paragraphs: 74
    In 2010 – 2011, the OAS and the Trust for the Americas continued to implement the project “Armando Paz: Building a culture of peace with youth in Central America through media, arts and social dialogue” in El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama. Project activities included five capacity building workshops that reached 120 civil society organizations and representatives from governmental institutions working with youth, four national forums promoting dialogue among youth, private sector representatives and government and the launch of the sub-grant competition “Peace challenge”. The competitions goal was to encourage
    young people from El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama to submit project proposals to address creatively the problems that are identified as causal factors of violence and insecurity in their communities. The contest ended on April 15, 2011 with the submission of 97 project proposals, 72% of which were submitted by young people between 18 and 26 years old.
    • Date:  6/23/2011    Paragraphs: 69
    In 2010, the Secretariat for Multidimensional Security (SMS) of the OAS conducted 114 technical assistance activities providing training to 3,505 participants in the areas of: border controls, critical infrastructure protection, legislative assistance, and combating terrorism. The SMS/OAS has also expanded its partnerships with multilateral and international organizations.
    • Date:  6/23/2011    Paragraphs: 75
    The OAS continues to promote firearms marking and tracking, and the management of arsenals in the Americas, as a means to support capacity-building of Member States. The OAS is also in the forefront of ensuring that our citizens are protected and feel secure, through mechanisms and programs that promote transparency in the acquisition of conventional arms, the application of confidence and security building measures, and education for peace and disarmament, aimed at reducing military expenditures to increase development.
    Related Resources
    OAS Website
  • Social Development
    Ministerials
    Paragraphs Related to the Theme
    Reports
    • Date:  3/1/2018    Paragraphs: -
    Information available in Spanish
    • Date:  5/6/2014    Paragraphs: 6
    Inter-American Social Protection Network (IASPN)
    The Inter-American Social Protection Network (IASPN) is a cooperation mechanism for national social development ministries and agencies, in collaboration with international organizations, non-governmental organizations, private sector and academia, to promote the exchange and transfer of experiences and knowledge on social protection.
    General Objectives:
    - Bring together key actors and institutions throughout the region to engage in an agenda-setting dialogue on social protection schemes and appropriate cooperation mechanisms.
    - Strengthen the institutional capacity of national social development agencies in formulating and implementing effective and efficient policies and programs to eradicate extreme poverty, and facilitate greater cross-sectoral cooperation on social protection issues.
    - Foster the exchange of best practices in social protection based on detecting specific country needs and priorities, assembling a portfolio of social protection programs, and matching supply and demand of successful programs and methodologies.
    - Provide a community of practice of policy-makers and practitioners through a knowledge and learning network.

    Activities:
    - The IASPN facilitates the exchange of social protection experiences through cooperation exchanges among members in bilateral or trilateral schemes, through cooperation in social protection workshops with innovative methodologies, and through the IASPN online portal.
    - Developed 2 Diploma Courses on Social Protection for social development ministries and other key stakeholders (Spanish edition with Universidad Catolica de Chile, English edition with the University of the West Indies).
    - Participatory Gender Assessments (PGA). The IASPN is implementing a series of PGAs in 3 social development ministries, aimed at mainstreaming a gender perspective in public policies, in collaboration with CIM.
    - Developed and implements a community of practice in social protection with key regional, national and local stakeholders in the social protection field. The IASPN platform also provides a virtual space for the exchange of information and knowledge in this field (some of the tools: Inter-American Social Protection Dialogue Webinar Series, IASPN bi-weekly digest, Social protection Program Portfolio, blogs, discussion groups).
    - Within the IASPN Public-Private Partnerships strategy, the OAS brings together key actors in the field to exchange experiences and information, and to build on sustainable partnerships between both sectors.

    Beneficiaries:
    Countries: regional
    Institutions: Social development ministries/ related government agencies, other stakeholders working on social protection (academia, international organizations, non-governmental actors)

    Partnerships:
    Social development ministries in several countries, Universidad Catolica de Chile, University of West Indies, The QED Group, UNICEF, PAHO, ECLAC, UNDP/IPC, UN Women, FAO, ILO, CIPPEC, EUROSOCIAL, World Bank, CLEAR, OPHI, CFE, SISCA.

    http://www.socialprotectionet.org/
    • Date:  5/2/2014    Paragraphs: 2
    Department of Economic and Social Development (DESD) - Tourism section Initiatives

    Hemispheric Tourism Fund:
    The purpose of the Hemispheric Tourism Fund is to finance cooperation among ministries and national authorities for tourism in order to support those communities in the member states in situations of extreme poverty which, despite having tourism potential in their surrounding areas, are unable to fully access conditions for development.. The Hemispheric Tourism Fund was created by a mandate of the Ministers and High Level Authorities of Tourism at the XIX The Inter American Travel Congress in September 2011.
    Activities: The Inter American Committee on Tourism in 2013 approved three projects from El Salvador, Ecuador and Barbados to be financed from resources of the FHT. Two of the three projects are currently being executed.

    Inter American Travel Congress (IACT):
    The Inter American Travel Congress (IATC) serves as an important platform for the exchange of experiences and best practices and provides a mechanism to sponsor technical studies, strengthen communication between government agencies and the private sector, consider technical cooperation proposals, and support member states in their efforts to develop the tourism sector. The IATC fosters the adoption of official agreements among governments relating to the tourism industry; encourages comparative studies and technical projects focusing on responsible tourism development; and coordinates activities of intergovernmental and private organizations in the area of tourism development.
    Activities: The XIX Inter American Tourism Congress held in San Salvador, El Salvador in September 2011, was organized under the theme Tourism: a challenge to poverty.

    Small Tourism Enterprise Network (STEN):
    The Small Tourism Enterprise Network focuses on improving productivity and competitiveness of small and medium tourism enterprises through targeted training for owners/operators of small tourism enterprises as well as public officials in the tourism sector responsible for supporting the small hotel sub-sector.
    Activities: Several national, regional and sub-regional training workshops including the First Forum for Caribbean Small Hotels held in Antigua and Barbuda in July 2012, the First Latin American and Caribbean Encounter of Owners and Operators of Small Hotels held in San Jose, Costa Rica in April 2013, and the series of Organization of Eastern Caribbean (OECS) National Small Hotels Workshops held between April and September 2013.

    Beneficiaries:
    Ministries of Tourism and other governmental and non governmental institutions of the OAS member states
    Owners/operators of small tourism enterprises, public officials in the tourism sector responsible for supporting the small hotel sub-sector
    Poor communities which have tourism potential

    Partnerships: Ministries of Tourism of the member states, Tourism Boards, Small Tourism Enterprises and Hotel Associations.
    • Date:  5/30/2013    Paragraphs: 2
    OFFICE OF TOURISM

    Projects and Activities in Tourism
    Hemispheric Fund for Tourism: In the Declaration of San Salvador for Sustainable Tourism Development
    in the Americas adopted at the eighth plenary session held on September 30, 2011 the ministers and high authorities of tourism of the OAS member states instructed the Inter-American Committee on Tourism to create a financing and cooperation mechanism among the national ministries and authorities of tourism, through a hemispheric tourism fund composed of voluntary contributions, giving consideration to the participation of the private sector and international organizations, in order to support communities that live in extreme poverty and have tourism potential in their environment but cannot fully achieve development.

    The Hemispheric Fund for Tourism (FHT) was therefore subsequently duly established in November 2012 and the first call for projects to be financed under this mechanism was made in January 2013. On June 19 2013, the Inter-American Committee on Tourism (CITUR) will meet to approve the first group of projects to be financed from the FHT.
    • Date:  5/30/2013    Paragraphs: 2
    Capacity Strengthening
    The Department of Human Development, Education and Culture has identified major priorities and challenges faced by member states regarding innovation in education and social inclusion. The DHDEC executed exploratory field needs assessments in innovation in education in Mexico, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago and Brazil and the following areas were identified: curriculum development, literacy, STEM, special education, teacher training, workforce development, educational technology, and innovation in education and policy.

    The DHEC Supported member states in their efforts to ensure access to quality education for all. At the request of the Ministry of Education of Suriname, the DHDEC provided technical cooperation in the area of innovation in education through an integrated comprehensive model (i.e.. Innovation in Curriculum Development, Teacher Training, Community Involvement, Science and Technology and Learning Strategies). Other requests were received from the Ministry of Education of Panama and the Ministry of Education of Trinidad and Tobago, particularly for communities with less access to quality educational services and infrastructure; initial conversations began.

    The DHEC started the development of a Capacity Strengthening Course on Research Based Curriculum Development for Higher Education for Growing Universities. Negotiation among different partners (UNICA; GCUB, and VUB and other Academic partners).

    The Office of Scholarships, Training and Capacity Strengthening
    The OAS offers access to quality education through its various Scholarship and Training Programs.
    OAS Scholarship Programs:
    • The Academic Scholarship Program for academic studies;
    • The Professional Development Scholarship Program to participate in professional development straining;
    • The Partnerships Program for Education and Training to offer scholarships for academic and technical studies and professional development training;
    • The OAS Scholarship Program for Haiti for academic and technical studies, professional development training and teacher training.
    • Date:  5/30/2013    Paragraphs: 5
    Office of Education and Culture
    The OAS is finalizing ITEN's Regional Knowledge Bank in collaboration with UNESCO-OREALC, CECC-SICA and PREAL to be launched in July 2013 to highlight good practices, programs and experiences throughout the OAS region.The "Regional Knowledge Bank" will be lauch in July 2013
    • Date:  5/30/2013    Paragraphs: 6
    Office of Scholarships, Training and Capacity Strengthening
    In order to strengthen human and institutional capacity in member states, the OAS - DHDEC offers training opportunities through scholarships to generate a skilled workforce.
    OAS scholarships are also open to vulnerable groups.
    • Date:  11/8/2012    Paragraphs: 6
    Initiative:
    International Executive MBA in infrastructure

    Descripction:
    Under the Partnership Program for Education and Training, the Organization of American States (OAS) and Structuralia in partnership with the Escuela de Organización industrial de Madrid (EOI) have joined together to support outstanding individuals of the Americas by sponsoring a total of 20 scholarships to continue their studies. Young professionals will receive specialized training in sectors of economic and productive growth in the Americas, such as construction, energy and infrastructure. Such specialized training will contribute to economic and social development in the region.

    Partnerships:
    Escuela de Organización Industrial
    Structuralia
    • Date:  7/31/2012    Paragraphs: 2
    Information available in Spanish
    • Date:  7/31/2012    Paragraphs: -
    Information available in Spanish
    • Date:  7/31/2012    Paragraphs: -
    Information available in Spanish
    • Date:  7/31/2012    Paragraphs: 10, 6, 1, 2
    Inter-American Social Protection Network (IASPN)
    At the heart of the IASPN is the conviction that countries can learn from their peers and build on each other’s experience. Launched in 2009 by the Organization of American States (OAS), the IASPN functions as a community of practice and learning—a regional network linked by a common purpose and focused on practical results. It brings together countries' social development ministries and other government offices, as well as international agencies, nongovernmental organizations, the private sector, and academia. Through the IASPN, participants can share information and knowledge, exchange ideas, and transfer or adapt policies, programs, and practices that have proved to be successful. It was established back in 2009 by the heads of state at the V Summit of the Americas and the Social Development Ministerial Forum.

    In 2012, at the VI Summit of the Americas, Heads of State resolved to:
    “6. To deepen inter-American cooperation in the area of development and social protection with a view to strengthening human and institutional capacity-building efforts, and generating a skilled workforce, with a gender perspective and giving attention to vulnerable groups”.
    "13. To promote the gradual formalization of the informal economy, recognizing its heterogeneous and multidimensional nature, through policies such as registration and information systems to facilitate formalization and access to credit, social protection mechanisms, improvement of occupational health and safety, strengthening of labor inspection, and effective enforcement of labor laws."

    IASPN General Objectives:
    - Bring together key actors and institutions throughout the region to engage in an agenda-setting dialogue on social protection schemes and appropriate cooperation mechanisms.
    - Strengthen the institutional capacity of national social development agencies in formulating and implementing effective and efficient policies and programs to eradicate extreme poverty, and facilitate greater cross-sectoral cooperation on social protection issues.
    - Provide an Inter-American cooperation mechanism for the exchange of social protection experiences and knowledge, and match supply and demand of successful programs and methodologies.
    - Consolidate the social protection community of practice of policy-makers and practitioners through a knowledge and learning network.

    The IASPN is based on the following strategic pillars:
    - High-level political dialogue, South-South cooperation, Intersectoral approach, Collaboration among international agencies, Public-private partnerships, Network Tools

    IASPN tools:
    • Virtual platform— The IASPN is developing and online community of learning and practice dedicated to the social protection field in the region. It will be launched in July of 2012. In the meantime, a dedicated website (www.socialprotectionet.org) serves as a clearinghouse for information about relevant developments, programs, and resources related to social protection in the region.
    • Publications—Through reports, concept papers, manuals, newsletters, and other publications, the IASPN systematizes and disseminates critical information about political priorities and policy innovations, and seeks feedback from the countries on key social protection issues.
    • Educational and sharing tools—The IASPN offers practical training at the national or regional level through a combination of in-person and virtual tools that range from seminars, workshops, and meetings to webinars, distance-learning courses, and social networking.
    • Technical support—As it did with the Programa Puente (Bridge Program) between Chile and several Caribbean countries, the OAS provides hands-on assistance in coordinating and facilitating cooperation.
    http://www.socialprotectionet.org/english/index.html

    Activities:
    • Launching of IASPN virtual platform: community of learning and practice (July 2012)
    • On-site cooperation activities in the social protection field.
    • Second Edition of Diploma Course on social protection with Universidad Católica de Chile (Spanish)
    • Diploma Course on social protection with UWI to be developed (English).
    • On-site social protection and cooperation workshops.
    • Social protection publications and reports.
    • Public-private partnerships in social protection consultations.
    • Gender perspective in social protection activities.
    • Inter-agency joint statements on social protection.

    Beneficiaries:
    All OAS Member States' social development ministries, as well as international organizations, practitioners, academia and other stakeholders working in the social protection field.

    Partnership:
    ECLAC, ILO, FAO, WFP, PAHO, UNICEF, WB, IDB, universities, foundations, among others.

    Financing: Current funding: US. Past funding: Canada, China, World Bank and Chile.
    • Date:  6/23/2011    Paragraphs: 9
    Since the Organization of American States (OAS) launched the network in September 2009, the Inter-American Social Protection Network (IASPN) has been consolidated as a cooperation mechanism to exchange experiences and knowledge on social protection, mainly by providing a comprehensive knowledge and learning environment based on linkages and expanded cooperation among both public and private agencies, organizations and institutions to address issues related to combating poverty and reducing social disparities. Within the framework of the IASPN, the OAS has worked in close collaboration with Joint Summit Working Group (JSWG) partners Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), World Bank, International Labor Organization (ILO), and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO); as well as other institutional and academic partners.
    Related Resources
    OAS Website
  • Summit Follow-up
    Paragraphs Related to the Theme
    Reports
    • Date:  3/15/2017    Paragraphs: -
    1. 2030 ICT Alliance for the Americas
    2. COM/CITEL/RES. 287 (XXXII-16): Support from CITEL for the Implementation of the Outcomes of the Seventh Summit of the Americas and in Preparation for the VIII Summit of the Americas
    3. CITEL Scholarships


    1. Inspired by Sustainable Development Goal No. 17 aimed at “Revitalizing the global partnerships for sustainable development” of Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, the “2030 ICT Alliance for the Americas” proposed working with both Member States interested in mainstreaming information and communication technologies (ICTs) into their national policies and the private sector to connect an additional 150 million people in the Americas to the Internet by the year 2020, supporting the Global Connect Initiative that is aimed at bringing an additional 1.5 billion people online.
    2. The 32 Meeting of the Permanent Executive Committee of CITEL, COM/CITEL, decided:
    • To invite the Member States to submit to the Chair of the Summits of the Americas process all documents arising from the various meetings and events of CITEL that reflect the impact of and progress towards implementing the mandates and initiatives of the “Mandates for Action” of the Seventh Summit of the Americas, particularly as regard broadband access and investment in broadband infrastructure.
    • To promote, within the structure and work plan(s) of the appropriate work group(s) of CITEL, access to and increased adoption and development of broadband services, and investment in broadband infrastructure.
    • To support the Global Connect efforts to catalyze multi-sectoral initiatives to attract 1.5 billion new Internet users online by 2020, including its principles to achieve Internet connectivity; to ensure that all public schools in the Americas are connected to the Internet by 2030 and create relevant local content; and to promote digital training to help raise the quality of education and build talent for the new digital economy.
    3. In 2016, CITEL had 6 Regional Training Centers distributed throughout the region. The program of courses for which scholarships were offered was prepared on the basis of surveys on the region’s telecommunication training needs. Pursuant to the provisions of resolution COM/CITEL RES. 271 (XXX-15).

    Activities:
    1. In the framework of the 2030 ICT Alliance of the Americas, CITEL consolidated a project to support the Inter-American Education Agenda with PROFUTURO’s DIGITAL MOBILE CLASSROOM in order to improve the quality of education through digital education in highly vulnerable environments in Latin America and the Caribbean.
    2. In general, the CITEL Consultative Committees and the working groups have steadily moved forward on broadband issues, the establishment of guidelines in various topics, the review of new provisions of the Radio Regulations adopted at the WRC-15, and various reports on priority matters for the development of telecommunications / information and communication technologies in the region.
    - PCC.I/RES. 269 (XXVIII-16): WORKSHOP ON DIGITAL INCLUSION AND MEANINGFUL BROADBAND ADOPTION IN THE AMERICAS
    - PCC.I/RES. 270 (XXVIII-16): PROPOSAL: CITEL INDEX ON BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT IN THE AMERICAS REGION
    - PCC.I/RES. 274 (XXIX-16): WORKSHOP ON DIGITAL INCLUSION AND MEANINGFUL BROADBAND ADOPTION IN THE AMERICAS
    3. In 2016, CITEL offered 13 online courses and 4 onsite courses and awarded 114 full and 1 partial scholarship to citizens of 20 Member States. More details are given in CITEL’s Annual Report.

    Website:
    https://www.citel.oas.org/en/Pages/default.aspx
    https://www.citel.oas.org/en/SiteAssets/About-Citel/Next-Meetings/ALIANZA/ALIANZATICAMERICAS_ENG%20-%2013%20junio%202016-%20FINAL.pdf


    Beneficiaries:
    • 150 million people in the Americas to be connected to the Internet by the year 20201
    • All Caribbean countries through PROFUTURO’s DIGITAL MOBILE CLASSROOM to support the Inter-American Education Agenda
    • 115 scholars in 20 Member States

    Partnerships and Financing: On Line Courses: National Telecommunication Research and Training Institute (INICTEL) / Peru, CITEL & SEDI
    • Date:  11/10/2015    Paragraphs: -
    Iniciativa: Red Interamericana para la Administración Laboral (RIAL)
    La Red Interamericana para la Administración Laboral (RIAL) es el mecanismo de cooperación y asistencia técnica de la Conferencia Interamericana de Ministros de Trabajo (CIMT). Fue creada por los Ministros de Trabajo de la región, luego de la XV CIMT en 2005, con el objetivo de fortalecer sus capacidades humanas e institucionales, a través de un mecanismo integrador y difusor de conocimientos y experiencias.

    La RIAL funciona como un sistema compuesto por las siguientes herramientas, que se refuerzan entre si: Portafolio de Programas, Talleres Hemisféricos, actividades de cooperación bilateral, Estudios técnicos, Boletines de noticias, Página web, y foros y reuniones virtuales.


    Actividades:
    Desde su creación en 2005, la RIAL ha realizado las siguientes actividades:
    • 20 Talleres Hemisféricos de intercambio realizados sobre temas prioritarios de la administración laboral. Participación en promedio de 25 Ministerios de Trabajo, representantes de trabajadores, empleadores y organismos internacionales.
    • 83 actividades de cooperación bilateral (visitas in-situ o de expertos) realizadas y 8 en planeación, que permitan la asistencia técnica directa entre Ministerios.
    • Un portafolio de programas de los Ministerios de Trabajo actualizado y en línea, con más de 120 programas.
    • Página web de la RIAL elaborada y en línea: www.rialnet.org , con mejoras subsiguientes para hacerla más interactiva.
    • 3 estudios técnico de la RIAL elaborados: “Igualdad de Género para el Trabajo Decente: Propuestas para la transversalización de género en las políticas laborales y de empleo en el marco de la CIMT” (2007), “La Institucionalización del Enfoque de Género en los Ministerios de Trabajo de las Américas” (2009) y “Avanzando en la institucionalización del enfoque de género en los Ministerios de Trabajo de las Américas. Aprendizajes, hallazgos y recomendaciones de tres Auditorías Participativas de Género” (2013).
    • 3 Auditorías de Género en alianza con la OIT, las primeras realizadas en Ministerios de Trabajo de la región

    Website: www.rialnet.org

    Beneficiarios: Ministerios de Trabajo de todos los Estados miembros de OEA, centrales sindicales y gremios empresariales de la región.
    Socios y financiamiento: Los aliados principales de la RIAL, son sus propios beneficiarios: los Ministerios de Trabajo de la región.

    Además, la Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT) brinda asesoría técnica en todas las actividades de la RIAL. La Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS) brinda asesoría en temas vinculados a salud de los trabajadores y el BID, OCDE y CEPAL han participado en diversas actividades.

    Actualmente es financiada a través de un Fondo de Aportes Voluntarios de todos sus miembros. Entre 2006 y 2010 fue financiada primordialmente por el Programa Laboral de Canadá, cuyos aportes permitieron su creación y la realización de la mayoría de las actividades que se detallan en este documento. También ha recibido aportes financieros de los Ministerios de Trabajo de Estados Unidos, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belice, Bolivia, Brasil, Canadá, Colombia, Ecuador, Jamaica, México, Panamá, Perú, República Dominicana, Suriname, y Trinidad & Tobago, hasta el momento.
    • Date:  6/23/2011    Paragraphs: 90
    To assist Member States in complying with Summit directives and to facilitate the alignment of goals and strategies with Summit mandates, the OAS launched the Summit Implementation and Follow-Up System (SISCA) in January 2010. Since then, several Member states have been trained in SISCA and are currently utilizing the system. A new version of SISCA will be launched in June 2011 to facilitate the direct drafting of national and JSWG reports on Summit implementation through SISCA.

    To increase participation by stakeholders, the OAS launched the Summits Virtual Community (SVC), a virtual space that allows users to contribute to online forums and thematic discussion groups on key Summit themes, and provides access to Summit-related materials and information. To date, the SVC has registered users from 31 Member states who have participated in two hemispheric virtual consultations on issues of sustainable development and gender.
    Related Resources
    OAS Website
  • Sustainable Economic Growth
    Paragraphs Related to the Theme
    Reports
    • Date:  5/7/2014    Paragraphs: 7
    Initiative: Strengthening MSME support institutions, programs and policies

    The OAS supports efforts by member states aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), as well as cooperatives and other production units, so as to contribute to economic growth, job creation, and poverty alleviation in the countries of the Hemisphere by: (i) strengthening the MSME support institutional framework; (ii) promoting the association and participation of MSMEs, as well as cooperatives and other production units, in supply chains by improving their quality management and marketing through activities such as the use of internet resources and information and communication technologies (ICTs); and, (iii) transferring lessons learned and sharing best practices.

    Activities: 1. Annual Inter-American Dialogue of High-Level MSME Authorities that provides a forum for the exchange of experiences and identification of cooperation initiatives for enhancing the competitiveness, innovation and internationalization of MSMEs.
    2. Strengthening of the institutional capacity of national entities that assist MSMEs through online and on-site train-the-trainers programs such as: "New Market Opportunities for MSMEs Using the Internet and Social Networks," "The use of ICTs by Women Entrepreneurs," and “Assessment of MSMEs' ICT capabilities.”
    3. Horizontal cooperation initiatives such as the US Small Business Development Center (SBDC) model currently being adapted in five countries in the Caribbean - Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Jamaica and Saint Lucia, following similar processes in Central America and Mexico.
    4. A result of the Inter-American Dialogue of High-Level MSME Authorities, InnovaNet supports a community of practice on transfer of technology and incubation for institutions and stakeholders supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

    Beneficiaries: All OAS member states

    Partnerships: Other international and regional organizations, MSME support institutions, universities.
    • Date:  5/6/2014    Paragraphs: 7
    Initiative: Americas Competitiveness Forum (ACF) and Annual RIAC Meeting

    The OAS is the Technical Secretariat of the Inter-American Competitiveness Network (RIAC), a high level mechanism for regional dialogue that convenes Ministers, High-Level Authorities, Competitiveness Councils, multilateral organizations, leaders of private sector, academia and NGOS with programs on competitiveness. The RIAC fosters the exchange of experiences and the development of joint initiatives in all areas related to competitiveness, including capacity building activities, experts meetings and policy-related events.

    The OAS also supports the Americas Competitiveness Forum (ACF), the preeminent hemispheric policy space for government and business leaders to discuss economic competitiveness and promote innovation in the Americas.

    Activities: 1. RIAC Meeting of the Expert Working Group on Subnational Competitiveness (GTECS), Lima, Peru, Catholic University, co-sponsored and hosted meeting of GTECS, August 2013

    2. Honduras 2030 Forum, Presentation of Presidential Candidates on the National Competitiveness Agenda. CABEI, COHEP and UNITEC, as local hosts and co-organizers of the event..

    3. Innovanet, Regional Event, Costa Rica, in collaboration with Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC), April 2013.

    4. Innovanet, Honduras, in collaboration with UNITEC and COHEP, workshop on technology transfer and incubation.

    5. Innovanet, Guatemala, in collaboration with SENACYT, workshop in technology transfer and incubation.

    6. 2013 U.C. Davis Licensing Academy in Intellectual Property and Technology Commercialization, June 2013, together with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

    7. 2013 Technology Transfer Academy of the Americas, La Paz, Baja California Sur, November, 2013, in Mexico, program from 15 technology transfer leaders from Central America (7 countries) and 15 from certified technology Transfer Officers from Mexico.

    8. Innovation and Entrepreneurship Workshop in Guyana, organized by the Caribbean Science Foundation (CSF).

    OAS-ARTCA Project, with University of Illinois Funding, sponsored with the National Science Foundation of the United States, and high-level expertise to organize Radical Innovation Summit in Washington DC, June 2013, and the Pan American Summer Institute PASI,on Methods of Computation-Based Discovery (CBD), in Guatemala, in July, 2013.

    Beneficiaries: All the countries of the Region

    Partnerships: Other international organizations, universities, the governments of Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, local organizations, regional foundations, research institutions

    Websites: http://www.oas.org/en/sedi/desd/cit; http://www.riacnet.org; http://competitivenessforum.org/
    • Date:  5/2/2014    Paragraphs: 7
    Department of Economic and Social Development (DESD) - Cultural section Initiatives

    Cultural technical cooperation missions:
    The implementation of five in site cooperation among member states in the topic “To strengthen and train OAS member states on the implementation of culture satellite accounts” (recommended during the V Regular Meeting of the Inter-American Committee on Culture (CIC), held in Washington, DC on March 21 and 22, 2013).
    Activities: Five technical cooperation missions were requested and undertaken in Peru, Costa Rica, St. Lucia, Barbados and Bolivia. The technical assistance provider countries were Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay and the UNESCO Statistics Institute. The five missions were co-financed by local institutions. All were successfully executed and the reports highlighted the importance of the implementation of these cooperation missions and the need for follow up action with special emphasis on the measurement of culture and its impact in the economy.

    Economic Impact of the creative industries in the Americas:
    Development of a diagnostic study that demonstrates the economic contribution and potential of the creative and cultural industries in the countries of the Americas, presents an overview of the availability of data, and offers recommendations for improving and harmonizing this measurement.
    Activities: Completion of a report that compiled and analyzed data from OAS member states and 10 benchmark countries; 7 country summary dashboards were created that showcase the available data to demonstrate the economic impact of the sector.

    Expanding socio-economic potential of cultural heritage:
    In the framework of a project executed from October 2012 to February 2014 a network of heritage professionals and institutions was established in the Caribbean region, and the scope of works for model projects to advance regional cooperation on sustainable tourism, heritage legislation and policy and heritage education and management among other aspects of cultural heritage was developed.
    Activities: A survey targeted at actors working in areas related to cultural heritage, tourism, planning and the environment to identify the regional needs, priorities and opportunities of cultural heritage in the Caribbean region; a regional meeting in Barbados (May 7-9, 2013) of experts and government officers in the areas of culture, tourism, planning and community development to verify and expand survey results; a list of national and external expert advisors for the design and implementation of the Model Projects; a list of recommended host institutions for each of the 4 model projects and lasting legacy project; and the scope of work for the implementation of 5 regionally replicable Model Projects in the areas of heritage network, heritage legislation, national heritage registers, sustainable heritage tourism and heritage education.

    Culture, common denominator for development:
    A compilation of successful practices in the OAS member states with examples from different contexts that show the potential that culture offers for development was disseminated.
    Activities: Creation of a portfolio Culture, common denominator for development includes 26 practices from 18 OAS member states: Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Dominican Republic and Uruguay.

    Beneficiaries: Ministries of Culture and other governmental and non-governmental institutions of the OAS member states

    Partnerships: Ministries of Culture of the member states; Inter-American Development Bank; British Council

    http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/press/BC_America_report_SB_v6_eng.pdf
    http://caribheritage.org/
    • Date:  5/30/2013    Paragraphs: 7
    OFFICE OF TRADE
    The OAS Executive Secretariat for Integral Development has assisted member states in their efforts “[to] promote economic growth with equity and social inclusion by strengthening cooperatives, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, including cultural industries, in addition to grassroots economic initiatives and other production units, innovation, and competitiveness in the countries of the Americas,”

    The focus of the work has been on the strengthening of the institutional capacity of member states for the design and implementation of public policies and programs in the areas of trade and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) by supporting policy dialogues, horizontal cooperation and capacity building programs.

    The II Annual Inter-American Dialogue of High-Level MSME Authorities (New Orleans, September 10-11, 2012) provided a forum for the exchange of experiences and identification of cooperation initiatives for enhancing the competitiveness, innovation and internationalization of MSMEs http://www.oas.org/en/sedi/dedtt/IIDialogo/ The institutional capacity of national entities that assist MSMEs was strengthened through: (i) online and on-site train-the-trainers programs on the use of ICTs and social media by MSMEs, with special attention to women entrepreneurs; and, (ii) cooperation initiatives among member states to share successful programs, such as the United States Small Business Development Center (SBDC) model that continues to be adapted in five Caribbean countries.
    • Date:  5/30/2013    Paragraphs: 7
    OFFICE OF TOURISM

    Projects and Activities in Tourism
    Small Tourism Enterprises Network (STEN): In 2010, the Small Tourism Enterprises Network (STEN) project was established as a unified network that integrates public, private and community sector strategies to provide strategic support to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the tourism industry in the Caribbean. STEN seeks to contribute to enhanced marketability and viability of small tourism enterprises in the Caribbean through delivery of a self-sustaining mechanism that addresses the need for increased market access, more effective promotion/communication between the tourism MSMEs and the target market, and facilitates the packaging of ‘tourism experiences.

    As part of this project eight national, regional and sub-regional capacity building and training workshops have been held with over 250 small tourism enterprises benefitting directly. In April 2013, at the First Latin American and Caribbean Encounter of Owners and Operators of Small Hotels, in San Jose, Costa Rica, the participating organizations established the Latin American and Caribbean network of owners and operators of small hotels, as a mechanism to promote; collaboration, sharing of experiences, innovative solutions and exemplary practices among small and medium-sized lodging from the Caribbean and Latin America.
    • Date:  5/30/2013    Paragraphs: 7
    OFFICE OF COMPETITIVENESS

    The purpose of the OAS Competitiveness Program is to promote productivity and innovation in the member states through dialogue, cooperation, exchange of best practices, and adoption of initiatives whose purpose is to improve public policy and human and institutional capacity building. The multilateral public-private policy dialogue on competitiveness has continued its process of consolidation through the Inter-American Competitiveness Network (RIAC). The network brings together high-level competitiveness authorities and public/private councils of competitiveness and innovation of the Americas.

    The 2012 Annual RIAC meeting brought together the competitiveness authorities and councils of 31 countries on the occasion of the VI Americas Competitiveness Forum (Cali, Colombia, October 22-24, 2012). The ACF featured plenary sessions on innovative cities, culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, international trade, enabling business environment and infrastructure. There were also special workshops for Caribbean Member States, on sub-national competitiveness and one for the medical device industry.

    The RIAC presented the “Signs of Competitiveness Report”, a summary of profiles of best practices shared by member countries which included specific offers of supply and demand of cooperation. The Report was prepared by the Chair Pro Tempore, Colombia, with the support of the Technical Secretariat (OAS). It includes 53 successful experiences from 16 countries and two institutions (Compete Caribbean and CAF-Development Bank of Latin America) on the 10 competitiveness principles approved by RIAC members in the Consensus of Santo Domingo in 2011. It also features a section on the innovation regional landscape with contributions from RIAC support institutions (IDB, ECLAC, CABEI) and experts (key note speakers, Oxford Economics, GFCC, IIPI). These profiles have allowed cooperation initiatives and technical exchanges among member states.

    RIAC members also agreed to create a working group of experts on sub-national competitiveness. This initiative on regional competitiveness is working to identify the elements of regional competitiveness that will be useful as a point of reference when putting together and implementing agendas of specific public policies (at the state, provincial or municipal level) that nurture relative competitiveness and that can be replicated in the countries of the Americas that are interested in this issue.
    • Date:  5/30/2013    Paragraphs: 7
    OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR - CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY:

    Mandate
    In the Declaration of Port of Spain (2009), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is linked to reducing poverty, inequality and inequity “To reduce poverty and hunger, eradicate extreme poverty, create dignified and decent work, and raise the standard of living of all our people, we must achieve higher levels of business development and sustainable economic growth with equity. Subject to the domestic laws of each country, we will continue to promote diversified economic activity in the energy, transport, tourism, communications, services, financial services and agricultural sectors. We are committed to facilitating investment and public-private partnerships in infrastructure and other relevant sectors in order to promote business development, economic growth and social development with equity. We will continue to promote increased corporate social responsibility and improved competitiveness, to which the Americas Competitiveness Forum in Chile in 2009 will contribute.

    CSR Projects and Activities

    The OAS CSR Program focuses on three principal work areas:

    1. Integrating CSR into the business practices of SMEs in the Americas. SMEs are a key component of economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean and the OAS CSR workshops for SMEs offer theory, practical knowledge and tools for businesses to develop innovative CSR solutions and strategies;
    2. Raising awareness about CSR among parliamentarians in the region to support a policy framework that is conducive to implementing responsible business practices. This component focuses heavily on promoting public-private partnerships; and
    3. Creating a CSR community of practice, which is a platform designed to facilitate knowledge exchange, share CSR solutions, provide tools, and promote partnerships between the private and public sectors, academia and other key actors.

    The OAS CSR Program assists the region in incorporating CSR principles and guidelines into the business strategies of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and ensuring it is included in government agendas. Since 2003, the Program has trained approximately 800 SMEs in LAC on the importance of CSR as a strategic tool to enhance their productivity and competitiveness. Furthermore, and has trained policymakers in the region about the advantages of CSR.

    In 2013, the OAS CSR Program has developed and launched a new methodology for SMEs, which aims to provide SMEs with tools to implement responsible practices into their business strategies. The new methodology moves beyond CSR awareness and into CSR implementation. The first pilot workshop that utilized the new methodology was held in Quito, Ecuador in March 2013 and the Ecuadorian SMEs indicated that they were extremely pleased with the workshop methodology, content, and format and they appreciated the concrete ideas, solutions, and tools that were presented throughout. The OAS CSR Program will be holding similar workshops in Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama in 2013.
    • Date:  5/30/2013    Paragraphs: 7
    Office of Education and Culture
    The OAS is implementing the Project: “Expanding the socio-economic potential of cultural heritage in the Caribbean. Phase I: needs assessment and project selection”.
    The project coordinated a regional workshop in Barbados in May 2013 to present initial results of the survey, conducted focused discussion sessions and verified conclusions. During the regional workshop the stakeholders discussed the needs and priorities in the region regarding the protection, use, and enhancement of cultural heritage.
    The Project plans to have a second phase: “Implementation of model projects, dissemination of results, monitoring, and impact assessment”. This phase II still needs to be financed.

    The Office of Education and Culture is also implementing the Project: “Expanding the socio-economic potential of cultural heritage in the Caribbean. Phase I: needs assessment and project selection”.
    The project coordinated a regional workshop in Barbados in May 2013 to present initial results of the survey, conducted focused discussion sessions and verified conclusions. During the regional workshop the stakeholders discussed the needs and priorities in the region regarding the protection, use, and enhancement of cultural heritage.
    The Project plans to have a second phase: “Implementation of model projects, dissemination of results, monitoring, and impact assessment”. This phase II still needs to be financed.

    The Office also currently implement the project “Culture and Development: Promoting horizontal cooperation and knowledge sharing among member states. Phase II”. The Office commissioned a diagnosis study on the capacity to measure the contribution of creative industries to the economies of member states. This study was commissioned in alliance with the IDB and the British Council, to Oxford Economics.
    The study will be ready for dissemination among all member states by June 2013.

    The Office of Education and Culture serves as the Technical Secretariat of the Inter American Committee on Culture CIC (each OAS member state has a representative to the CIC). During the last CIC meeting held in march 2013 in Washington, DC the CIC representatives discussed on the importance of the implementation of Cultural Satellite Accounts in all OAS member countries in order to properly measure the impact of creative industries in their economies.
    Current implementation of the project “Culture and Development: Promoting horizontal cooperation and knowledge sharing among member states. Phase II”. As part of the project, the Office of Education and Culture will implement technical cooperation missions among OAS member states, and one of the main topics will be the implementation of cultural satellite accounts (as per CIC representatives recommended during the march 2013 meeting). The project will also publish a new virtual Portfolio of successful practices on culture and development. Cultural Satellite Account experiences and creative industries among OAS member states may be included in the virtual publication.
    • Date:  6/23/2011    Paragraphs: 12
    the OAS has continued to support the efforts of member states to strengthen their institutional and human capacity in the area of trade policy - including in relation to the negotiation, implementation and administration of agreements- in recognition of the contribution of trade to growth, employment and development. Given the statement commitment of countries to an open, transparent and rules-based multilateral trading system, it is especially important to highlight the strengthening of the capacity of member states to participate actively within this normative framework. The training activities organized by the OAS, in coordination with other international organizations such as WTO, UNCTAD, WIPO, IDB and ECLAC, which cover the main issues of the multilateral and regional trade agenda, has contributed positively in this regard. CARICOM countries have increased their negotiating capacity through the assistance provided in relation to their negotiations with Canada, at the same time as they prepared to implement the Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Community.

    Following its successful execution in the Caribbean region, the OAS Small Tourism Enterprise Program (STEP) is being replicated in Andean and Central American member states. With a network of over 1200 hotels, this program continues to deliver training and technical assistance, including on using information and communication technologies (ICTs), to small hotels and other small tourism enterprises. The OAS Supporting our Caribbean Enterprises (SOURCE) project has provided Caribbean artisans with better access to tourism markets by strengthening their business capabilities, improving the marketability of their products, and streamlining distribution.
    • Date:  6/23/2011    Paragraphs: 13
    The OAS has continued to contribute to information exchange and capacity-building on corporate social responsibility (CSR) principles and guidelines to enable member states to promote CSR initiatives among their own private sector communities. Since June 2010, the OAS CSR program has: i) promoted the incorporation of CSR in the business strategy of more than 100 SMEs from 20 member states, as a tool to increase their competitiveness; (ii) developed management tools and indicators, in partnership with ECLAC, to measure the environmental and social performance of SMEs; (iii) researched about the potential participation of MSMEs in economic opportunities through inclusive business in Latin America; (iv) promoted CSR awareness among Latin American parliamentarians through pilot training projects in Costa Rica, Colombia and Uruguay; (v) strengthened the regional network of organizations promoting CSR through roundtable dialogues held in Mexico, Peru and Chile and (vi) organized in partnership with ECLAC and the Technological Institute of Monterrey the Green Business Forum in México, which gathered together international experts to debate CSR issues and recommended ways to move towards a more sustainable economy.

    The OAS has also facilitated the exchange of experiences and best practices among member states on the use of intellectual property as a tool to promote innovation and competitiveness in Latin America and the Caribbean. Regional dialogues and capacity building activities served as a means to promote new forms of public-private collaboration, to create awareness about the importance of protecting and leveraging the intangible value to diversify products and services, to generate new strategies to facilitate technology transfer, and build capacity to manage intellectual assets in Universities, research and development centers, producer associations, and SME - support institutions. To implement these tasks, the OAS signed a cooperation agreement with the Mexican Industrial Property Institute (IMPI) and developed several programs and projects in collaboration with other multilateral and national institutions.

    Representatives from 27 OAS member states gathered on the occasion of the IV Americas Competitiveness Forum (ACF) to analyze the current state of competitiveness in the Hemisphere, exchange experiences and discuss reforms, identifying elements for a 2020 Competitiveness and Productivity Agenda for the Americas. The OAS co-organized with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) “Compete Caribbean” program, a workshop to strengthen institutions promoting competitiveness and productivity in the Caribbean member states. The Observatory of Competitiveness was launched on the Internet www.RiacNet.org. The Dominican Republic in 2011 and Colombia in 2012 were confirmed as hosts of the next Meetings of Competitiveness Authorities and Councils and the ACF. Panama formally offered to host these events in 2013.
    Related Resources
    OAS Website
  • Technology
    Ministerials
    Paragraphs Related to the Theme
    Reports
    • Date:  3/15/2017    Paragraphs: 1, 2, 2
    Initiatives: 1. 2030 ICT Alliance for the Americas; 2. COM/CITEL/RES. 287 (XXXII-16): Support from CITEL for the Implementation of the Outcomes of the Seventh Summit of the Americas and in Preparation for the VIII Summit of the Americas; 3. CITEL Scholarships

    Brief description of initiatives:
    1. On June 14, 2016, in the framework of the 46 Regular Session of the OAS General Assembly, held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the “2030 ICT Alliance for the Americas” was launched with support from the CITEL Secretariat. The Alliance recognizes the potential of global connectivity to accelerate human progress in Latin America and the Caribbean, reducing digital gaps and developing knowledge societies. The Commitments assumed in this Alliance are focused on working together, private sector with the leadership of the ICT industry, public sector and multilateral institutions, to pledge to do the following:
    • To work together to ensure that additional 150 million of persons in the Americas are brought online.
    • To have all public schools of the Americas connected to the Internet before 2030.
    • To promote digital training education with relevant local contents that enhance the quality of education in the Americas.
    • To develop the talent for the new digital economy.
    • To build up democratic participation in the Americas on the basis of ICTs.
    In the framework of the 2030 ICT Alliance of the Americas, CITEL is implementing a project with PROFUTURO (from Fundacion Telefonica) called Digital Mobile Classroom, which offers an innovative offline solution to improve quality education through digital resources that provide access to quality and transformational education creating spaces more inclusive and focusing in the enhancement of teacher´s skills, methods and competencies through digital technologies. Our target is children in primary education.
    2. To support the Global Connect efforts to catalyze multi-sectoral initiatives to attract 1.5 billion new Internet users online by 2020, including its principles to achieve Internet connectivity; to ensure that all public schools in the Americas are connected to the Internet by 2030 and create relevant local content; and to promote digital training to help raise the quality of education and build talent for the new digital economy.
    3. In 2016, CITEL had 6 Regional Training Centers distributed throughout the region. The program of courses for which scholarships were offered was prepared on the basis of surveys on the region’s telecommunication training needs. Pursuant to the provisions of resolution COM/CITEL RES. 271 (XXX-15).

    Activities:
    1. Challenge #STEM4Good Americas: Inspired, Explore, Learn. Thanks to the initiative of the OAS, CITEL and Telefonica, framed in the 2030 ICT Alliance, young entrepreneurs between 14 and 18 years old are been trained to create mobile applications based on the AppInventor platform.
    2. 2017 Call for collaboration with all Ministries of Education to implement PROFUTURO’s DIGITAL MOBILE CLASSROOM to improve the quality of education through digital education in highly vulnerable environments in Latin America and the Caribbean
    3. In 2016 115 scholarships were offered for 13 online courses and 4 onsite courses, details of which are given in CITEL’s 2016 Annual Report.

    Beneficiaries:
    • Young entrepreneurs between 14 and 18 years old
    • 115 professionals in the Americas from 20 Member States awarded with ICT scholarships from OAS/CITEL.
    • Internet users in the Americas
    • All Public schools of the Americas connected to the Internet before 2030.
    • Digital classrooms that will benefit 1 million students in the Americas

    Partnerships and Financing: OAS, CITEL and Telefonica
    • Date:  3/15/2017    Paragraphs: 1, 3, 2
    Initiatives: 1. 2030 ICT Alliance for the Americas; COM/CITEL/RES. 287 (XXXII-16): Support from CITEL for the Implementation of the Outcomes of the Seventh Summit of the Americas and in Preparation for the VIII Summit of the Americas; 3. Strategic initiatives of Secretary General Almagro (Executive order Nº 16-02 Rev. 1); 4. CITEL Program for the Inclusion of Women and Girls in ICTs

    Brief description of initiatives
    1. 2030 ICT Alliance for the Americas was launched with support from the CITEL Secretariat on June 14, 2016, in the framework of the 46 Regular Session of the OAS General Assembly, held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The Alliance recognizes the potential of global connectivity to accelerate human progress in Latin America and the Caribbean, reducing digital gaps and developing knowledge societies. The Commitments assumed in this Alliance are focused on working together, private sector with the leadership of the ICT industry, public sector and multilateral institutions. Commitment 4, particularly pledges to “Strengthen democratic participation in the Americas through ICT.”
    2. To support the Global Connect efforts to catalyze multi-sectoral initiatives to attract 1.5 billion new Internet users online by 2020, including its principles to achieve Internet connectivity and to strengthen citizen participation, mainly ensuring that all public schools in the Americas are connected to the Internet by 2030 and create relevant local content; and to promote digital training to help raise the quality of education and build talent for the new digital economy.
    3. On the basis of Executive Order 16-02 rev. 1 of February 2016, n response to the region’s most pressing needs, the OAS Secretary General decided to accord priority to five Strategic Initiatives within the OAS, namely: School of Governance, Social Conflicts, Interconnectivity in the Caribbean, Inter-American Education System, and Natural Disaster Response. CITEL shall participate through its Executive Secretariat to ensure inclusion of matters relating to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). To ensure, given the cross-cutting nature of ICTs and the fact that they have become an essential tool for countries’ development, the use and incorporation of ICTs in the four pillars of the Organization and in the five Strategic Initiatives, through the Executive Secretariat of CITEL
    4. CITEL Program for the Inclusion of Women and Girls in ICTs: collaboration between CITEL and the OAS Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM) to deal with issues related to the benefit of using ICTs as a tool to empower women, especially to prevent violence against women and to mainstream gender into the agenda of CITEL. Implementation of the Contest “ICTs to Prevent and Eradicate Violence Against Women” has been successful; 45 proposals were received and 3 initiatives were awarded.

    Activities: (List the different activities for implementation of this Initiative)
    1. Forum on ICTs and the elimination of poverty in the Americas: The role of public-private partnerships. June 14, 2016 / Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, General Assembly of the OAS.
    2. Second Forum of the 2030 ICT Alliance for the Americas: June 28, 2016 / Bogotá, Colombia
    3. Call for collaboration with all Ministries of Education to implement PROFUTURO’s DIGITAL MOBILE CLASSROOM to improve the quality of education through digital education in highly vulnerable environments in Latin America and the Caribbean.
    4. Call for Awards for the contest “ICTs to Prevent and Eradicate Violence Against Women”

    Beneficiaries: (e.g. Country/Institutions/specific groups,etc.)
    • 150 million people in the Americas to be connected to the Internet by the year 20201
    • All Caribbean countries through PROFUTURO’s DIGITAL MOBILE CLASSROOM to support the Inter-American Education Agenda
    • Ministries of Foreign Affairs and CITEL Administrations who attended the Fora
    • Women and Girls

    Partnerships and Financing: OAS/CITEL, Millicom, Cisco, America Movil, Telefonica
    • Date:  3/15/2017    Paragraphs: 4, 2
    Initiatives: 1. 2030 ICT Alliance for the Americas; 2. COM/CITEL/RES. 287 (XXXII-16): Support from CITEL for the Implementation of the Outcomes of the Seventh Summit of the Americas and in Preparation for the VIII Summit of the Americas; 3. CITEL Scholarships

    Brief description of initiatives:
    1. Inspired by Sustainable Development Goal No. 17 aimed at “Revitalizing the global partnerships for sustainable development” of Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, the “2030 ICT Alliance for the Americas” proposed working with both Member States interested in mainstreaming information and communication technologies (ICTs) into their national policies and the private sector to connect an additional 150 million people in the Americas to the Internet by the year 2020, supporting the Global Connect Initiative that is aimed at bringing an additional 1.5 billion people online.
    2. The 32 Meeting of the Permanent Executive Committee of CITEL, COM/CITEL, decided:
    • To invite the Member States to submit to the Chair of the Summits of the Americas process all documents arising from the various meetings and events of CITEL that reflect the impact of and progress towards implementing the mandates and initiatives of the “Mandates for Action” of the Seventh Summit of the Americas, particularly as regard broadband access and investment in broadband infrastructure.
    • To promote, within the structure and work plan(s) of the appropriate work group(s) of CITEL, access to and increased adoption and development of broadband services, and investment in broadband infrastructure.
    • To support the Global Connect efforts to catalyze multi-sectoral initiatives to attract 1.5 billion new Internet users online by 2020, including its principles to achieve Internet connectivity; to ensure that all public schools in the Americas are connected to the Internet by 2030 and create relevant local content; and to promote digital training to help raise the quality of education and build talent for the new digital economy.
    3. In 2016, CITEL had 6 Regional Training Centers distributed throughout the region. The program of courses for which scholarships were offered was prepared on the basis of surveys on the region’s telecommunication training needs. Pursuant to the provisions of resolution COM/CITEL RES. 271 (XXX-15).

    Activities: (List the different activities for implementation of this Initiative)
    1. In the framework of the 2030 ICT Alliance of the Americas, CITEL consolidated a project to support the Inter-American Education Agenda with PROFUTURO’s DIGITAL MOBILE CLASSROOM in order to improve the quality of education through digital education in highly vulnerable environments in Latin America and the Caribbean.
    2. In general, the CITEL Consultative Committees and the working groups have steadily moved forward on broadband issues, the establishment of guidelines in various topics, the review of new provisions of the Radio Regulations adopted at the WRC-15, and various reports on priority matters for the development of telecommunications / information and communication technologies in the region.
    - PCC.I/RES. 269 (XXVIII-16): WORKSHOP ON DIGITAL INCLUSION AND MEANINGFUL BROADBAND ADOPTION IN THE AMERICAS
    - PCC.I/RES. 270 (XXVIII-16): PROPOSAL: CITEL INDEX ON BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT IN THE AMERICAS REGION
    - PCC.I/RES. 274 (XXIX-16): WORKSHOP ON DIGITAL INCLUSION AND MEANINGFUL BROADBAND ADOPTION IN THE AMERICAS
    3. In 2016, CITEL offered 13 online courses and 4 onsite courses and awarded 114 full and 1 partial scholarship to citizens of 20 Member States. More details are given in CITEL’s Annual Report.

    Beneficiaries: (e.g. Country/Institutions/specific groups,etc.)
    • 150 million people in the Americas to be connected to the Internet by the year 20201
    • All Caribbean countries through PROFUTURO’s DIGITAL MOBILE CLASSROOM to support the Inter-American Education Agenda
    • 115 scholars in 20 Member States

    Partnerships and Financing: Citel regional training centers, Telefonica
    • Date:  5/6/2014    Paragraphs: 8
    Initiative: VIII Meeting of High Level Authorities of Electronic Government

    The VIII Meeting of High Level Authorities of Electronic Government to be hosted by the Government of Colombia in Cartagena in July 24-25, 2014, reunites in the context of the Inter-American Network of eGovernment (RedGealc), the Ministers of ITCs from Member States, National Electronic Government Directors and other national high level authorities responsible for designing and implementing policies and programs on the use of ICTs for more transparent and efficient government and institutions, aiming at effective and inclusive delivery of services to citizens. The meeting in Cartagena labeled "Electronic Government and Regional Competitiveness" builds on the mandates of the VI Summit of the Americas by defining 5 thematic areas: 1. eGovernment: a matter for all; 2. Mobile Government to reach to vulnerable populations; 3. Secure Technologies; 4. Open Data and entrepreneurship; and, 5. improving health services through technology. The meeting objective is to sensitize key political stakeholders about the importance of electronic government in the development of their countries.

    The meeting is a joint effort that promotes cooperation of international organizations, specialized agencies, the private sector and other social actors, and analyzes ICTs with the view of strengthening ICTs related public policies.

    Activities: 1. Closed session with Ministers: This interactive session is aimed at discussing the context and the future of ICTs in the region.
    2. Open Session: this public session aims at working on the critical issues of expanding access to, and use of, ICTs. This session integrates a wide variety of people and institutional profiles.
    3. Closed session with Electronic Government National Directors: this session aims at the definition of electronic government action plans. The session will promote group work among directors for the development of action plans.

    Beneficiaries: Member States, ICTs Ministries, Electronic Government Directors and other High level Authorities.

    Partnerships: Ministry of ITCs of the Government of Colombia, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the International Development Research Centre of Canada (IDRC)

    Website: http://redgealc.org/viii-reunion-de-altas-autoridades-de-gobierno-electronico/contenido/5800/es/
    • Date:  5/6/2014    Paragraphs: 7
    Initiative: Research, Publications and training

    The Electronic Government Unit of the Department for Effective Public Management pursues in collaboration with stakeholders from different sectors and affiliations the development of studies and publications. These publications aimed at sharing knowledge about specific cutting edge ICTs-related matters among a specialized audiences; including high level eGovernment authorities. The Unit also provides an ample channel of training, (the Virtual Campus), of public officials and other stakeholders on areas of e-Government and public administration.

    Related to paragraph 7 of the VI Summit of the Americas mandates, the 4 activities described here support the promotion of transparency and accountability through ICTs by nourishing capacities of the targeted audiences in open government; specifically on issues of participative processes of co-creation in open government and open data, this is: building capacities across stakeholders of various profiles and affiliations for more open and transparent governments.

    For the benefit of this report, co-creation in open government is defined as the generation of services through applications developed by civil society (individuals, organizations and businesses) that are based on open data provided by the State.

    Activities: Development and publication of the following:

    1. OAS-IDRC: Hacia Procesos Participativos y de Co-produccion en el Gobierno Abierto:
    This publication aims at sharing knowledge on two fronts: 1. type and access of information, and 2. information management by governments.
    2. OAS-IDRC: Gobierno Abierto: hacia un nuevo paradigma de gestión pública:
    This publication aims at sharing knowledge through an analysis of the relationship between democracy and information and open government and citizen participation.
    3. OAS eGovernment Newsletter:
    The monthly published eGovernment newsletter is a comprehensive recurrent outlet of knowledge and information and offers important insight in the promotion of ICT programs for greater transparency and accountability. 92 editions of this publication have already been issued, including topics of Transparency, Access of Information, Open Data, Social Media, eGovernment and Public Private Partnerships, etc.
    4. Training:
    Through its Virtual Campus, the Department for Effective Public Management trains thousands of participant in a wide variety of issues such as: design of eGovernment strategies; interoperability, management of eGovernment projects, and also in transparency and citizen participation, access of information, and in the usage of social media by government agencies. The portfolio just described (among many other courses) support the strengthening of capacities of stakeholders to promote transparency and accountability.

    Beneficiaries: The project targets the main national government electronic Government authorities of the OAS Member States and will benefit their national e-Gob agencies by strengthening its capacities on open data; in particular, the OAS Components are oriented to Latin American countries while the Caribbean Members will be supported by UWI. Additionally, the project would benefit indirectly citizens in general, SMEs and women in countries in which the open data capacities and policies are strengthened as a result of the project implementation.

    Partnerships: International Development Research Centre of Canada (IDRC), Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), AVINA Foundation, and the University of the West Indies (UWI).

    Websites: 1. Publications 1 y 2: http://redgealc.org/gobierno-abierto/contenido/5595/es/
    2. eGovernment Newsletter: http://portal.oas.org/Portal/Sector/SecretaríaGeneral/SEDI/OESEDI/Proyectos/NPA/UsoEficientedeTICs/tabid/1729/Default.aspx?language=en-us
    3. Training: www.campusvirtualoea.org
    • Date:  5/6/2014    Paragraphs: 6
    Initiative: Project IDRC-OAS: "Harnessing Open Data to Achieve Development Results in Latin America and the Carribean"

    The Overall objective of the project is to strengthen the accountability and legitimacy of public institutions, improve public services, and fuel economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean through research and innovation on open data initiatives.

    The specific objective is to share knowledge and research on the demand and use of open data for development, improving consultation practices in Latin America and the Caribbean.

    This initiative is a 30 month project financed by IDRC.

    Activities: Explanation of distribution of overall project outputs

    Note: outputs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9 of the overall project are the responsibility of the following project partners: Avina, ECLAC and UWI. The OAS is exclusively responsible for outputs numbers 6 and 7 of the project.

    I. Non-OAS Outputs and activities:
    1. Work plan developed and agreed (responsible ECLAC)
    The setting of a jointly concerted project work plan as an output of the project entails broad participation of stakeholders (implementers and counterparts) to secure that all possible aspects are contemplated and are well taken by the beneficiaries.
    Agreement among governments in the region within the Open Data Working Group of eLAC2015 (coordinated by UN-ECLAC), in alignment with the Open Data Working Group of the Open Government Partnership (responsible ECLAC) is expected.
    2. 8 studies mapping open data eco-systems in Latin America developed, (AVINA/ILDA)
    The mapping phase of this project aims to provide an in-depth description of open data ecosystems debated in the First Latin American Open Data Conference: public services, government transparency, agriculture and environment and urban governance.
    The studies will identify key stakeholders in the open government data ecosystem following a template which will consider the following dimensions:
    1) Base line: the status of the topic/policy, particularly in terms of OGD implementation. The base line should establish clearly which is the policy in place, status of implementation and available supply of information.
    2) Stakeholders analysis: This section will explore key stakeholders in the open data environment in the public, private and civil society. The study will provide a characterization of each stakeholder developing an analysis of the role they play, the resources they have and the objectives the pursue.
    3) Possible initiatives: The studies will provide a set of possible initiatives which could be deployed in each open data environment.
    These documents will serve as support for ongoing discussions and agenda setting in the region in each of the thematic areas defined above.
    3. 2 studies mapping open data eco-systems in the Caribbean developed (COI)
    Same description as output 2 applies.
    4. Support, research, testing and fostering of 20 strategic initiatives developed (ILDA/COI)
    Based on information gathered in the mapping phase, the project will develop initiatives or experimental designs around three strategic areas: co-creation, standard development and capacity building . Up to 20 studies will aim to support and learn from strategic initiatives that foster open data Eco-systems as well as to learn from the critical issues they deal with.
    Strategic initiatives are designed to test the following hypotheses:
    1- Innovation: Collaborative development between government and civil society and private sector triggers innovation and more effective forms of public service delivery.
    2 – Standards: Establishing open standards can lead to greater reuse and scalability.
    3– Inclusion: Data literacy is essential to spread the benefits of open government to marginalized communities.
    Sub-activities:
    Output 4a. -at least 4 studies will support and research collaborative development of services and innovation using open government data (IlDA/COI)
    Output 4b. - at least 4 studies will support and research open data the production and development of open data standards in specific topics
    Output 4c. - at least 4 studies will research, test and foster mechanisms to expand data literacy and skills of excluded groups fostering and strengthening their participation in open government ecosystems (IlDA/COI)
    Output 4d. at least 4 will research, test and foster the above mentioned strategic areas in the Caribbean (IlDA/COI)
    5. Four peer-reviewed quality research articles developed on how the selected initiatives lead to development outcomes (ILDA)
    The project will share knowledge and research on the demand and use of open data for development among governments in the region, (e.g. how open standards contribute to greater reuse and scalability, how broader participation leads to more effective open data programs). The lessons learned during the process will be shared with governments in the region.
    Building on the learning from the strategic initiatives, the project will take advantage of established networks to discuss with governments across the region on the potential implications. Building on the results of the dialogue with the eLAC working group, The UN-ECLAC will evaluate the eLAC open data work plan.
    8. Governance structure proposal for a Nodal entity (open data hub) in Latin America developed(ILDA)
    In Latin America there is still not an obvious path towards setting up a nodal entity able to convey all the open government data efforts in the region. This project aims to contribute towards generating such a nodal entity or “hub”. ILDA could work as an incubator for a future Institute or more stable alliance.
    9. Governance structure proposal for a hub in the Caribbean developed (COI)
    In the Caribbean there is still not an obvious path towards setting up a nodal entity able to convey all the open government data efforts in the region. This project aims to contribute towards generating such a nodal entity or “hub”. COI could work as an incubator for a future Institute or more stable alliance.
    II. OAS Outputs and activities:
    6. Report on regional dialogue and participation on Open Data based on 3 Gov Camps developed through the course of the project (OAS)
    The OAS will organize a series of at least 3 Gov Camps and provide technical support to countries developing open data plans. Gov Camps will be key instances where knowledge generated on the strategic initiatives explored in this research can be brought to government officials and civil society in the region.
    OAS has long worked on e-government in the region through the involvement and support of the successful RED GEALC network which plays an influential role in e-government policy development and collaboration among governments. The OAS will also focus on use its networks to provide information about the evolution of the research agenda as well as will disseminate information to governments. In particular, OAS will foster dialogue through the E Government Leaders Network ofNetwork of Latin America and the Caribbean (RED Gealc).
    7. Public servants engagement on open data through on-line education course (OAS)
    The OAS will develop and deliver an open data online course in partnership with other stakeholders aimed to educate public servants about the synergies open government data and several governance areas could develop aiming towards the outcomes of this project. Courses will also help other institutions and the general public to understand key issues of open government.

    Beneficiaries: The project targets the main national government electronic Government authorities of the OAS Member States and will benefit their national e-Gob agencies by strengthening its capacities on open data; in particular, the OAS Components are oriented to Latin American countries while the Caribbean Members will be supported by UWI. Additionally, the project would benefit indirectly citizens in general, SMEs and women in countries in which the open data capacities and policies are strengthened as a result of the project implementation.

    Partnerships: International Development Research Centre of Canada (IDRC), Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), AVINA Foundation, and the University of the West Indies (UWI).

    Websites: http://ilda.datauy.org/ and http://redgealc.org/la-red-gealc-y-los-datos-abiertos/contenido/5627/es/
    • Date:  5/30/2013    Paragraphs: 2
    Capacity Strengthening
    . The OAS introduced Virtual Educa for the first time in the non-Spanish speaking Caribbean in 2012. During Virtual Educa Caribbean 2012 there were 21 hands-on training workshops. The Ministry of Education and Community Development of Suriname identified three general topics as priority areas: Digital Content Development, ICTs in Education and Teacher Training. There were 86 participants who benefited from one or more workshops. During Virtual Educa Panama 2012, there were 38 hands-on training workshops. Close to 10,000 participants registered and had the opportunity to attend the training workshops.

    After the culmination of Virtual Educa Caribbean 2012, all the technological devices used during the demonstration on Innovation and ICTs in Education with the 21st Century Classroom were donated to the Ministry of Education of Suriname including 40 computers donated by INTEL. As an effort to promote the appropriate use of this infrastructure, the DHDEC worked in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Community Development of Suriname to run the "Creating Digital Content" Workshop, where 14 members of the Ministry of Education of Suriname staff were trained to increase learning outcomes in schools. As a result of Virtual Educa Panama 2012, in total one hundred computers were donated to the Ministry of Education of Panama.
    Based on the first experience delivering the Workshop "Creating Digital Content" in Suriname, the contents will be adapted in a manner to best fit the necessities of other member states into a workshop named "21st Century Teachers Transforming their Pedagogical Practices through the Use of ICTs". This workshop will be delivered in Educa Digital Colombia Nacional, from August 20 to 24, 2013

    The Department of Human Development, Education and Culture organized Educational Fairs to generate opportunities for educational institutions and private organizations to demonstrate their knowledge and good practices regarding the use of ICTs in education as well as to raise awareness in the community at large of the advantages of bringing technology and innovative ways of learning to the classroom. The target audience being teachers, parents, students and the general public of Suriname and Panama. During Virtual Educa Caribbean 2012, the general public had the opportunity to learn about regional and international educational projects and initiatives in the educational fair. There were 25 booths from educational institutions and private organizations. An estimate of 3,000 people visited the educational exhibit. During Virtual Educa Panama 2012, there were 58 booths from educational institutions and private organizations.

    Educational Portal of the Americas
    : Through a recent agreement with Intel® Educar, the Portal offered free online teacher training for the first time with the assistance of volunteer virtual tutors recruited from its pool of graduates on topics of great interest to our teachers. Topics such as: Thinking Critically with Data, Assessment in 21st Century Classrooms, Collaboration in the Digital Classroom, and Project-Based Approaches. More than 1300 teachers have been trained.

    The Educational Portal of the Americas' Awareness Program and Meta-Portal on Open Educational Resources (OER). On the topic of production and sharing relevant educational materials, and as a result of the recommendations made by Civil Society organizations to the country representatives at the VI Summit of the Americas, the Portal has been asked to put in motion a Meta-Portal of Open Educational Resources (OER). Several actions were undertaken to create awareness and start defining the Meta Portal functionalities. The PEA has been working closely with the “Presidencia Pro Tempore” of MERCOSUR Educar on this topic.

    Regarding Mobile Education, the first online course accessible through mobile devices was launched for a training with CIM.

    Office of Education and Culture
    ITEN promotes the meaningful use of ICTs in the classroom by teaching teachers innovative strategies for better teaching and learning experiences. ITEN also offers two online courses, one in English and one in Spanish, on how to integrate ICTs in the classroom.
    • Date:  5/30/2013    Paragraphs: 4
    The Educational Portal of the Americas
    Online courses offered through the Virtual Classroom includes more than 80 training opportunities with more than 25,000 users.
    • Date:  10/3/2012    Paragraphs: 49
    Initiative:
    MuNet (Municipal Efficiency and Transparency)

    Description:
    MuNet supports municipal governments in their efforts to incorporate information and communication technologies as tools to promote efficiency, transparency and participation.

    Activities:
    - Training, onsite workshops as well as online courses through the OAS Virtual Campus
    - Consulting
    - Technology implementation

    Beneficiaries:
    - Municipalities from Latin America and the Caribbean

    Partnerships:
    - With National Governments and Municipal Associations
    • Date:  10/3/2012    Paragraphs: 37
    Iniciative:
    Technical Notebooks on: "Policies for the Development of broadband in the Americas Region” and "Broadband access technologies"

    Description:
    The Mexico Declaration of the V Meeting of the Assembly of the CITEL stated that the access to broadband for the most part of the population of the Americas is one of the main challenges for Governments, and therefore CITEL as main telecommunications/ICT body of the region must act as a strategic pillar for the establishment of public policies favoring better regional development and integration;

    This initiative will provide updated and detailed information of the experiences that the Member States of CITEL are developing in the matter, including infrastructure expansion and connectivity promotion.

    Activities:
    - Request Member States to establish a point of contact to exchange information and channel surveys and inquiries regarding the Index of the Technical Notebook on Policies for the Development of Broadband in the Region of the Americas.
    - Complete a form for the Technical Notebook on Policies for the Development of Broadband in the Region of the Americas on: 1) Thorough evaluation of the existing situation in each country including existing broadband networks, policies, legislation, regulatory processes and procedures
    - Update and circulate for comments the Technical Notebook on Broadband Access Technologies that includes aspects such as: Broadband access, Wireline and Wireless Broadband Access technologies
    - Analyze the information submitted to confirm if there are patterns and develop recommendations.
    - Liaise with the Permanent Consultative Committee II on identification of spectrum for broadband wireless access technologies.
    - Provide human resource capacity for the sustainability of the deployed broadband communication network is strengthened.
    - Promote the development of National ICT broadband network plans.
    - Promote the development of ICT applications and services. In particular we are working on an initiative on telehealth for the Americas Region.

    Beneficiaries:
    Member States

    Partnerships:
    International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
    • Date:  10/2/2012    Paragraphs: 37
    Initiative:
    Equitable Access to Public Information

    Description:
    This project focuses on the local implementation of the Model Inter-American Law on Access to Public Information. For those OAS Member States which currently have legislation on access to information, this means to examine the current legal framework to gauge whether it complies with the Model Law, and to update the system in case it does not. For those OAS Member States without legislations on access to information, this means assistance in drafting new legislation that incorporates the standards of the Model Law.

    This assistance in both types of States will go a long way in helping ensure access to public information across the Americas. Participants countries will have the necessary tools to enact modernize or strengthen their legal framework in this subject. At the end of the project these countries will have a clear understanding of the areas that need improvements, the aspects that need to be addressed and a possible solution to solve these challenges created on the basis of the Model Law.

    Activities:
    Publication of the Model Law and its Guidelines and other support documentation.
    Preparation and publication of project’s dissemination materials (brochure, web page, etc).
    Identification and selection of interested Member States requiring technical support and identification of the baseline and the number of states considering the model law as the basis for reform and according to the results of the consultations made with OAS Missions, consequent with the indication No. 1 of the outputs and its expected results.
    Identification and recollection of current laws and regulations in each participant country.
    Preparation in each participant country of a comparative studies of domestic legal frameworks vis-à-vis the Model Law and its Guidelines.
    Consultations and identification of key participants, as well as international experts to obtain their feed back and their participation on workshops, including national machinery or national institutional mechanisms for the promotion of gender equality and women's empowerment.
    Hold 6 workshops to discuss the preliminary comparative study and draft recommendations containing modifications of domestic legal frameworks vis-à-vis the Model Law and its Guidelines with the participation of government officials, policy makers, private sector and civil society (including women’s organizations).
    Preparation, publication and dissemination of the workshops results among key actors.
    Participation and/or organization of seminars and conferences to disseminate the model law.
    Design, distribute and analyze surveys among key players to follow up the implementation of the workshop’s findings and recommendations.
    Document containing the analysis and evaluation of results from the above mentioned surveys and interviews.
    Logistics and organization of a meeting at the OAS to dissemination of the results of the project.
    Hold above mentioned meeting.
    Preparation and presentation of technical and financial reports.
    Direct Beneficiaries:
    Six/seven participant’s countries.
    Legislators, advisors, executive branch, public information officers and other public officials that participate in the project and perform duties related to the law-making processes and the support of legal and administrative reforms in public administration.
    Public information officers and other public officials that participate in the administration and enforcement of access to public information agencies.

    Indirect Beneficiaries:
    Civil Society Organizations that works in issues such as civil society participation, democracy, transparency, human rights and gender issues.
    Population that requires access to public information.
    Local Economic Actors that requires access to public information.
    Foreign Investors that requires access to public information.
    Trade Partners that requires access to public information.

    Partnerships:
    Alianza Regional para la Libertad de Pensamiento, Expresión e Información, other NGOs to be identified in each particular country.
    Transparency International, Carter Centre, Open Society.
    The Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
    • Date:  10/2/2012    Paragraphs: 49
    Initiative:
    OAS Virtual Campus

    Description:
    The OAS Virtual Campus is an online training initiative that combines modern e-learning technology, sound methodology and qualified tutors to provide government officials from throughout Latin America and the Caribbean with the necessary skills to adapt to the knowledge-based society.

    Activities:
    - Online training on more than 20 different courses.
    - Institutional agreements for massive government officials training.
    - Certification.

    Beneficiaries:
    - Governments from Latin America and the Caribbean

    Partnerships:
    - Canadian International Development Agency, CIDA
    - Inter-American Development Bank, IDB
    - International Development Research Center, IDRC
    • Date:  10/1/2012    Paragraphs: 126
    Initiative:
    Promotion of the use of ICT in health

    Description:
    To develop and implement a telehealth training programme for students and health workers in the member countries of OAS so as to improve connectivity, the exchange of knowledge and relations between professionals and institutions in the region, as a fundamental contribution towards raising health standards.

    Activities:
    1. Identification of experts by topic.
    2. Selection of trainers and experts for the development of content.
    3. Development of curriculum content, teaching strategies, and multimedia formats.
    4. Selection of technological centers and/or institutions for the implementation of training activities.
    5. Establishment of agreements and/or commitments with training centers and/or organizations.
    6. Delivery of courses.
    7. Promotion of the course at international level by means of different media and activities and marketing of the course.
    8. Use the information gathered for the book and the course as a basis to begin the update of the telehealth publication for the Americas.
    9. Assessment and implementation of improvements if needed.

    Beneficiaries:
    Member States

    Partnerships:
    Permanent Consultative Committee I (PCC.I),
    University of Rosario (Argentina)
    Telehealth Network for the Americas "Professor Marcelo Petrich"
    Netlogon (Company from Argentina)
    FONSOFT (Fondo Fiduciario de la Industria del Software de la República Argentina)
    • Date:  9/27/2012    Paragraphs: -
    Initiative:
    Non-Ionizing Radiation (NIR) and Health Protection

    Description:
    This project aims fostering an enabling environment for the deployment of wireless networks and their associated infrastructures in Latin America, mainly regarding the lack of appropriate regulatory frameworks and the social apprehension as to Human Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (EMF).

    The project will: i) evaluate relevant regulations related to the EMF assessment in every country of the region; ii) development general tools (guidelines, practices and regulatory framework) needed to facilitate the deployment of wireless networks with the acceptance of the population; and iii) implement pilot tests in selected countries.

    Activities:
    - To compile the available information and regulations in organizations and member states with respect to the effects of non-ionizing radiation and the established technical standards.
    - To prepare a publication with the gathered information.
    - To develop recommendations so as to facilitate the deployment of wireless networks with the acceptance of the population.
    - To implement pilot projects in selected countries and to make case studies of the implementation available for others to use.
    - To develop a sustainable plan of action to build up social acceptance regarding the installation of antennas.
    - To follow up with the specialized organizations such as WHO and ICNIRP related to the human exposure to electromagnetic field in the use of cellular phones handset.
    - To discuss with the telecommunication regulators an action plan to divulge to the citizens the safety use of the mobile phones.
    - Based in the pilots and the above information, to develop a “Guide of Good Practices” related to the installation of antenna support structures and the municipal regulation, environmental protection, cultural heritage protection, urban planning, radiation monitoring and social communication of radiation effects and its control, based on a dialogue among all stakeholders (mayors, companies, regulators, provinces, etc.).

    Beneficiaries:
    Member States

    Partnerships:
    Permanent Consultatice Committee (I,II)
    Internacional Telecommunication Union (ITU)
    Selected countries for the pilots
    • Date:  9/27/2012    Paragraphs: 121
    Initiative:
    Promotion of opportunities of technical training on Telecommunications/Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

    Description:
    To identify and promote training courses on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to meet the needs and priorities of the members of the CITEL.

    Activities:
    a. To identify the needs and priorities of the members of the CITEL.
    b. To coordinate training programs for the CITEL Member States with Regional Training Centers taking into account budget available for scholarships. The course are provided face-to-face and also distance education.
    c. To do an assessment of the course materials.
    d. To do the announcement of the course through the Scholarships department.
    e. To evaluate the applications and select the persons that will receive the scholarships.
    c. To coordinate the training in ICT with the Center of Excellence of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for the Americas.

    Beneficiaries:
    Member States

    Partnerships:
    1. Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires - Argentina
    2. Universidad de Brasilia - Brazil
    3. Telecommunications Executive Management Institute of Canada - Canada
    4. Centro Internacional de Capacitación en Telecomunicaciones - Chile
    5. Centro Nacional de Electrónica y Telecomunicaciones de la Facultad de
    Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas de la Universidad de Chile - Chile
    6. Asociación Colombiana de Ingenieros - Colombia
    7. Universidad Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Colombia - Colombia
    8. Escuela Colombiana de Ingeniería “Julio Garavito” de Colombia - Colombia
    9. Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas - Colombia
    10. United States Telecommunications Training Institute - United States
    11. Comisión Federal de Telecomunicaciones de Mexico - Mexico
    12. Centro de Innovación Tecnológica – Facultad de Ingeniería de la Universidad Nacional de Asunción (CITEC-FIUNA) - Paraguay
    13. Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Capacitación de Telecomunicaciones del Perú (INICTEL-UNI) Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería (UNI) - Perú
    14. Telecommunications Corporation Suriname Telesur Training Research - Suriname
    15. Administración Nacional de Telecomunicaciones, ANTEL - Uruguay
    16. Universidad Católica del Uruguay - Uruguay
    17. Centro de Formación Centroamericana – COMTELCA
    18. Centro de Capacitación en Alta Tecnología CCAT – Argentina
    19. Institute of Technology for the Americas (ITLA) – Dominican Republic
    20. Neotelis
    21. International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
    • Date:  9/26/2012    Paragraphs: 13.2
    Initiative:
    Preparation of the World Radiocommunication Conference, the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly and the World Conference on International Telecommunications.

    Description:
    Preparation of the region to submit inter-american proposals to: the World Radiocommunication Assembly, the World Radiocommunication Conference, the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly and the World Conference on International Telecommunications. These four conferences took place in 2012.

    Radiocommunication Assemblies (RA) are responsible for the structure, programme and approval of radiocommunication studies and are normally convened every three or four years.

    WRC are held every three to four years. It is the job of WRC to review, and, if necessary, revise the Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the use of the radio-frequency spectrum and the geostationary-satellite and non-geostationary-satellite orbits.

    The WTSA is held every four years to consider specific matters related to telecommunication standardization.

    The WCIT will review the current International Telecommunications Regulations (ITRs), which serve as the binding global treaty outlining the principles which govern the way international voice, data and video traffic is handled, and which lay the foundation for ongoing innovation and market growth.

    Activities:
    - Analyze the agenda for each of the conferences.
    - Establish the structure (group) to cover each agenda item.
    - Establish the authorities of the group.
    - Analyze each agenda item and the preliminary proposals received by the member states.
    - Development of DRAFT INTER-AMERICAN PROPOSALS (DIAP): Preliminary proposals which has been supported by more than one Member State, is being considered by PCC.II, has been supported by more than one Member State, and is ready to receive support or opposition of other CITEL Member States.
    - Development of INTER-AMERICAN PROPOSALS (IAP): DIAP for which the PCC.II has ended its consideration and discussion, and has met the criteria defined of the development of an IAP.

    Benefciaries:
    Member States
    • Date:  7/31/2012    Paragraphs: -
    PEA's Awareness Program and Meta-Portal of Open Educational Resources
    The Awareness Program seeks to promote the debate and to propose new initiatives on the topics of ICTs for education, mobile learning and open educational resources (OER). The tools used by the EPA to achieve this are:
    • Hands-on workshops designed for teachers at the different levels to learn about the latest in the use of ICTs for education, in partnership with reputable institutions in the region (Mexico 2011, Suriname & Barbados 2012).
    • Volunteers Program: during a teacher training workshop in Mexico in 2011, the EPA was able to gauge the interest of teachers and practitioners in being part of the EPA efforts to bring educational opportunities free of charge to teachers in the region. In a first exploratory call to volunteers from among 86 graduates of one of its online courses graduates, the EPA received more than 40 applications for volunteer online tutors.
    • Communities of practice: these EPA-hosted virtual spaces for the exchange of information and best practices are aimed at continuing the knowledge-sharing experience that result of the training opportunities and knowledge transfer initiatives offered by the EPA.
    • Social Media and Live Broadcasting: the EPA has successfully introduced the use of Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Youtube) and Livestream to teacher training workshops, allowing these educational opportunities to reach a wider audience thanks to the use of ICTs.

    The Meta-Portal will offer the population relevant open content and significant strategic tools, including topics for development in the Americas, such as education, SMEs, health, government, and strategies for competitiveness and human development such as: regional physical integration, access to and use of information and communication technologies, disasters, citizen security, poverty, inequality, human rights, and democracy.
    This meta-portal will be used to support the process of consolidation and strengthening of each country’s installed capacity for access to and use of ITCs, especially the process of acquisition and dissemination, as a means of promoting development and social inclusion with the creation of locally installed capacity5 that will ensure their efficient and sustainable administration and therefore their appropriation by the community. This program will be supported by a partnership between the OAS, civil society, the private sector, academia, and other international organizations. The sustainable virtual community, consisting of open content, will enable the establishment of networks, exchange of knowledge, dissemination of best practices, and opportunities for innovation.
    Additionally, in an effort to strengthen public-private partnerships, the PEA has signed an agreement with Intel® Educar to offer free online teacher training courses, in English and Spanish, starting in July 2012 through the PEA Virtual Classroom. These courses will also be offered in French and Portuguese in the upcoming months, and this free-of-charge training is made possible with the support of our Volunteer Tutors.
    The PEA Volunteer Program was launched last May and today includes nearly 600 applicants willing to share their knowledge and expertise in different fields with the goal of expanding training opportunities for individuals of the OAS Member States.

    www.educoas.org

    Activities:
    - Onsite workshops to introduce teachers on the use of ICTs in education
    - Set up and hosting of Communities of Practice
    - Establish an International Advisory Council for the Meta-Portal initiative
    - Coordination of country groups to follow up on the Meta-Portal initiative

    Beneficiaries:
    - Teachers at all levels (primary, secondary, tertiary and university levels)
    - Academic institutions and other educational centers, as well as government agencies, interested in sharing educational material
    - Academic institutions interested in developing their installed capacity in eLearning

    Partnership:
    - Governments of the OAS Member States
    - Higher education institutions
    • Date:  7/26/2012    Paragraphs: -
    RED GEALC, e-Government Network from Latin America and the Caribbean
    RED GEALC groups all Directors of e-government from Latin American and Caribbean countries with the aim of accelerating their efforts to bring in information and communication technologies to the functioning of the public administration.
    Since 2009, RED GEALC has also a Ministerial level working space that will have its second meeting in 2012 in Costa Rica.
    www.redgealc.org

    Activities:
    - Onsite and online training
    - Horizontal cooperation
    - Knowledge generation
    - Annual awards
    - Ministerial meetings.

    Beneficiaries: - e-Government Managers from Latin America and the Caribbean

    Partnerships: - Inter-American Development Bank, IDB
    - International Development Research Center, IDRC

    Financing: Canadian International Development Agency, CIDA
    Inter-American Development Bank, IDB
    International Development Research Center, IDRC
    • Date:  6/23/2011    Paragraphs: 22
    The OAS has activities underway on: development of harmonized policy and regulatory guidelines for the ICT market that promote affordable access to innovative technology and applications; identification of technical standards that promote interoperability among different networks and services; technical analysis for ensuring spectrum availability; promotion of broadband access growth to support applications in the areas of health, education, commerce and government services; use of ICTs for disaster prevention, mitigation and relief; establishment of a framework to build confidence and security against cyber threats and cyber attacks; consideration of public policy issues pertaining to the Internet such as the development of procedures to build trust on the Internet (i.e. Child online protection); capacity building through a range of targeted training courses; and regional cooperation to prepare for International Conferences of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

    The OAS has signed agreements with 20 organizations and has 20 Regional Training Centers. This collaboration creates an enabling environment, assisting in the identification of priorities and initiatives and building a richer and more inclusive Information Society, in which everyone can participate.
    Related Resources
    OAS Website
  • Trade
  • Youth and Childhood
    Ministerials
    Paragraphs Related to the Theme
    Reports
    • Date:  5/30/2013    Paragraphs: 16
    Capacity Strengthening
    The Department of Human Development, Education and Culture started to offer Educational Opportunities Workshops to prepare students contemplating graduate studies in the region. Students received a 3 module workshop on how to build the necessary skills to be productive in the 21st Century workforce, how to internationalize their academic and professional careers and how to search for and finance international education opportunities abroad. A total of 964 undergraduate and graduate students and university faculty participated in the workshop on how to access educational opportunities in the Americas. There were 738 workshop participants in Panama and 226 in Suriname.

    The Educational Portal of the Americas
    Since 2012, the Portal joined efforts with FLACSO Chile to offer a postgraduate course “Diplomado en Gerencia Social y Políticas de Juventud”. Through the Virtual Classroom, participants from the public sector and civil society organizations learn how to incorporate the youth perspective to their work in the field of social management. More than 50 participants were trained.

    Also, the Portal is supporting Department of Social Development and Employment in the development a virtual Certificate in Social Protection in Spanish and English. The English version will be launched in September 2013 and the Spanish version in February 2014.
    • Date:  10/2/2012    Paragraphs: 87
    Information available in spanish
    • Date:  10/2/2012    Paragraphs: 187
    Initiative:
    Youth Innovation - Youth Entrepreneurship

    Description:
    Component of the UNDP program Youth In implemented by YABT to support entrepreneurship development among youth in the CARICOM Member and Associate States. It involves:
    1 - Coordination among stakeholders
    2 - Public Private Sector Partnerships
    3 - Ecosystem for Young Entrepreneurs

    It has five components:
    1 - Young Entrepreneurs Start Up Spaces (YESS)
    2- Business Labs - Capacity Building training in entrepreneurship for young people and experts
    3- Technology
    4- Caribbean Innovation Challenge
    5 - Access to Finance

    The Caribbean Innovation Challenge (CIC) is a paralell process to the TIC Americas and will only focus in the Caribbean Youth.

    Activities:
    Mini Business Labs ( for young people in general)
    Business Labs Workshop ( for Young Entrepreneurs)
    Nex Links Worlkshops ( for local Experts)
    Caribbean Innovation Challenge (CIC) ( for youth age 13 - 29)

    Beneficiaries:
    Young people age 13- 29 years old
    Local Organizations that work in entrepreneurship in the Caribbean
    Young entrepreneurs in the following economic areas:
    Agriculture, Environment (green businesses), Tourism, and Cultural Enterprises

    Partnerships:
    United Nations Development Program
    Young Americas Business Trust
    Israel Cooperation Agency - MASHAV
    Mount Carmel International Training Center - MCTC
    Ministries of Youth
    Organization of American States
    • Date:  10/2/2012    Paragraphs: 39, 187
    Initiative:
    Talent and Innovation Challenges of the Americas (TIC Americas)

    Description:
    TIC Americas is a program that honors innovative businesses and accelerates the process of market integration of young entrepreneurs in the Americas. TIC Americas model goes beyond developing a business plan as it incorporates extensive support phases with training, mentoring and development of prototype.

    The objective of the TIC Americas is to combat poverty by empowering young entrepreneurs with the skills and resources they need to consolidate their business at the start up phase. The competition is based in two major categories, the talent and innovation and the Eco Challenge awards.

    In summary:
    6 Editions: (Panama 2007, Colombia 2008, Honduras 2009, Peru 2010 and El Salvador 2011 and Colombia 2012)
    • 72 countries represented.
    • 20,705 young participants
    • 6,770 business proposals
    • 93% of participants finish the program with an established company
    • More than 500 professionals from across the continent have been involved as judges and mentors.
    • More than 100 hours of virtual conferences to train participants.
    • More than 200 universities, colleges and incubators have been linked to the process.
    • 91.3% of participants stated that TIC Americas motivated them to start a new project or a business venture.

    Activities:
    Registration: August 21, 2012 - January 18, 2013
    Follow up with Participants registered: January 19 - February 14, 2013
    Final Submission of Deliverables: February 15, 2013
    On-line Evaluation by Judges: All March 2013
    Announcement of Finalists: April 12, 2013
    Finals: May 30 and 31, 2013 - La Antigua, Guatemala

    Partnerships:
    Young people from the OAS Member States that are between 13 to 35 years old.
    Among them we can also include:
    Young Indigenous
    Women Entrepreneurs
    Young people at risk
    Local organizations that work with young people

    Partnerships:
    Organization of American States
    Young Americas Business Trust
    Pepsico Latin America
    • Date:  6/23/2011    Paragraphs: 19
    In 2010 – 2011, the OAS and the Trust for the Americas continued to implement the project “Armando Paz: Building a culture of peace with youth in Central America through media, arts and social dialogue” in El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama. Project activities included five capacity building workshops that reached 120 civil society organizations and representatives from governmental institutions working with youth, four national forums promoting dialogue among youth, private sector representatives and government and the launch of the sub-grant competition “Peace challenge”. The competitions goal was to encourage young people from El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama to submit project proposals to address creatively the problems that are identified as causal factors of violence and insecurity in their communities. The contest ended on April 15, 2011 with the submission of 97 project proposals, 72% of which were submitted by young people between 18 and 26 years old.
    Related Resources
    OAS Website