XXXVI Lecture of the Americas with Judge Jean-Louis Bruguière  - June 22, 2009 @ 3:00pm - OAS Hall of the Americas

The Department of International Affairs (DIA) plays an important role in establishing a presence, building awareness of, and encouraging concrete support for the activities of the Organization of American States (5.87 MB) as the premier regional political forum in the Western Hemisphere today. To this end, we strive to increase our visibility and to strengthen relations with Member States, Permanent Observer Countries, Regional and International Organizations, civil society, academic institutions and think tanks, and private sector entities in order to implement the inter-American agenda mandated by the Presidents and Prime Ministers, Foreign Ministers and the OAS Ambassadors in the context of the Summits of the Americas, the OAS General Assembly and the OAS Permanent Council.

	The Inaugural Session of the 39th OAS General Assembly takes place at the Club Social Hondureño Arabe in San Pedro Sula- Honduras June 2, 2009 Photo Gallery
	DIALOGUE ON COOPERATION BETWEEN THE HEADS OF DELEGATION, THE OAS SECRETARY GENERAL AND THE HEADS OF DELEGATION OF THE PERMANENT OBSERVER COUNTRIES- June 1st, 2009 San Pedro Sula -  Honduras On June 1, representatives from 35 Permanent Observer countries met for a luncheon at the Hotel Intercontinental in San Pedro Sula, Honduras with the Heads of Delegation of the 34 Member States of the OAS and the Assistant Secretary General to dialogue on the cooperation between the Permanent Observers and the Organization, as well as to discuss points of interest relating to this topic of this year’s General Assembly, “Toward a Culture of Nonviolence.” The Dialogue began with introductory remarks by the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Honduras, Patricia Licona Cubero, who offered her welcome on behalf of Honduras and invited the Permanent Observer participants to exchange opinions and points of view with the Member States and Assistant Secretary General on themes of the Inter-American Agenda. Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin, then provided a brief overview of the role Observers play in the Organization, noting that the Permanent Observers in 2008 contributed a total of US$25.8 million in cash, and US$354,732 in kind – an increase of 21.4% from 2007 – and provided contributions in all areas of the OAS, ranging from democracy promotion, security, human rights and development. For more info, click here.
	Dialogues of Civil Society May 31st and June 1st San Pedro Sula-Honduras Nearly 200 representatives from more than 100 civil society, private sector and workers’ organizations participated in the XXXIX OAS General Assembly.  The Informal Conversation between the Secretary General of the OAS and the Representatives of Civil Society Organizations and the Dialogue of Heads of Delegation with Representatives of Civil Society, which took place in the headquarters of the General Assembly “Centro Social Hondureño Árabe” on May 31st and June 1st respectively, offered spaces for dialogue, in which the participants exchanged opinions regarding the theme of the General Assembly “Toward a Culture of Non-Violence” and the four priority areas of the OAS, democracy, human rights, multidimensional security and integral development. These dialogues contributed to strengthening citizen participation in the Inter-American agenda and in the policymaking process, highlighting the importance of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, which defines civil society organizations as agents of democracy, and promotes the continued cooperation between civil society and Member States in the economic, social and cultural development of the region. Photo Gallery
	The opening ceremony of the 27th Model OAS General Assembly (MOAS) for Universities of the Hemisphere took place this morning in the campus of Universidad de San Pedro Sula (USPS), Honduras. This Model, held from April 27- 30, 2009, is organized jointly by the Department of International Affairs (DIA) of the Secretariat for External Relations of the Organization of American States (OAS), the USPS and the Government of Honduras. This MOAS brings together approximately 400 students and 50 teachers from 15 universities in Honduras, as well as 13 universities from Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela. The participating students will represent the 34 OAS Member States and 5 Permanent Observer countries of the OAS. This Model is financed by the OAS, the USPS and the Government of Spain, and seeks to familiarize the youth and general population of Honduras, as well as the youth of the Hemisphere, with the priorities in the inter-American agenda in anticipation to the celebration of the 39th Regular Period of Sessions of the General Assembly of the OAS, to be held in that same city from June 1-3, 2009. The main purpose of the MOAS Program is the promotion of democratic values among the youth of the Hemisphere, through this role-playing exercise, where the students represent each of the 34 OAS Member States. For more information about this Model please visit www.moea.usps.edu. For more information about the MOAS, please visit www.moas.oas.org
	The Department of International Affairs (DIA) has developed a series of activities in preparation for the Fifth Summit of the Americas:  “Securing Our Citizens’ Future by Promoting Human Prosperity, Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability," which took place in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. A Post- Summit Briefing: "A New Beginning in Inter-American Relations?” will be held at the OAS Hall of the Americas on May 1st, 2009, at 10:00am. For more information, please click here. For more information on the V Summit, please visit the V Summit Website. Information on the Summit process is also available at http://www.summitsoftheamericas.org/.
	The Civil Society Forum was held aboard the Carnival Victory Cruise Ship in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on April 14-16, 2009, in the framework of the Fifth Summit of the Americas. The results of the Forum will be shared with the 34 OAS Member States in a Dialogue between Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Social Actors, to be held aboard the Caribbean Princess cruise ship on the morning of April 17, 2009.
	On April 9, the OAS Secretary General Insulza met with more than 39 representatives from 35  Permanent Observer countries.  This meeting took place at OAS Headquarters Guerrero Room at 10:30AM and offered a unique opportunity for Permanent Observer representatives to exchange views with the Secretary General on the developments in the region and on the  V Summit of the Americas, as well as on the 39th Regular Session of the OAS General Assembly.
	The Thirty-Ninth Regular Session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States will be held from June 1 to 3, 2009, in the city of San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The theme of this year’s General Assembly is: “Toward a Culture of Nonviolence.” Please visit the 39 OAS General Assembly website for more information on the Assembly, as well as OAS General Assembly Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure’s webpage for the most recently updated documents available. For information on the Dialogue on Cooperation between the Heads of Delegation, the OAS Secretary General and the Heads of Delegation of the Permanent Observer Countries please visit http://www.der.oas.org/Contributions/dialogo_ga_june_09.html

Organization of American States:  "Democracy, Justice, Peace and Prosperity"  (.pdf ENGLISH) (.doc ENGLISH)

Organización de los Estados Americanos:  "Democracia, justicia, paz y prosperidad"  (.pdf ESPANOL)

Mission:

The Department of International Affairs, as part of the Secretariat for External Relations (Executive Order No. 08-01 Rev.1), is responsible for advising and making recommendations to the Secretary General and the OAS Secretariat, as well as to the Organization's policy-making bodies on external relations, resource mobilization, as well as developing the Lecture Series of the Americas.

About DIA:

Advises the General Secretariat, through the Secretary for External Relations, on matters regarding relations between the Organization and permanent observer countries and multilateral organizations.

Coordinates relations with the Permanent Observers so as to provide them with information on the role of the Organization and the priorities of the hemispheric agenda, and to secure substantive and financial support for OAS activities.

Implements policies on external institutional relations, including relations with United Nations agencies, inter-American institutions, international financial institutions, the private sector, and study and research centers, according to instructions from the Secretary General.

 Recommends means of strengthening the General Secretariat’s ties with the permanent observer missions and with specialized organizations and institutions, both regional and international.

 Assists the various areas of the OAS in their efforts to maintain effective substantive contacts with other intergovernmental institutions, both public and private.

Coordinates, promotes, and carries out the necessary activities to hold the Lecture Series of the Americas and similar programs, including their conceptual development, seeking speakers, and disseminating  it in the Member States so as to reach out to every citizen in the Americas.

Develops, promotes, organizes, and carries out the Model OAS General Assembly in the member states to inform and educate students of the Americas about the Organization and its role.

Prepares and implements projects and programs to strengthen ties between the General Secretariat and other public and private institutions in the host country.

Develops and implements a program of briefings on OAS affairs and priorities in the Inter-American Agenda for various audiences interested in the Organization.