Briefings and Tours

OAS briefings are offered to diplomats, government officials, military officers, university faculty, policy analysts and students, as well as to the general public. The briefings are given by the Director of the Department of External Relations, Irene Klinger, and senior specialists from the various departments of the organization. Briefings are tailored to the specific interests of the visiting groups, covering political, social, legal and economic issues in the Americas as well as the work of the organization. These briefings include tours of the facilities and an historical overview of the organization. For more information on OAS briefings, please contact Irene Klinger, Director, Department of External Relations at (202) 458-6072 or iklinger@oas.org

Tour Information

List of Briefings - January-February 2008

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FEBRUARY 29, 2008	On February 29, 15 representatives from Peru and Bolivia visited the OAS. Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of External Relations gave a tour of the historic building. Young Americas Business Trust gave a presentation.
FEBRUARY 29, 2008	On February 29, 30 staff members from the National Building Museum visited the OAS.  Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of External Relations, gave a tour of the historic building.  Lydia Bendersky, Director, Department of Cultural Services, discussed the cultural aspects of the OAS and discussed future plans at the Department of Cultural Services.  The staff members toured the Museum of the Americas with Adriana Ospina, docent, Museum of the Americas.
FEBRUARY 29, 2008	On February 29, 10 staff members from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy visited the OAS.  Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of External Relations, gave a tour of the OAS Historic Building.  Irene Klinger, Director, Department of External Relations, presented an overview of the OAS.  Ambassador Alexandre Addor-Neto, Secretary for Multidimensional Security, discussed security issues. Carol Fuller, Secretary, Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE), gave an extensive presentation on terrorism.
FEBRUARY 28, 2008	On February 28, 13 juniors from Kenwood High School visited the OAS.  Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of External Relations, gave a tour of the OAS Historic Building.  Mauricio Concha, Consultant, Department of External Relations discussed the Model OAS and invited their school to participate. The students toured the Museum of the Americas with Adriana Ospina, docent, Art Museum of the Americas.
FEBRUARY 27, 2008	On February 27, 11 legal professional from the Academy for Educational Development visited the OAS.  Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of External Relations, gave a tour of the OAS Historic Building.  Sherry Stephenson, Institutional Relations, Department of External Relations, presented an overview of the OAS.  Marta Laura Martinez, Senior Legal Officer, Secretariat of Legal Affairs, discussed international legal affairs.
FEBRUARY 26, 2008	On February 26, 6 military officers brought from the region by SOUTHCOM visited the OAS. Aline Hommes, Specialist provided a tour of the Historic Headquarters. Sherry Stephenson, Institutional Relations, Department of External Relations, presented an overview of the OAS. Ambassador Alexandre Addor-Neto, Secretary Multidimensional Security, discussed hemispheric security.  Mario Lopez, Principal Specialist, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, gave a presentation on human rights.
FEBRUARY 21, 2008	On February 21, The Department of External Relations organized a special briefing program for 88 senior military officers from the Inter-American Defense College. Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of External Relations, gave a tour of the historic building. Ambassador Albert Ramdin, Assistant Secretary General welcomed the officers and turned the program over to Irene Klinger, Director, Department of External Relations who presented an overview of the OAS.  Pablo Zuniga, Principal Specialist, Department of Modernization of the State and Good Governance, briefed on the issues of democracy in the Americas. Santiago Canton, Executive Secretary, and Mario Lopez, Principal Specialist, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights continued with a briefing and discussion on human rights. A lunch was offered to the participants and the afternoon speakers were: Alfonso Quiñonez, Executive Secretary for Integral Development, Executive Secretariat for Integral Development, who gave a power point presentation on the programs and policies of  integral development in relation to education, social development and employment, science and technology, sustainable development and the environment and trade issues. Ambassador Osmar Chohfi, Permanent Representative of Brazil to the OAS, spoke to the participants and the briefing was finalized with closing remarks from Irene Klinger, Director, Department of External Relations.
FEBRUARY 20, 2008	On February 20, 5 students from the University of Maryland received a Tour of the OAS Historic Building with Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of External Relations and an OAS overview by Jane Thery, Chief, Institutional Relations, Department of External Relations.  Mauricio Concha, Consultant, Department of External Relations discussed the Model OAS.
FEBRUARY 19, 2008	On February 19, 170 senior high school students from Presidential Classroom visited the OAS.  Ambassador Roberto Alvarez, Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic to the OAS, gave a dynamic presentation on the OAS to these future leaders.
FEBRUARY 14, 2008	On February 14, 14 students from Southwark College, UK visited the OAS.  Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of External Relations, gave the students a tour of the historic building.  Jane Thery, Chief, Institutional Relations, presented the students with an overview of the Organization
FEBRUARY 14, 2008	On February 14, 25 students from Montgomery College were given a tour of the OAS building by Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of External Relations. Sherry Stephenson, Institutional Relations, Department of External Relations, gave an overview of the OAS. Richard Hubert, Chief, Biodiversity and Sustainable Forest Management, Department of Sustainable Development and the Environment, elaborated on the problems of the environment and sustainable development in the Hemisphere. Mauricio Concha, Consultant, Department of External Relations, met with the students and discussed the Model OAS program and invited their school to participate. The visit was capped off with a tour of the Art Museum of the Americas by Adriana Ospina, docent, Museum of the Americas.
FEBRUARY 12, 2008	On February 12, 50 high school students from the Close-Up Foundation toured the OAS with Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of External Relations.  Pablo Zuñiga, Principal Specialist, Secretariat for Political Affairs, gave the students an overview of the Organization.
FEBRUARY 11, 2008	On February 11, 18 college students from Park University visited the OAS.  Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of External Relations, guided a tour of the Historic Building.  Jane Thery, Chief, Institutional Relations, presented the students with an overview of the OAS.  Mauricio Concha, Consultant, Department of External Relations, met with the students to discuss the Model OAS program and to invite their school to participate.
FEBRUARY 1, 2008	On February 1, 38 college students in the International Business and Trade course at American University visited the OAS.  Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of External Relations, provided a building tour followed by an OAS overview by Sherry Stephenson, Institutional Relations, Department of External Relations.
JANUARY 31, 2008	On January 31, 65 OAS Interns received a tour of the OAS building from Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of External Relations, and a welcome and overview by Irene Klinger, Director, Department of External Relations. The interns also visited the Library where they were given a briefing by Stella Villagran, Reference Librarian.  The tour ended with a visit to the Art Museum of the Americas, where Adriana Ospina, docent, Art Museum of the Americas, and staff gave a tour of the exposition Mexico: Festival of Toys.
JANUARY 30, 2008	On January 30, 12 economic and trade professionals from Latin America with Delphi International visited the OAS.  Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of External Relations, gave a tour of the Historic OAS Building.  Jane Thery, Chief, Institutional Relations, provided an overview on the Organization. Maryse Robert, Section Chief, Department of Trade, Tourism and Competitiveness, discussed trade with the group.
JANUARY 25, 2008	On Jan. 25, 18 high school students from Wakefield High School visited OAS Headquarters.  They received a tour of the OAS Main Building and were allowed to view a session of the Political and Juridical Committee being conducted in the Simón Bolivar Room. Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of External Relations gave an overview on the Organization. Mauricio Concha, Consultant, Department of External Relations spoke about the MOAS Program and invited the school to participate in the program. The visit was finalized with a tour of the Art Museum with Adriana Ospina, Docent, Art Museum of the Americas who gave a delightful and informative explanation of the Current exhibit: Mexico: Festival of Toys, an interactive exhibit of hand-made toys for both celebration and play.
JANUARY 18, 2008	On Jan. 18, 25 Faculty of Law students from the University of Western Ontario visited OAS Headquarters. The students received a tour of the OAS Main Building with Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of External Relations.  Irene Klinger, Director, Department of External Relations gave an OAS overview and Ambassador Graeme Clark, Permanent Representative of Canada to the OAS spoke on the role of the Mission of Canada as a Permanent Member of the Organization.  Elizabeth Abi-Mershed, Deputy Director of the Intern-American Commission on Human Rights spoke about the work of the Human Rights Commission in the Western Hemisphere and Luis Toro, Legal Officer, Department of International Legal Affairs spoke on the political and legal aspects of the OAS. A visit to the Art Museum of the Americas was also included.
JANUARY 17, 2008	On Jan. 17, 32 Students from Bridgewater College visited the OAS.  The students received a tour of the OAS Main Building with Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of External Relations and Jane Thery, Chief, Institutional Relations, gave them an OAS overview.  Nelly Robinson, Specialist, Department of External Relations informed the students about the MOAS Program.
JANUARY 16, 2008	On January 16, 38 high school students from the Brazilian Youth Ambassador Program with Delphi International visited OAS Headquarters. The students received a tour from Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of External Relations. Pablo Zuñiga, Senior Specialist, Secretariat for Political Affairs gave the students an overview of the Organization. Mr. Lineu Pupo Du Paula, Minister Counselor and Mr. Nelson Antonio Tabajara De Oliveira, Counselor, Permanent Mission of Brazil to the OAS addressed the students.
JANUARY 15, 2008	On January 15, Jane Thery, Chief, Institutional Relations, Department of External Relations was invited to speak to 60 U.S. diplomats at the Foreign Service Institute at their Headquarters in Arlington, VA. Ms. Thery spoke on recent political and economic trends in the Western Hemisphere, multilateral diplomacy, the role of the OAS in the Western Hemisphere and the work of the Organization in the areas of democracy, human rights, multidimensional security, and integral development.
DECEMBER 10, 2007	On Dec. 10, 15 Students from the ITESM - Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiors de Monterrey visited the OAS. The students received a tour of the OAS Main Building by Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of External Relations. Jane Thery, Chief, Institutional Relations, Department of External Relations gave an OAS overview.
NOVEMBER 26, 2007	On November 26, 39 military officials from the Chilean National War College visited the OAS Historic Headquarters. The group received an OAS tour from Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of External Relations. Irene Klinger, Director, Department of External Relations, gave an overview of the Organization.
NOVEMBER 16, 2007	On November 16, 12 students from Georgetown University's International Relations Club visited the OAS Historic Headquarters. The group received an OAS tour from Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of External Relations. Jane Thery, Chief, Institutional Relations, gave an overview of the Organization. Nelly Robinson, Program Coordinator for MOAS briefed the students on the OAS Model Assembly.
NOVEMBER 16, 2007	On November 16, 22 participants from the Foreign Service Institute visited the OAS Headquarters. The group received a tour from Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of External Relations. Jane Thery, Chief, Institutional Relations gave an overview of the Organization.
NOVEMBER 09, 2007	On November 9, 35 Junior & Seniors undergraduates from Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania visited the historic OAS headquarters. The group received an OAS tour from Bryan McClellan, Department of External Relations. Jane Thery, Chief, Institutional Relations, gave an overview of the Organization. Nelly Robinson, Program Coordinator for MOAS briefed the students on the OAS Model Assembly.
NOVEMBER 06, 2007	On November 6, 16 military officials from the Guatemalan General Staff and Command College visited the OAS historic headquarters. Ambassador Francisco Villagrán de León, Permanent Representative, Mission of Guatemala to the OAS, gave the group a specialized briefing about the Mission’s role at the OAS. Irene Klinger, Director, Department of External Relations gave an Overview on the Organization. Moises Benamor, Assistant Director, Secretariat for Political Affairs, briefed the group on democracy in the region. Mario Lopez, Senior Specialist, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, spoke about human rights in the region. Abraham Stein, Deputy Secretary, Secretariat for Multidimensional Security, discussed multidimensional security issues in the Americas.
NOVEMBER 02, 2007	On November 2, 15 students and 2 teachers from the Sidwell Friends School visited the OAS historic headquarters. The group received an OAS tour and overview from Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of External Relations. Nelly Robinson, Program Coordinator for MOAS briefed the students on the OAS Model Assembly. Their visit also included a tour of the Art Museum of the Americas
NOVEMBER 01, 2007	On November 1, 50 5th graders from the Academia Interamericana de Panamá visited the OAS historic headquarters. The group received a tour from Aline Hommes, Specialist, Department of External Relations.  Ambassador Aristides Royo, Representative, Permanent Mission of Panama to the OAS gave the students a lively talk on the Organization of American States.