1

OEA/Ser.W

CIDI/doc.40/13

6 May 2013

Original: Spanish

RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETINGS OF
THE INTER-AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR INTEGRAL DEVELOPMENT

(Agreed upon at the XXVI regular meeting, held on April 30, 2013)

I. SCOPE

Article 1.These Rules of Procedure apply only to regular and special meetings of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI). They do not apply to sectoral and specialized meetings of CIDI or to CIDI’s subsidiary bodies, which are governed by their own rules of procedure.

II. ORDER OF PRECEDENCE

Article 2.The order of precedence of the principal, acting, and alternate representatives shall be determined according to the dates on which they present the respective documents accrediting them as such.

III. CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR

Terms of Office

Article 3.The Chair and Vice Chair of the CIDI shall hold office for a term of six months. The terms shall begin automatically on the first day of the months of January and July.

Order of Succession

Article 4.The Chair of the CIDI shall be held by each of the principal representatives in turn, following the Spanish alphabetical order of the names in Spanish of their respective states. The office of Vice Chair shall be filled in the same way, in reverse alphabetical order.

Chair and Vice Chair Pro Temp

Article 5.The Chair and Vice Chair shall be temporarily replaced by a chair and vice chair pro temp for the duration of any special meeting convened for the purposes established in Article 37 of the Charter of the Organization of American States. In that case, the Chair and Vice Chair Pro Temp shall be elected by a majority of the member states.

Article 6.If the member state to which the Chair corresponds does not have a principal representative, the Vice Chair shall serve as Chair. If the member state to which the Vice Chair corresponds does not have a principal representative, the principal representatives of the member states in reverse alphabetical order shall serve in turn as Vice Chair on an acting basis. The incumbency of such substitute in either office shall terminate with the arrival in CIDI of the principal representative of the member state to which that office pertains by right.

Replacement of the Chair

Article 7.In the event of the temporary absence or impediment of the Chair, the Vice Chair shall serve as Chair; in the event of the absence or impediment of both, the principal representative with the greatest seniority shall preside.

Article 8.If the Chair and Vice Chair of the CIDI should both correspond to the principal representative of the same member state, that representative shall be the Chair. The Vice Chair shall devolve upon the principal representative of the member state next in reverse alphabetical order, and thus successively.

Functions and Authority

Article 9.The Chair of regular and special CIDI meetings shall have the functions and powers stipulated in these Rules of Procedure, specifically:

  1. To convene regular and special meetings of CIDI pursuant to the provisions of Chapter III, “Meetings” of these Rules of Procedure, and propose their order of business;
  1. To open and adjourn the session, direct the debate, grant the floor to the representatives in the order of their requests, put to a vote the points under discussion and announce the results, rule on points of order and, in general, observe and enforce these Rules of Procedure;
  1. To install committees and working groups of meetings;
  1. To install the subsidiary bodies of CIDI;
  1. To implement such mandates as the meeting may assign; and
  1. To perform the functions envisaged in Article 9.

IV. MEETINGS

Site of Regular and Special Meetings

Article 10.Regular and special meetings of CIDI shall be held at the headquarters of the General Secretariat, except when CIDI decides otherwise.

Regular and Special Meetings at Ministerial or Equivalent Level

Article 11.CIDI shall hold at least one meeting each year at the ministerial or equivalent level in compliance with Article 96 of the OAS Charter. In said meeting, CIDI shall consider matters of a general nature in the area of integral development and partnership for development.

Article 12.The draft agenda for each regular meeting of CIDI at ministerial or equivalent level shall be prepared by the regular monthly CIDI meeting and sent with a report to the governments of the member states so that they may make the observations they deem pertinent or propose the inclusion of additional topics within the time frame set by the regular monthly meeting. In preparing the draft agenda, the regular monthly CIDI meeting shall take into account the provisions of the Charter of the Organization of American States and the Statutes of CIDI, as well as those topics proposed by the governments of the member states, those agreed upon by CIDI at previous meetings, pertinent mandates of the General Assembly, and, if applicable, those proposed by the Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and those recommended by other organs of the Organization.

Article 13.The regular monthly CIDI meeting shall transmit the draft agenda to the member states at least 45 days before the date of the meeting. It may recommend that, in view of their importance, certain topics be considered on a priority basis at the opening of the meeting. The draft agenda shall be accompanied by a report, which shall contain such factual and legal background information and, when appropriate, other criteria as may facilitate consideration of the topics.

Article 14.The agenda of each special meeting of CIDI at ministerial or equivalent level shall be confined to the subject or subjects for which the meeting was convoked. The procedure and time periods for the preparation of the agenda and its transmission to the member states shall be established in each case by the regular monthly CIDI meeting.

Article 15.Taking into account the offers made by member states, CIDI meetings at ministerial or equivalent level shall be held at the place and date agreed upon by the regular monthly CIDI meeting when convoking the respective meeting. When no offer is made to host a meeting or when it cannot be held at the venue agreed upon, CIDI shall meet at the headquarters of the General Secretariat. Offers to host a meeting shall be made at least three months before the established date.

Article 16.The delegations of the member states to CIDI meetings at ministerial or equivalent level shall be composed of the representatives, advisers, and other persons whom the governments accredit. Each delegation shall have a principal representative or head of delegation, who may delegate their duties to any other member of their delegation.

Article 17.The members of each delegation and the permanent observers to the Organization shall be accredited to CIDI by their respective governments through a written communication to the Secretary General of the Organization.

Article 18.The Secretary General shall receive the credentials presented to him and shall submit a report to the plenary of CIDI, which shall rule on the matter.

Article 19.The order of precedence of the delegations for each meeting of CIDI at ministerial or equivalent level shall be established in alphabetical order in Spanish by the regular monthly CIDI meeting, once the first place has been drawn by lot. The order of precedence of the permanent observers shall be established in the same manner.

Article 20.Representatives of the organs and agencies of the inter-American system may attend meetings of CIDI and its committees and may speak when it is so decided by the Chair.

Article 21.Permanent observers to the Organization or their respective alternates, as appropriate, may attend meetings of CIDI and of its committees. Permanent observers may also speak at meetings when it is so decided by the Chair.

Article 22.Observers to meetings may also be sent by:

  1. Governments of members of the United Nations or of its specialized agencies, when they express an interest in attending, with the authorization of the regular monthly CIDI meeting;
  1. Inter-American regional or subregional governmental entities or agencies that are not included among the organs or agencies of the Organization, with the authorization of the regular monthly CIDI meeting; and
  1. Specialized agencies of the United Nations and other international agencies, when agreements concluded with the Organization and in force so establish or, absent such agreements, subject to prior authorization by the regular monthly CIDI meeting.

The observers referred to in this article may speak at meetings of CIDI or of its committees when invited to do so by the Chair.

For the purposes of this article, the Secretary General of the Organization and/or the Executive Secretary for Integral Development will transmit the appropriate communications.

Special Guests

Article 23.With the authorization of the regular monthly CIDI meeting and the consent of the government of the host country, national or international governmental agencies or entities and persons of recognized standing in the matters to be considered may attend meetings of CIDI at ministerial or equivalent level as special guests, when they express an interest in doing so.

The special guests referred to in this article may speak at CIDI meetings at ministerial or equivalent level when invited to do so by the Chair.

Requests to attend meetings of CIDI as special guests shall be presented to the General Secretariat of the Organization at least 15 days in advance of the opening of the CIDI meeting.

For the purposes of this article, the Secretary General of the Organization will extend the appropriate invitations.

Regular Monthly Meetings and Special Meetings

Article 24.CIDI shall hold regular meetings, as needed, at least once a month, preferably on the last Tuesday of each month. Said meetings will consider those matters that are not included in the regular CIDI meeting at ministerial or equivalent level, without prejudice to the provisions of Article 10.

Article 25.CIDI may hold a special meeting when:

  1. The Chair considers it necessary;
  1. Any representative so requests in writing, stating the purpose of their request;
  1. The Secretary General expressly requests it; or
  1. The General Assembly expressly mandates it.

The agenda of each special CIDI meeting shall be confined to the subject or subjects for which the meeting was convoked.

Article 26.CIDI meetings shall be public. However, if the Chair so decides or any representative so requests, the meeting shall be closed and shall so continue until CIDI decides otherwise. When a public meeting is to become closed the Chair shall call a brief recess to allow all unauthorized persons to leave the room. Except as provided in Article 27 of these Rules of Procedure, only the members of the missions or delegations may attend closed meetings.

Article 27.Participationin regular and special meetings shall be governed as follows:

a.Principal representatives, alternates and advisors may participate in meetings of CIDI and its subsidiary bodies.

b.Permanent observers or their alternates may attend public CIDI meetings and, when invited by the Chair, may attend closed meetings. They may also attend sessions of the committees and working groups established by meetings when invited by the Chair. They may speak at all such meetings when it is so decided by the Chair.

c.Entities or individuals engaged in activities related to partnership-for-development activities may be invited by the Chair to one or more CIDI meetings as special guests, with the approval of a regular monthly meeting. To the extent possible, the Chair will notify member states of his intention to invite such entities and individuals, so that member states may make such observations as they deem appropriate. Special guests may participate in CIDI meetings through written submissions, oral presentations, and the provision of additional information, as requested.

d.The Secretary General and the Executive Secretary for Integral Development may participate, without the right to vote, in the deliberations of all CIDI meetings as well as in those of committees and working groups.

Article 28.The following procedures shall apply to the order of business:

a.The CIDI Chair shall prepare the draft order of business for each session, and the Secretariat shall distribute it to delegations and representatives at least three working days in advance in the case of regular monthly meetings, and in accordance with the provisions of Article 25in the case of special meetings. Any representative or subsidiary body of CIDI, as well as the Secretary General or the Executive Secretary for Integral Development, may request the inclusion of topics on the draft order of business;

b.When the Chair convenes a special meeting, the Secretariat shall distribute the draft order of business to the member states at least 48 hours before the meeting, indicating the time and place at which it is to be held;

c.Meetings shall begin with consideration and adoption of the order of business. If a new item is proposed for the order of business, the meeting may agree to include and discuss it, but any decision on that item shall be postponed to another session if any representative so requests.

V. QUORUM AND DEBATES

Quorum

Article 29.For constituting a quorum, the following shall apply:

  1. A majority of the member states shall constitute a quorum.
  1. If a quorum has not assembled fifteen minutes after the time set for the meeting, the Chair may begin the meeting and adopt the order of business with the presence of one third of the member states.

Proposals

Article 30.Proposals that are submitted to the meeting for consideration shall be presented in writing to the Secretariat, which will deliver copies to the representatives at least 24 hours before the meeting at which the matter will be discussed. Nevertheless, a two-thirds vote of the member states shall be required for the meeting to authorize discussion of an urgent proposal for which it has not been possible to follow the above procedure.

Withdrawal of Proposals

Article 31.A proposal may be withdrawn by its proponent before the original text or any amendment to it has been put to a vote. Any other representative may reintroduce a proposal that has been withdrawn.

Points of Order

Article 32.During the discussion of a matter, any representative may raise a point of order regarding the application of these Rules of Procedure, which shall be ruled upon immediately by the Chair. When raising a point of order, a representative may not go into the substance of the matter under discussion. The decision of the Chair may be appealed. The appeal shall be put to a vote immediately and shall be declared approved if favored by a vote of two thirds of the member states present.

Suspension of Debate

Article 33.The Chair or any representative may request that debate be suspended. Only two representatives may speak in favor of, and two against, a motion to suspend debate. It shall then be put to a vote immediately and shall be declared approved if favored by a vote of two thirds of the member states present.

Closing of Debate

Article 34.The Chair or any representative, when he or she considers that a matter has been sufficiently discussed, may propose that debate be closed. This motion may be opposed by two representatives and shall be declared approved if favored by a two-thirds vote of the member states present.

Suspension or Adjournment of the Meeting

Article 35.During debate on any item, the Chair or any representative may propose that the meeting be suspended or adjourned. Such a motion shall be put to a vote immediately without discussion, and it shall be declared approved if favored by a two-thirds vote of the member states present.

Order of Procedural Motions

Article 36.Except as provided in Article 32 of these Rules of Procedure, the following motions shall have precedence, in the order set forth below, over all other proposals or motions:

1.Suspension of the meeting;

2.Adjournment of the meeting;

3.Suspension of debate of the topic under consideration; and

4.Close of debate of the topic under consideration.

Reconsideration of Decisions

Article 37.A motion for reconsideration of a decision taken by the meeting must be approved by a vote of two thirds of the member states.

VI.VOTING

Right to Vote

Article 38.The delegation of each member state shall have the right to one vote.

Voting Procedure

Article 39.Voting may proceed under any of the following methods:

  1. Votes shall be taken by a show of hands, but any representative may request a roll-call vote, which shall be taken beginning with the delegation of the state whose name is drawn by lot and continuing in the Spanish alphabetical order of the names in Spanish of the member states;
  1. In roll-call votes, the name of each member state shall be called and the representative shall give his or her vote in favor, in opposition, or of abstention; and
  1. Votes shall be by secret ballot only in the case of elections. However, if it is so agreed, the meeting so agrees it may adopt a different procedure.

Majority Required

Article 40.Decisions shall be taken by the majority vote of the member states, except as otherwise provided in these Rules of Procedure or other instruments applicable to the meeting.

Two-Thirds Majority of the Members of CIDI

Article 41.In accordance with other sections of these Rules of Procedure, the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of CIDI shall be required:

  1. To take decisions on budgetary matters;
  1. To reconsider a decision of the Meeting;
  1. To authorize discussion of a proposal not presented in accordance with Article 30 of these Rules of Procedure;
  1. To convoke a special meeting of CIDI at ministerial or equivalent level, except when the meeting is being convoked pursuant to Article 96 of the Charter;
  1. To establish inter-American committees; and
  1. To adopt amendments to these Rules of Procedure and the Rules of Procedure for Sectoral and Specialized Meetings when the articles concerned stipulate a two-thirds majority of the members of CIDI.

Two-Thirds Majority of Members Present

Article 42.In accordance with other sections of these Rules of Procedure the affirmative vote of two thirds of the members present shall be required: