2008 Success Stories in the Americas: Permanent Observers’ Key Role
The Permanent Observers provide cooperation for various OAS programs in the form of cash contributions, training courses, experts, specialized services, and the donation of equipment. In 2008, Permanent Observers contributed a total of US$25.8 million in cash contributions and an estimated value ofUS$354,732 in in-kind contributions.
Support by the Permanent Observers during 2008 made possible many success stories in the Americas in the areas of democracy promotion, human rights, demining, conflict resolution, efforts to combat drug trafficking, gender and sustainable development and the environment, among others.
Promotion of Democracy and Electoral Observation Missions
The support of Permanent Observers played a key role in the promotion of democracy and the strengthening of democratic institutionsthroughout the hemisphere. During 2008, the OAS observed legislative and presidential elections in Paraguay, the Dominican Republic and Grenada, as well as the political referendum in Bolivia.Similarly, the OAS was able to implement programs related to strengthening electoral management bodies’ institutional capacity, conduct political analyses of countries in the region,and undertake political finance reform.(Germany,Korea,Spain, Sweden and Switzerland)
Supporting Conflict Resolution and Peace
TheOASMission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia (MAPP/OAS) was created to verify compliance with the peace process, including a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, as well as the demobilization, disarmament and reintegration of illegally organized armed groups. To date 31,000 members of the paramilitary group AUC have been demobilized. With the support of the international community the 68,064 victims who have filed reports at the time of this writing, have legitimized the process and given it substantial social backing.(Germany, Spain,Sweden, Netherlands)
Similarly, the Peace Fund, created by the General Assembly in 2000, supports OAS Member States to react swiftly to an unforeseen crisis resulting from a territorial dispute. Through the Peace Fund, the countries avail themselves of a range of conflict resolution mechanisms contemplated under the OAS Charter, including directnegotiation, good offices, mediation, investigation and conciliation, judicial settlement, arbitration and other mechanisms to which the Parties jointly agree. One of the major accomplishments of the Peace Fund has been the successful defrayment of costs related to the resolution of the Belize-Guatemala border conflict, which will be heard before the International Court of Justice. (Germany,China, Spain, United Kingdom, Holy See,Turkey)
Humanitarian Demining
Permanent Observers support to the OAS Comprehensive Demining Programshasnotably increased the capacity of the member states to rid themselves of dangerous antipersonnel landmines. Through these programs, more than 3 million square meters of area have been cleared, over 67,000 mines have been destroyed, and thousands of landmine survivors throughout Central America and the Andes have been treated and reintegrated into society. Thanks in large part to OAS efforts,Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Suriname are now considered landmine free. Only demining programs inNicaragua remain incomplete. Also, significant progress hasbeen made in developing mine risk education programs, emphasizing involvement by affected communities in mine awareness initiatives, including benefits of participation through the exchange of information about the location of mined areas and explosive devices.(Italy,Norway and Spain)
The Lecture Series of the Americas
Through this program, Permanent Observers have helped bring prominent world leaders and intellectuals from throughout the world to participate in semi-monthly conferences at the OAS so that they can share their experiences and expertise on key issues of the inter-American agenda.(Spain, China and France)
Human Rights
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights makes use of several instruments to implement its mandates: its individual case system, on site visits, country reports, recommendations to the States and precautionary measures. The role of the Commission in the last decade has been characterized by the strengthening of its system of individual petitions, which has had a direct impact on the release of individuals who were arbitrarily detained; the reparations for the victims of disappearance and massacres; the derogation or modification of laws that limited fundamental rights; the encouragement to carry on important constitutional reforms; and, advancing freedom of expression in the Americas, among others. The support of Permanent Observers to the IACHR is key to ensure that the Commission complies with these mandates. (Denmark, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Sweden, Switzerland, European Union)
Promoting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
During 2008, the valuable contributions of Permanent Observers financed diverse OAS efforts aimed at promoting indigenous peoples’ participation in the inter-American system and furthering activities to protect their human rights and advance their cultural, social, and economic development. Support from Permanent Observers in 2008 helped finance programs in early childhood education in indigenous communities. Furthermore, a significant portion of the fund donated supported the Working Group to Prepare the Draft American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in which over 100 indigenous representatives from 19 member States actively participated. (Germany, China, Spain and France)
Counter-Narcotics
Permanent Observers have donated significant amounts of money to the general fund of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), helping to implement programs throughout the Hemisphere relating to prevention, treatment and eradication of illicit drug production and consumption. CICAD approaches all facets of drug control, from institutional failure to money laundering and alternative crop development. In 2008, programs of CICAD took a greater approach to demand reduction, examined the link between development shortfalls and drug production and began to address drug treatment through the European-Latin American and Caribbean cities partnership. (Spain, France, Greece, European Union)
The Model OAS General Assembly (MOAS)
In 2008, the Department of International Affairs organized and successfully executed five separate MOAS – one for high schools and four for universities (including one for OAS interns). Contributions by Permanent Observers helped facilitate the implementation of this important youth initiative throughout the hemisphere. The objective of the MOAS is to promote democratic values among youth and familiarize the students with the role and work advanced by the OAS while they study the issues that affect the citizens of the Americas. During the Model, the students who represent the OAS Member States defend the policies and interests of the country they are assigned.(China, Korea, Spain)
Gender
The Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM) is the principal forum for generating hemispheric policy to advance women's rights and gender equality. Likewise, the programs that CIM advances are aimed at supporting women's movements throughout the Americas and helping to foster inter-American cooperation. In 2008, thanks to the support of permanent observers CIM was able to make progress on important issues such domestic violence, health, electoral participation, gender and labor, and the role of women in conflict resolution, among others. (China, Korea, France, Spain,Netherlands)
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Integral Development
Permanent Observers have a long history of contributions to promote integral social, educational and environmental development for the long-term benefit the citizens of the Americas. Among these programs include modernizing the civil registry systems in former conflict-torn Peru, Guatemala, Panama and Honduras. Additionally, Permanent Observersencourage environmental protection in the Americas through support has been aimed at strengthening regional activitiesrelating to water resources, disaster relief, promoting energy security andnaturalhazards-risk management. (Austria, China, European Union, Germany, Sweden, Spain, Italy)