Celebrando 10 años del Proceso de CumbresDiciembre 2004 - Nº1Versión Español
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Welcome
 

Welcome to The Summit of the Americas Informs, the first bimonthly electronic bulletin of the Office for the Summit Process. The purpose of this bulletin is to inform on the different activities that are developing within the framework of the Summit Process. We are at a turning point, since in addition to celebrating 10 years of the Summits of the Americas Process, we are less than a year away from the Fourth Summit of the Americas which will take place in Mar del Plata, Argentina in November 2005. The proposed theme for this Summit is “Creating Jobs to Confront Poverty and Strengthen Democratic Governance”. 

It is worth highlighting that the Fourth Summit of the Americas will take place during a critical moment in time for the region in which the extreme conditions of inequality and poverty have forced our Leaders to redefine priorities and respond to the new challenges with a shared sense that only the Summits can offer. 

The Summits of the Americas bring together the Heads of State and Government of the Hemisphere to discuss issues relating to common consensus, the search for solutions and the development of a shared vision for the future of the region in the economic, social, and political areas. The Office for the Summit Process of the OAS is constantly searching for ways to ensure the greatest participation of all of the actors and in the design of strategies in order to promote a greater collaboration. This bulletin is an informative tool that unites all those that are a part of the Summit of the Americas Process. 

Within the sections of this bulletin, you will find information relating to the preparations for the Fourth Summit, civil society activities, the private sector and academics in the Summits Process; as well as a calendar of activities related to the Inter-American agenda and the Summits of the Americas. We hope that this bulletin will be useful. The Office for the Summit Process is pleased to receive any comments or suggestions regarding this new informative tool.
 
Office for the Summit Process
Organization of American States
 
 
 
Preparations for the Fourth Summit of the Americas
 

The XXXVI Meeting of the Summit Implementation and Review Group (SIRG) took place on October 19 - 20, 2004 at the OAS headquarters in Washington D.C.  This was the first preparatory meeting for the Fourth Summit of the Americas which will be held in Mar del Plata, Argentina during the first weeks of November, 2005. 

National Coordinators of the Summit of the Americas discussed Argentina’s Summit proposed theme paper, entitled “Creating Jobs to Confront Poverty and Strengthen Democratic Governance.” There was consensus on the topic of poverty and job creation, but many related issues also surfaced such as effective education, remittances, migration, worker’s rights, cultural diversity, indigenous rights, gender equity, connectivity, science and technology, trade liberalization, multidimensional security, anti-corruption, access to impartial justice, and agricultural issues, among others. 

The National Coordinators also held a session with civil society representatives where these groups presented to the SIRG their comments about follow-up of summit mandates. It was also an opportunity for civil society to comment on the concept paper presented by Argentina.  

The next SIRG meeting will be held in March 7 - 9, 2005 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. To see the calendar of meetings of the SIRG in preparation for the Fourth Summit, please click here.

 
 
 
››  Additional Information
››  Documents of the XXXVI SIRG meeting                               Go to top

   

 
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Roundtable with Civil Society / Special Session of the CISC
January 24 - 25, 2005
OAS - Washington, DC
 
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V Meeting and Special Session of the Working Group responsible for the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
February 7 - 11, 2005
Washington, DC
 
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Fifth Regular Session of the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE)
February 16 - 18, 2005
Port of Spain Trinidad & Tobago
 
To access a complete version of the  Calendar, please click here.

   

 
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Disclaimer
 
 
 
Civil Society Update
 

The Office for the Summit Process, the office responsible for civil society participation in the Summits of the Americas and in OAS activities, has embraced the positive contributions of a productive relationship with civil society. In the past year, this Office has developed to major projects which seek not only to build on the current momentum in the relationship between civil society and the OAS, but also to benefit from the multifaceted resources of civil society in the implementation and monitoring of the Summits of the Americas mandates.

  • The Office for the Summit Process, with the support of the Open Society Institute, has designed and will implement the Inter-American Civil Society Partnership Initiative.  The project is currently being used to promote and facilitate civil society participation in the Summits of the Americas Process through implementing and monitoring mandates, enlist civil society input into the inter-American agenda, and stimulate awareness of the opportunity to contribute to policy-making within the OAS Activities and the inter-American agenda.

  • It is also our pleasure to announce the forthcoming Roundtable with Civil Society and Special Session of the CISC: “Creating Jobs to Confront Poverty and Strengthen Democratic Governance,” to be held on January 24-25, 2004 in Washington, DC. In the upcoming Roundtable, civil society organizations will have the opportunity to present their ideas to Member States of the OAS on how to address the proposed theme of the Summit, “Creating Jobs to Confront Poverty and Strengthen Democratic Governance.” The Office for the Summit Process, with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will cover the airfare expenses to some civil society organizations to participate in the Roundtable.

For further information regarding civil society participation in the Organization of American States and the Summits of the Americas Process and the projects mentioned above, please refer to the recently updated and newly improved Civil Society Website at: www.civil-society.oas.org

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First Meeting of Ministers and High Authorities of Science and Technology
 

The First Meeting of Ministers and High Authorities of Science and Technology was held on November 11-12, 2004, in Lima, Peru. The meeting began with opening remarks by Ambassador Luigi R. Einaudi, Acting Secretary General of the Organization of American States and by Ambassador Manuel Rodríguez Cuadros, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru. In his speech, the Acting Secretary General of the OAS addressed the importance of linking this meeting with the Summit Process. He also mentioned the contributions of the Ministers and High Authorities of Science and Technology in designing the agenda for science and technology in the upcoming years. These activities will afterwards need the support of the officials in the Fourth Summit of the Americas, which will take place in Argentina, in November 2005.

During the meeting, the Ministers analyzed the advances gained and upcoming challenges in science and technology. Likewise, the representatives of the governments deliberated over national policies on science, technology and innovation for development as well as hemispheric cooperation in this area. There was also a session where government representatives had the opportunity to hear recommendations from representatives of civil society from different countries in the hemisphere. At the end of the meeting, the Ministers and High Authorities approved the Lima Declaration and Plan of Action, which reflects the agreements reached of which the following should be stressed: the agreement to advance the incorporation of science, technology, engineering, innovation, and education as a dynamic principal factor in the economic and social development of the countries of the hemisphere.
 
››  Additional Information

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VI Meeting of Ministers of Defense of the Americas
 

The VI Meeting of Ministers of Defense of the Americas took place the 16-21 of November, 2004 in Quito, Ecuador. The main objective of this Meeting was to coordinate regional efforts in relation to hemispheric security in order to confront the threats, problems, and challenges in the region. The key themes of the meeting were focused on the new architecture of hemispheric security; as well as defense, development and society as possibilities for cooperation. Similarly, themes such as civil-military relations and the roles that the armed forces meet in each one of the countries were debated.

In the Declaration of Quito, the Ministers of Defense emphasized the fact that the hemisphere suffers from wide social and economic differences and indicated that the diminution in these differences is the labor of all, including the defense sectors, given that these efforts can contribute to the internal and external security of the region. In the same manner, they stressed the importance of democracy as a crucial condition for stability, peace, security and the development of the Hemispheric States.
 
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Did You know that ….
 

  • There are 220 million Latin-Americans living with less than two dollars per day and 80 million in complete poverty, surviving with less than a dollar daily. (A)

  • 500 million young people will enter the workforce within the next decade.  (A)

  • Since 1990, 7 out of every 10 new work positions have been created in the informal sector. (A)

  • As of today, 76% of the working people are worried about losing their jobs in the next twelve months. (B)

  • Of the total labor force, women represent 35.2% in Latin America and the Caribbean (C)

             (A)  Source: International Labour Organization (ILO)
             (B)  Source: Latinobarometro
             (C)  Source: World Bank
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