The Summits of the Americas have been consolidated as a
transparent, democratic and participant mechanism that has
evolved throughout the years creating more opportunities for
interaction, solidarity and collective action. Several actors
have been involved in the Summits of the Americas Process, who
play a significant role in the formulation of new policies and
initiatives and in the follow up of mandates approved in the
Declarations and Plans of Action. These key actors are: the
Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG), the Joint Summit
Working Group, the Ministerial Meetings, the Summits of the
Americas Secretariat of the OAS, the civil society, the private
sector and the academia.
The 34 OAS Member States, represented by their appointed
National Coordinators comprise the Summit Implementation
Review Group (SIRG). The SIRG is the political body
responsible for following up on Summit mandates as well as the
preparation and negotiation of documents that will be approved by
the Heads of State and Government of the region. The SIRG meets
on average 3 times a year, with at least one of their meetings
held at Ministerial level.
The Joint Summit Working Group (JSGW) is composed by the
following twelve international and inter–American institutions:
the Organization of American States (OAS), the Inter–American
Development Bank (IADB), the United Nations Economic Commission
for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Pan American
Health Organization (PAHO), the Inter-American Institute for
Cooperation on Agriculture (IIICA), the World Bank (WB), the
Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), the
Andean Development Corporation (CAF), the Caribbean Development
Bank (CDB), the International Organization for Migration (IOM),
the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the Institute for
Connectivity in the Americas (ICA). This group of institutions
provides support to the countries in preparation for future
Summits and provides technical advice to the governments in their
area of expertise. The OAS, represented by the Summits of the
Americas Secretariat, chairs the JSWG.
On the other hand, through the Ministerial Meetings, the
governments establish common goals in specific themes. In these
meetings, the countries share experiences, inform about progress,
and establish a plan of action to consolidate common initiatives.
The Ministerial Meetings offer the Summit Process continuity and
consolidation: their authorities revise the mandates, design
policies for the accomplishment of mandates; evaluate the results
achieved and adopt new commitments. The relationship between the
ministerial meetings and the Summit process is reciprocal, of
mutual support and coordination.
The OAS Summits of the Americas Secretariat is the
institutional memory and technical secretariat of the Process,
supports the countries in follow-up and preparation for future
summits; and promotes participation of civil society, private
sector and academia in the Summit Process and in OAS activities.
Finally, the civil society, private sector, and the academia
have become fundamental actors within the Summit Process. During
the ten years of its existence, the Summit has opened formal and
informal spaces of participation so that the civil society can
contribute in the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of
the public policies adopted by the different levels of
government. The participation of all these sectors of society is
an initiative that has been ratified in various opportunities by
the governments and that was institutionalized at the Special
Summit of the Americas in Monterrey on 2001.
Summit of the Americas Secretariat
Organization of American States
|