The Summit of the Americas Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS), in
collaboration with the
host country of the Tenth Summit, the Dominican Republic, and the National Coordinators of
Brazil and Ecuador for the Summit Process, convened representatives of civil society
organizations and social actors for information sessions on the Summit Process in Brasilia and
Quito.
On October 30, 2024, at the Itamaraty Palace, representatives of the Ministries of Foreign
Affairs of Brazil and the Dominican Republic and the Summits Secretariat met in an inclusive and
collaborative environment with civil society organizations and social actors from various
regions of Brazil. Representing Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Daniela Arruda
Benjamin highlighted that "The diversity of voices and experiences you represent adds invaluable
richness to the discussions and decisions shaping the Americas (...) engaging civil society in
this dialogue ensures that our policies are broad, inclusive, and reflective of the realities
and needs of all citizens.” She added, “Together, we can create an inter-American agenda that,
through our contributions, truly reflects Brazil's aspirations in all its diversity.”
Meanwhile, on November 19, 2024, representatives of civil society organizations and social
actors gathered at Ecuador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility to learn about the
phases of the Summit Process, participation mechanisms, and the structure of the Process, which
includes the Summits Secretariat, the Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG), and the Joint
Summit Working Group (JSWG). The session encouraged a dynamic and constructive exchange,
integrating various representatives and actors into the discussion. Ecuador's National
Coordinator, Minister Cristina Yolanda Camacho Del Castillo, stated that “In this process, the
active participation of civil society will be critical to ensuring that policies are effective
and respond to the realities of each country.”
Dominican Republic Ambassador Ana Idalia del Rosario Castellanos de Kranwinkel noted that “The
information sessions represent an important opportunity for dialogue leading to the Tenth Summit
of the Americas and a social participation exercise that the Dominican Republic supports and
considers essential for strengthening the overall Summit Process.”
During her presentations, the Director of the Summits Secretariat, María Celina Conte,
emphasized that “Both within the framework of OAS activities and the Summits of the Americas
Process, the role and contributions of civil society and social actors across the hemisphere
over the years have been pivotal. This has been reflected, in part, in the formulation,
adoption, and monitoring of legal and political instruments at the inter-American and
international levels, in areas of critical importance for the Americas, such as the
Inter-American Convention against Corruption or the Inter-American Democratic Charter.” She
further underscored that “Spaces for civil society participation and dialogue significantly
contribute to feedback and accountability, which are essential for the social auditing efforts
undertaken by organizations and grassroots groups.”
Finally, Director Conte expressed gratitude to the Presidency of the Summit Process, the
government of the Dominican Republic, for its commitment and leadership in this and other
efforts leading to the Tenth Summit of the Americas. She also acknowledged the support received
from the host countries, the authorities of Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ecuador’s
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility, and the National Coordinations of Brazil and
Ecuador for the Summit Process.
In Quito, Conte received from Adriana Páez Pino, President of the Hemispheric Network "We Are
Women Leaders," the document titled “Advances in gender equality in the region: Monitoring the
mandates of the IX Summit of the Americas.”
