Civil Society Raises Key Concerns in Dialogue with #OAS Secretary General Candidates
On February 11, civil society engaged with OAS (Organización de los Estados Americanos) Secretary General candidates Albert Ramdin (Suriname) and Rubén Ramírez Lezcano (Paraguay), officially presented by Member States. With the election on March 10, the OAS Charter allows additional nominations until election day.
During the discussion, civil society highlighted key issues where the Secretary General plays a vital role in upholding the OAS's four pillars. These concerns should guide the selection of the next OAS leader.
🔹 Multidimensional #Security: civil society emphasized the growing challenges of organized crime, including its transnational reach and links to corruption, violence, and governance failures. Questions focused on the future SG’s role in promoting rights-based strategies that prioritize human security, institutional strengthening, and regional cooperation while safeguarding democracy and human rights.
🔹 #Democracy: civil society raised concerns about the erosion of democratic systems in several countries, highlighting growing threats to judicial independence, the rule of law, and restrictions on civic space. Questions addressed the importance of strengthening and safeguarding civic spaces and ensure meaningful civil society participation in decision-making, including within the OAS. Participants also underscored the importance of women in leadership and decision-making, urging the Secretary General to advance gender equality and political representation within the OAS and beyond.
🔹 Inclusive #Development: CSO’s highlighted growing economic and social inequalities that disproportionately affect marginalized communities, including women, Indigenous peoples, and Afro-descendant populations. Questions focused on the roles of the OAS and the Secretary General in promoting sustainable and inclusive development, addressing structural inequalities, and strengthening the Organization’s response to climate change, which, affects countries and populations differently, exacerbating disparities and disproportionately harming vulnerable communities.
🔹 #HumanRights: civil society highlighted the democratic and institutional crises unfolding in several countries, emphasizing the need for stronger action to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms. A key concern was ensuring the independence, impartiality, and effectiveness of the Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos Corte IDH and the CIDH_IACHR.
Questions addressed the OAS’s role in tackling the region’s human mobility crisis, ensuring the rights and protections of migrants and displaced people. The discussion also emphasized safeguarding equality and non-discrimination. These challenges require decisive SG leadership and should guide Member States in selecting the Organization’s next leader.
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