Organization of American States facts for kids

Quick facts for kids

Organization of American States


Spanish	Organización de los Estados Americanos
French	Organisation des États américains
Portuguese	Organização dos Estados Americanos

Flag

Emblem

Motto:
"Democracy for peace, security and development"

Member states Former member states Disputed member states

Headquarters

17th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., U.S.
38°53′34″N 77°02′25″W / 38.8929138°N 77.0403734°W

Official languages

English
French
Portuguese
Spanish

Member states

Leaders

• Secretary General

Luis Almagro

• Assistant Secretary General

Nestor Mendez

Establishment

• Charter

30 April 1948

Area

• Total

40,275,678 km² (15,550,526 sq mi)

Population

• 2008 estimate

980,457,921

• Density

24/km² (62.2/sq mi)

Time zone

UTC−10 to +0

A clickable Euler diagram showing the relationships between various multinational organizations in the Americasv • d • e

The Organization of American States (OAS) is an international group that helps countries in the Americas work together. It was started on April 30, 1948.

The OAS has its main office in Washington, D.C., in the United States. It focuses on human rights, making sure elections are fair, helping with social and economic growth, and keeping the Western Hemisphere safe. As of November 2023, 32 countries in the Americas are members of the OAS.

Luis Almagro from Uruguay became the Secretary General (the main leader) of the OAS in 2015.

History of the OAS
What the OAS Aims to Do
How the OAS Is Organized
How the OAS Is Funded
The General Assembly
Member Countries
Official Languages
Specialized Agencies
See also

History of the OAS

The Pan American Union Building in Washington, D.C., around 1910.

Early Ideas for American Unity

The idea of countries in the Americas working together started a long time ago. Leaders like Simón Bolívar dreamed of a union of American republics in 1826. He wanted them to have a shared military and work together for defense. However, this early dream didn't last because of conflicts and new national feelings.

Later, in 1889–1890, countries in the Americas tried again. At a meeting in Washington, D.C., 18 nations decided to create the International Union of American Republics. This group had a permanent office called the Commercial Bureau of the American Republics. These early groups are where the OAS and its main office began.

In 1910, the organization's name changed to the Pan American Union. The Pan American Union Building was built in Washington, D.C., to be its headquarters.

How the OAS Was Formed

The Pan American Union headquarters in Washington, D.C., 1943.

After World War II, countries in the Americas realized they needed to work together more closely. They wanted to protect their lands and solve problems peacefully. In 1947, they signed a treaty called the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (Rio Treaty) to help each other if one was attacked.

The official birth of the OAS happened in Bogotá, Colombia, in 1948. Twenty-one American countries signed the Charter of the Organization of American States. This document set up the OAS as it is today. At the same meeting, they also created the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man, which was the world's first major human rights document.

The first Secretary General of the OAS was Alberto Lleras Camargo. The current Secretary General is Luis Almagro.

Recent Events

The official seal of the Organization of American States.

The OAS has been involved in important events in recent years. For example, it looked into the results of the 2019 election in Bolivia. The OAS report found problems with the election, which led to political changes in Bolivia. The OAS also observed the next election in Bolivia in 2020 and found no evidence of fraud.

In 2021, the OAS spoke out about the election in Nicaragua. Nicaragua then announced it would leave the OAS. This process took two years, and Nicaragua officially left the organization in November 2023.

Important Milestones

Here are some key moments in the OAS's history:

1959: The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights was created to protect human rights.
1959: The Inter-American Development Bank was started to help with economic growth.
1962: The OAS temporarily suspended Cuba from participating.
1970: The OAS General Assembly became the main decision-making body.
1991: A rule was adopted that requires the OAS to act quickly if a country's leader is removed by force.
2001: The Inter-American Democratic Charter was adopted to strengthen democracy.
2009: The OAS lifted its suspension of Cuba.
2009: The OAS suspended Honduras after its president was removed.
2011: The OAS welcomed Honduras back after its president returned.
2017: Venezuela announced it would leave the OAS.
2019: The OAS recognized a new representative for Venezuela during a political crisis.
2023: Nicaragua officially left the OAS.

What the OAS Aims to Do

The main goal of the OAS is to create peace and justice among its member countries. It also aims to help them work together, protect their independence, and keep their lands safe.

Here are the eight main purposes of the OAS:

To make the continent more peaceful and secure.
To support and strengthen democracy, while respecting that countries should not interfere in each other's affairs.
To prevent problems and help solve disagreements between member states peacefully.
To work together if a member state is attacked.
To find solutions for political, legal, and economic problems among them.
To help countries grow economically, socially, and culturally.
To reduce extreme poverty, which stops people from having full democratic lives.
To limit weapons so that more money can be used for development.

Since the 1990s, the OAS has focused on new priorities:

Strengthening Democracy: The OAS sends teams to observe elections to make sure they are fair. It also helps governments work better and fight corruption.
Working for Peace: The OAS has helped with peace efforts in several countries. It also works to remove landmines and solve border disputes.
Defending Human Rights: The OAS has special groups that look into human rights problems and help solve them. They also report on how human rights are doing in member countries.
Promoting Free Trade: The OAS is helping to create a large free trade area across the Americas.
Supporting Sustainable Development: The OAS works to help countries grow economically and fight poverty in a way that protects the environment for the future. This includes managing rivers, protecting nature, and planning for climate change.

How the OAS Is Organized

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaking at the OAS in 2019.

The OAS has a main office called the General Secretariat. It also has a Permanent Council, a council for development, and many committees.

The General Secretariat has six main departments:

Political Affairs
Integral Development (for overall growth)
Multidimensional Security (for safety and security)
Administration and Finance
Legal Affairs
External Relations (for working with other groups)

Some of the important committees and commissions of the OAS include:

The Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs
The Committee on Hemispheric Security
The Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM)
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH)

How the OAS Is Funded

The OAS gets money from two main sources: one for its general operations and another for specific projects. Each member country contributes money based on how much it can afford. For example, in 2018, the United States gave $50 million to the general budget.

The General Assembly

A meeting of the OAS General Assembly in Florida, United States, 2005.

The General Assembly is the most important decision-making group in the OAS. It meets once a year. If there's a special situation, the Permanent Council can call extra meetings.

Member countries take turns hosting the General Assembly. Each country sends its representatives, usually their foreign ministers. Each country gets one vote. Most decisions are made by a simple majority vote.

The General Assembly decides the overall direction and policies of the OAS. It approves the budget and how much each country should contribute. It also elects members to work in the OAS's different groups.

Member Countries

When the OAS started in 1948, it had 21 members, mostly from Latin America:

Later, more countries joined, including Canada and many new independent nations from the Caribbean:

Barbados (1967)
Trinidad and Tobago (1967)
Jamaica (1969)
Grenada (1975)
Suriname (1977)
Dominica (1979)
Saint Lucia (1979)
Antigua and Barbuda (1981)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1981)
Bahamas (1982)
Saint Kitts and Nevis (1984)
Canada (1990)
Belize (1991)
Guyana (1991)

Canada Joins the OAS

Canada joined the OAS in 1990. Before that, Canada had been invited to join many times but chose not to. In the 1980s, Canada started taking part more in OAS activities.

After joining, Canada helped create the Unit for the Promotion of Democracy. This group helps strengthen democratic systems in OAS member countries. Canada has been a major financial supporter of the OAS.

Cuba's Relationship with the OAS

The OAS voted to suspend Honduras in 2009.

In 1962, the OAS decided to suspend Cuba from participating in the organization. This was because Cuba's government had officially become Marxist-Leninist, which the OAS said was not compatible with its goals. This meant Cuba was still technically a member, but its government could not attend meetings or take part in activities.

This decision was controversial. Cuba's government has always said the OAS had no right to exclude it. For many years, Cuba called the OAS an "instrument of imperialist domination" and said it would never rejoin.

However, in 2009, the OAS General Assembly voted to lift Cuba's suspension. This meant Cuba could apply to rejoin. But Cuba's government stated that it would not return to the OAS.

Honduras's Suspension

In 2009, Honduras was suspended from the OAS after its president, Manuel Zelaya, was removed from power. This was the first time the OAS had suspended a country since Cuba in 1962.

After Zelaya returned to Honduras in 2011, the country was welcomed back into the OAS.

Venezuela's Status

In 2017, Venezuela announced it would leave the OAS. This process was set to take two years.

During a political crisis in Venezuela in 2019, the country's National Assembly wanted Venezuela to stay in the OAS. The OAS then voted to recognize a new representative for Venezuela.

Nicaragua's Withdrawal

In November 2021, the OAS criticized the general election in Nicaragua. In response, Nicaragua announced it would leave the OAS. This withdrawal process took two years, and Nicaragua officially completed it in November 2023.

Permanent Observers

Besides its member states, the OAS also has "permanent observer" countries. These countries don't have voting rights but can attend meetings and contribute. As of 2014, there were 69 permanent observer countries, including the European Union. In March 2022, the OAS voted to suspend Russia as a permanent observer.

Official Languages

Statue of Isabella I the Catholic Queen in front of the OAS headquarters.

The OAS has four official languages: Spanish, Portuguese, French, and English. All meetings and documents are in these four languages.

Even though some member countries speak other languages like Dutch (in Suriname) or Haitian Creole (in Haiti), these are not official languages of the OAS.

Specialized Agencies

The OAS has five specialized agencies that focus on specific areas:

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO): Focuses on health in the Americas.
Inter-American Children's Institute (IIN): Works to protect children's rights.
Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM): Promotes women's rights.
Pan-American Institute of Geography and History (PAIGH): Studies geography and history in the Americas.
Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA): Helps with farming and rural development.