Secretary General of the Organization of American States facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Secretary-General of theOrganization of American States |
|
|---|---|
 Albert Ramdin since 30 May 2025 |
|
| Organization of American States | |
| Style | His Excellency |
| Residence | Pan American Union Building |
| Seat | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Nominator | Organization of American States |
| Appointer | General Assembly |
| Term length | 5 years
(renewable, traditionally limited to 2 terms)
|
| Constituting instrument | Organization of American States |
| Inaugural holder | Alberto Lleras Camargo |
| Formation | 1948 |
The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) is the main leader of the Organization of American States. This person is like the chief executive officer (CEO) of this important group. The OAS helps countries in North and South America work together.
Contents
What Does the Secretary General Do?
The Secretary General has many important jobs. They make sure the OAS runs smoothly every day. They also represent the OAS to the rest of the world.
Leading the General Secretariat
The Secretary General is in charge of the General Secretariat. This is the main office that handles all the daily work of the OAS. The Secretary General makes sure all tasks are done correctly. They are also the official legal representative of the General Secretariat.
Reporting to the General Assembly
The Secretary General is responsible to the General Assembly. The General Assembly is where all member countries meet. The Secretary General must make sure the General Secretariat follows all rules.
How the Secretary General is Chosen
The General Assembly chooses the Secretary General. They are elected for a five-year term. A person can only be re-elected once. Also, the new Secretary General cannot be from the same country as the previous one.
What Happens if the Position is Empty?
If the Secretary General's job becomes empty, the Assistant Secretary General steps in. They take over until a new Secretary General is elected. The new election is for a full five-year term.
Speaking at Meetings
The Secretary General, or their representative, can speak at all OAS meetings. They can share their ideas and opinions. However, they do not get to vote on decisions.
Protecting Peace and Security
The Secretary General can tell the General Assembly or the Permanent Council about any issues. This includes anything they think might threaten peace in the Americas. They also report on anything that could affect the development of member countries.
The Secretary General shall direct the General Secretariat, be the legal representative thereof, and [...] be responsible to the General Assembly for the proper fulfillment of the obligations and functions of the General Secretariat.
The Secretary General of the Organization shall be elected by the General Assembly for a five-year term and may not be reelected more than once or succeeded by a person of the same nationality. In the event that the office of Secretary General becomes vacant, the Assistant Secretary General shall assume his duties until the General Assembly shall elect a new Secretary General for a full term.
The Secretary General, or his representative, may participate with voice but without vote in all meetings of the Organization.
The Secretary General may bring to the attention of the General Assembly or the Permanent Council any matter which in his opinion might threaten the peace and security of the Hemisphere or the development of the Member States.
Past Secretaries General of the OAS
Here is a list of the people who have served as Secretary General of the OAS:
| No. | Image | Name | Country | Term of Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Alberto Lleras Camargo |  Colombia |
30 April 1948 – 1 August 1954 |
| 2 | .jpg) |
Carlos Dávila Passed away while in office |
 Chile |
1 August 1954 – 19 October 1955 |
| 3 | .jpg) |
José Antonio Mora |  Uruguay |
1956–1968 |
| 4 |  |
Galo Plaza |  Ecuador |
1968–1975 |
| 5 | _-_NARA.jpg) |
Alejandro Orfila |  Argentina |
1975–1984 |
| 6 |  |
João Clemente Baena Soares |  Brazil |
1984–1994 |
| 7 |  |
César Gaviria Elected for a second term in 1999 |
Colombia |
15 September 1994 – 15 September 2004 |
| 8 |  |
Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Stepped down from office |
 Costa Rica |
15 September 2004 – 15 October 2004 |
| – |  |
Luigi R. Einaudi (acting) |  United States |
15 October 2004 – 26 May 2005 |
| 9 |  |
José Miguel Insulza Elected 2 May 2005, re-elected on 24 March 2010 |
Chile |
26 May 2005 – 26 May 2015 |
| 10 |  |
Luis Almagro | Uruguay |
26 May 2015 – 30 May 2025 |
| 11 | |
Albert Ramdin Elected 10 March 2005 |
 Suriname |
30 May 2025 – present |
Assistant Secretaries General of the OAS
The Assistant Secretary General also has important duties. They help the Secretary General and can take over if the Secretary General is away.
Key Responsibilities
The Assistant Secretary General serves as the Secretary of the Permanent Council. They also advise the Secretary General on many matters. The Secretary General can ask them to handle specific tasks. If the Secretary General is temporarily absent or unable to work, the Assistant Secretary General performs their duties.
Nationality Rule
The rules state that the Secretary General and the Assistant Secretary General must be from different countries. This helps ensure fair representation.
The Assistant Secretary General shall be the Secretary of the Permanent Council. He shall serve as advisory officer to the Secretary General and shall act as his delegate in all matters that the Secretary General may entrust to him. During the temporary absence or disability of the Secretary General, the Assistant Secretary General shall perform his functions.
The Secretary General and the Assistant Secretary General shall be of different nationalities.
| No. | Image | Name | Country | Term of Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | William Manger | United States |
1948–1958 | |
| 2 | William Sanders | United States |
1958–1968 | |
| 3 | M. Rafael Urquía |  El Salvador |
1968–1975 | |
| 4 | Jorge Luis Zelaya Coronado |  Guatemala |
1975–1980 | |
| 5 | Val T. McComie |  Barbados |
1980–1990 | |
| 6 | Christopher R. Thomas |  Trinidad and Tobago |
1990–2000 | |
| 7 | |
Luigi R. Einaudi | United States |
2000 – July 2005 |
| 8 |  |
Albert Ramdin | Suriname |
19 July 2005 – 2015 |
| 9 |  |
Nestor Mendez |  Belize |
17 July 2015 – present |
See also
In Spanish: Secretaría General de la Organización de los Estados Americanos para niños
