OAS – LACCOM

Organization of American States

After gathering the input of local civil society organizations, the OAS has compiled policy recommendations and resources to guide countries in their pandemic responses. The Virtual Platform of Emergency and Security Systems is a forum where national authorities can share information, materials and tools for addressing the challenges of the pandemic. The Secretariat for Access to Rights and Equity published guidelines for how countries and civil society organizations can implement inclusive responses to the pandemic. As the first international organization to deploy an Electoral Observation Mission during the pandemic, the OAS published a guide for ensuring transparent elections in accordance with health protocols. The OAS has also stressed the importance of judicial facilitators during the pandemic because they serve as a link between isolated communities and subnational/national governments. OAS began the implementation of the new Hemispheric Drug Strategy and Plan of Action 2021-2025 to address fundamental drug control challenges in the region.

The OAS has also encouraged individuals to contribute ideas for the post-pandemic recovery through its Portal for Consultations, Forums, and Repository. This portal is a participatory and open forum for individuals pursuing projects related to human rights, integral development, multidimensional security, and the promotion of democracy. In collaboration with companies like Facebook and Cisco, the OAS has conducted policy roundtables, provided online trainings for small business owners, and funded innovative cybersecurity projects. The OAS has partnered with WhatsApp to provide micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the region with access to digital tools and training to help them market during COVID-19. OAS has expanded the “Plan de Digitalización Mipyme” with Kolau to help small and medium-sized enterprises adapt by providing them with websites. The Secretariat for Legal Affairs conducts a weekly virtual forum open to the public to discuss privacy rights, corruption, and Inter-American law in the context of the pandemic. The Permanent Council is hosting discussions, and the Secretary General has issued a statement on the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

Related Country Pages

The following country pages document the OAS’s response to the pandemic in specific areas, or contain links to further resources about the OAS.

HONDURAS

Select resources for the OAS:

To learn more about the Organization of American States, visit http://www.oas.org/en/.

Álvarez, I., Bravo, A., de Icaza, G., Fernández, C., Méndez, Y., & Tovar, D. (2020, July 9). Guía para organizar elecciones en tiempos de pandemia. Organization of American States. http://www.oas.org/documents/spa/press/OEA-guia-para-organizar-elecciones-en-tiempos-de-pandemia.pdf.

Armstrong, F. (2020, July 20). OAS: More of the Same in Almagro’s Second Term? American University Center for Latin American and Latino Studies. https://aulablog.net/2020/07/20/oas-more-of-the-same-in-almagros-second-term/.

Mellenkamp, M. T. (2020, July 15). El rol de las Personas Facilitadoras Judiciales en tiempos de COVID-19. Organization of American States. https://www.oas.org/ext/es/principal/covid-19/Foros-Virtuales/ArtMID/3478/ArticleID/3310/El-rol-de-las-Personas-Facilitadoras-Judiciales-en-tiempos-de-COVID-19.

Mora Mora, A. (2020, May 1). COVID-19 en la vida de las mujeres: Razones para reconocer los impactos diferenciados. Organization of American States. http://www.oas.org/es/cim/docs/ArgumentarioCOVID19-ES.pdf.

OAS OEA Videos. (2021, February 17). Virtual Meeting of the Permanent Council [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDj3fUq2HrI&list=PLkh9EPEuEx2tO_dYqEE8jshWUzrRTo41N&index=1.

Organization of American States. (n.d.). Post COVID-19: OAS Portal for Consultations, Forums and Repository. https://www.oas.org/ext/en/main/covid-19/Repository/PID/3434/CategoryID/254/CategoryName/OAS-Initiatives.

————. (2020). Joint Summit Working Group Works to Reduce Corruption Risks during COVID-19 Crisis. https://doi.org/http://www.oas.org.

————. (2020). New Representative of Uruguay to the OAS Presents Credentials. https://doi.org/http://www.oas.org.

————. (2020). OAS Covid-19 Repository. https://www.oas.org/ext/en/main/covid-19/Repository.

————. (2020). Post Covid-19: OAS Portal for Consultations, Forums, and Repository. https://www.oas.org/ext/en/main/covid-19/home/who-we-are.

————. (2020, April 21). OAS to Launch Virtual Community of the Emergency and Security Systems of the Region. OAS. https://www.oas.org/en/media_center/press_release.asp?sCodigo=AVI-046%2F20.

————. (2020, May 6). OAS and Facebook Launch Initiative to Offer Resilience Tools for MSMEs. OAS. https://www.oas.org/en/media_center/press_release.asp?sCodigo=E-045%2F20.

————. (2020, May 11). The Trust for the Americas of the OAS and the Office of the First Lady of Paraguay will Train Women Entrepreneurs and Artisans in Digital Education. OAS. https://www.oas.org/en/media_center/photonews.asp?sCodigo=FNE-99058.

————. (2020, May 13). Cisco and OAS to Finance Cybersecurity Innovation Projects in Latin America. OAS. https://www.oas.org/en/media_center/press_release.asp?sCodigo=E-047%2F20.

————. (2020, July 7). OAS Electoral Observation Mission Recognizes Successful Dominican Elections in the Context of a Pandemic. OAS. https://www.oas.org/en/media_center/press_release.asp?sCodigo=E-071%2F20.

————. (2020, August 3). OEA y Bolivia se unen para impulsar digitalización de las MIPYMES. OAS. https://www.oas.org/es/centro_noticias/fotonoticia.asp?sCodigo=FNC-99558.

————. (2020, October 13). OEA y WhatsApp unen fuerzas en soluciones de marketing digital para pequeñas empresas en respuesta al COVID-19. OEA – Organización de Los Estados Americanos. https://www.oas.org/es/centro_noticias/comunicado_prensa.asp?sCodigo=AVI-138/20.

————. (2020, October 20). “Los desafíos de la pandemia de COVID-19 en el hemisferio: Un enfoque para afrontar las vulnerabilidades y aumentar la resiliencia en tiempos de crisis, tomando como base los cuatro pilares de la OEA” – Discurso del Secretario General de la OEA, Luis Almagro, durante la sesión Inaugural de la Asamblea General. OEA – Organización de Los Estados Americanos. https://www.oas.org/es/centro_noticias/comunicado_prensa.asp?sCodigo=D-016/20.

————. (2020, November 12). Comunicado de la Secretaría General de la OEA sobre la situación política en Perú. OEA – Organización de Los Estados Americanos. https://www.oas.org/es/centro_noticias/comunicado_prensa.asp?sCodigo=C-113/20.

————. (2021, January 25). OAS Begins Implementation of New Hemispheric Action Plan on Drugs 2021-2025. OAS – Organization of American States. https://doi.org/http://www.oas.org.

————. (2021, February 15). OAS Electoral Observation Mission in Ecuador Expresses Concern About Lack of Definition Regarding Electoral Process. OAS – Organization of American States. https://doi.org/http://www.oas.org.

————. (2021, March). WORKING TOGETHER TO FACE THE CHALLENGES OF COVID-19 IN THE AMERICAS REPORT TO PERMANENT OBSERVERS 2020-2021. http://www.oas.org/fpdb/press/ReportPermanentObservers2020-2021.pdf.

————. (2021, March 9). Statement by the Secretary General of the Organization of American States on Equitable Distribution of Vaccines. https://www.oas.org/en/media_center/press_release.asp?sCodigo=E-020/21.

————. (2021, April 15). Reunión de la comisión especial para la recuperación de la pandemia COVID-19. https://www.oas.org/en/about/speech_secretary_general.asp?sCodigo=21-0023.

————. (2021, May 2). Statement of the OAS General Secretariat on the Situation in El Salvador. https://www.oas.org/en/media_center/press_release.asp?sCodigo=E-044/21.

————. (2021, May 4). Comunicado de la Secretaría General de la OEA sobre Venezuela. https://www.oas.org/es/centro_noticias/comunicado_prensa.asp?sCodigo=C-046/21.

‌Oficina de la Secretaría General de la OEA para la Crisis de Migrantes y Refugiados Venezolanos, & Coalición por Venezuela. (2020, July 23). Propuestas para mejorar la situación de los migrantes y refugiados venezolanos en el marco del COVID-19. Organization of American States. http://www.oas.org/documents/spa/press/Propuestas-OEA-y-Coalicion-por-Venezuela_esp.pdf.

Secretaría de Asuntos Jurídicos de la OEA. (2020, May 11). Foro Virtual Semanal “El Derecho Interamericano en tiempos de Pandemia”. Organization of American States. http://www.oas.org/es/sla/foro_virtual.asp.

Secretaría para el Fortalecimiento de la Democracia (SFD), Departamento de Sustentabilidad Democrática y Misiones Especiales (DSDME). (2020, May). La Carta Democrática Interamericana: Guía de acción política para enfrentar la pandemia del COVID-19. Organization of American States. http://www.oas.org/documents/spa/press/La-CDI-Guia-de-accion-politica-para-la-pandemia-5.28.pdf.

Secretariat for Access to Rights and Equity. (2020, April 7). Practical Guide to Inclusive and Rights-Based Responses to COVID-19 in the Americas. Organization of American States. http://www.oas.org/es/sadye/publicaciones/GUIDE_ENG.pdf.