Who we are: Organization of American States (OAS)

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This peace tree was planted in 1910 during the inauguration of the House of the Americas It was then the headquarters of the Pan-American Union, created to bring unity, peace and prosperity to the hemisphere.

In 1948, this Pan-American Union became the Organization of American States.

Today, it includes all 35 independent nations of the Americas. From Tierra del Fuego to Alaska, from the deserts of northern Mexico to the Amazon rainforests, from the islands of the Caribbean to the towering Andes.

OAS member states encompass a vast array of languages, ethnicities, and cultures.

At the OAS, they are committed to shared values and principles, working together to strengthen areas of common interest, sort out their differences and bring progress, development and wellbeing to their citizens.

“Today, this organization is the regional watchdog in defense of democracy, freedom and human rights. Countries have committed themselves to these values by legal instruments such as the Inter-American Democratic Charter, the American Convention on Human Rights and all the other Inter American Conventions. Our job is to uphold
the highest standards. We must be objective, analyze the facts and, when we see corruption, inequality, or threats to freedom, we must speak out. In these cases we cannot be neutral.”

Luis Almagro
OAS Secretary General

The work of the OAS is based on four pillars democracy, human rights, security, and development. OAS electoral observation missions help to strengthen political processes and increase transparency throughout the Americas. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights monitors the situation in the member states, responds to individual petitions and promotes and protects human rights. The OAS promotes cooperation on security to prevent and respond to traditional and new threats . It also helps states search for solutions to drug trafficking and addiction, and contributes to efforts in confronting transnational organized crime, fighting terrorism and improving public safety. OAS scholarship programs have enabled tens of thousands of young people to study at world class universities, contributing to development in the Americas. The Organization has been responsive on issues such as disaster mitigation, renewable energy, water security, and has provided technical support for teacher training and small business development.

The OAS also looks to the future. Member States have defined clear goals and expectations, and the Organization is reinventing itself to meet them as a modern, efficient and results-oriented institution, that addresses the most pressing needs of the people of the Americas.

“More than one hundred years since the inauguration of this building, the OAS Headquarters, our institution still brings together the peoples of the Americas to address our responsibilities as a partnership of nations. As we look to the future, our work must also focus on the construction of a positive agenda that continues to favorably impact millions of lives everyday.”

Nestor Mendez
OAS Assistant Secretary General