Canada and the Organization of American States

Overview of the Organization of American States

Founded in 1948, the Organization of American States (OAS) is the oldest regional organization in the world. It was built upon the Pan-American Union to promote peaceful relations in the Americas. With 34 active member states, the OAS is the premier political multilateral forum of the hemisphere. The OAS has also granted permanent observer status to 70 states and the European Union. It is the only regional organization that includes North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.

The OAS is built on four pillars: democracy, human rights, security and development. These core values underlie the organization’s work in safeguarding peace and stability. They are also among the OAS’s areas of greatest expertise. OAS headquarters are located in Washington, D.C., and the organization has national offices in its member states. Member states are represented by their permanent representatives, who meet regularly to analyze hemispheric issues, have dialogues and take collective action as necessary.

General Assembly

The General Assembly is the principal body of the OAS. It gathers ministers of foreign affairs of all member states on an annual basis and also holds special sessions to consider urgent matters. OAS member states generally take decisions by consensus.

The General Assembly provides the forum where major decisions are made concerning OAS policies and actions.

Structure of the OAS

General Secretariat

The OAS General Secretariat is led by a Secretary General and an Assistant Secretary General elected by the membership for up to two five-year terms. Uruguayan Luis Almagro Lemes, the 10th Secretary General, was elected for his second term on March 20, 2020 .

Permanent Council

The Permanent Council, as a main governing body of the OAS, meets regularly to set broad priorities for the organization and direct its ongoing actions. It is composed of one Permanent Representative per member state, who is accredited with the rank of ambassador.

The Inter-American Council for Integral Development

The Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI) is a body of the OAS directly answerable to the General Assembly. It has decision-making power in matters of partnership for integral development. The purpose of the CIDI is to promote cooperation among its Member States to help eliminate extreme poverty.

Summit of the Americas

The leaders of the hemisphere meet approximately every three years at the Summit of the Americas. This Summit plays a key role in setting the priorities of the inter-American system and, more broadly, in fostering discussions at the highest level on issues of common interest for the region. The OAS serves as the technical secretariat and institutional memory of the summit process.

Since the first summit in 1994, leaders have met on seven occasions to discuss their shared vision as well as to address the political, economic and social development challenges and opportunities in the hemisphere. The United States of America will host the IX Summit of the Americas from June 6 to 10, 2022, in Los Angeles under the theme “Building a Sustainable, Resilient, and Equitable Future.” Commitments by leaders at the Summit provide guidance for future action by inter-American institutions, chief among which is the OAS. 

Canada reports on its progress in implementing commitments made at the summits. Please see reports submitted by Canada and other member states.

Summits provide an opportunity for an exchange between leaders and civil society organizations, private sector and youth from across the region. It is a highly valued platform for Canada to engage with countries of the hemisphere and to advance our foreign policy, trade and development priorities in the region.

For more information, see Summits of the Americas Secretariat.