Civil society organizations (CSOs) seeking to be registered with the OAS must follow the "Guidelines for the Participation of Civil Society Organizations in OAS Activities" approved by the Permanent Council in Resolution CP/RES. 759.  Each civil society organization must send a letter to the OAS General Secretariat indicating their interest in being considered as a registered CSO.  The letter should be sent to:

Secretary General
Organization of American States
MNB-20
17th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington D.C. 20006, 
U.S.A.

The General Secretariat requires the following information in all applications from CSOs seeking to register with the OAS:

 

  1. The primary area of activity and areas of the OAS where the organization sees the most compatibility and potential for contribution to the work of the OAS.
  2. Reasons why the organization believes its proposed contributions to OAS activities would be of interest to the OAS.
  3. Identification of the OAS work areas in which the organization proposes to support on-going activities or to make recommendations on the best way to achieve OAS objectives.
  4. The application letter should also include:
  • The official name, address, and date of establishment of the organization
  • The names of directors and legal representatives
  • The CSO's Charter or Constitution
  • Statutes
  • Most recent Annual Report
  • Institutional Mission Statement
  • Financial Statements for the previous fiscal year, including reference to public and private sources of financing.  This information must include a listing of sources of financing and donations received, including, in particular, those originating from government sources.  Those organizations that are not membership-based shall also provide a listing of sources of financing and any donations received, including in particular, those originating from government sources.

 

Upon receipt, the Secretary General sends the application to the Summits of the Americas Secretariat for review.  The Summits of the Americas Secretariat confirms that all the required and supporting documents mentioned above have been included in the application. 

 

If the application is complete, the Committee on Inter-American Summits Management and Civil Society Participation in OAS Activities (CISC) of the Permanent Council examines the application ensuring compliance with the Guidelines in CP/RES. 759 and generates recommendations on eligibility for registration.  An organization may be required to provide additional information and clarification before the Committee completes its review. 

 

The recommendations of the CISC will be submitted to the Permanent Council for a final decision.  Please be advised that the request and supporting documentation may be discussed and distributed in a public forum during the registration process and cannot be given the protection of confidential, private, or otherwise privileged information.  If the Permanent Council decides to accept the request, the civil society organization will be notified and the name of the organization and its application will be added to the Registry of CSOs.

 

The CISC and the Permanent Council identify the following attributes in CSOs seeking registration:

 

  • Recognized standing within its particular field of competence.
  • Representative nature.
  • Institutional structure that includes appropriate mechanisms for holding its officers accountable and subject to its members. 
  • Legal representative and an executive officer, as well as established headquarters.
  • Financial resources obtained primarily from its affiliates or individual members.
  • Transparency within institutional and financial structure.
  • Institutional and financial structure affords a certain degree of independence.
  • Headquarters or principal activities not located in any territory over which there exists a sovereignty dispute between an OAS member state and a state outside the Hemisphere.
  • Geographic origin-- The Committee seeks to ensure the registration of civil society organizations from all member states, in order to facilitate just, balanced, effective, and genuine participation by all regions of the Hemisphere.

 

The OAS identifies the following responsibilities of CSOs registered with the OAS: 

  • Answer inquiries from organs, agencies, and entities of the OAS and provide advisory services to them upon request.
  • Disseminate information on OAS activities to its members.
  • Present, to the General Secretariat, before December 31 of each year, a report containing an executive summary on its participation in OAS activities during that year, its current financial situation, sources of funding, and the activities planned for the coming year. 
  • Keep the information on its executive officers up to date.

 

Entire content © 2004 Summits of the Americas Secretariat
1889 F Street NW ~ Washington, DC ~ 20006
Tel: 202.458.3127 ~ summitcso@oas.org
Organization of American States