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BACKGROUNDER
Meeting of Chairs of Foreign Affairs Committees
of National Parliaments and Legislatures of the OAS Member StatesMarch 29-30, 2000
This first-of-its-kind meeting – which will be held at the headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington, D.C. – will bring together those who head the Foreign Affairs Committees or their equivalents in the parliaments and legislatures of the OAS member countries.
What is the purpose of the meeting?
The meeting is intended to enhance the contribution of the legislative branch in the hemisphere’s foreign policy debates and decision-making. In this multilateral forum, legislative leaders can exchange ideas and perspectives about the most important challenges in inter-American relations. The meeting will also discuss the possibility of creating a permanent forum for this purpose.
Why is it useful for legislators from different countries to meet?
In the last few years, through the OAS and the Summit of the Americas process, the nations of the Americas have increased their cooperation on a range of key issues, from strengthening democratic institutions to combating illegal drugs and corruption. Turning multilateral initiatives into law usually requires national legislation. It makes sense for lawmakers to participate in the discussion of issues at an earlier stage, so they can participate in shaping policies.
How did this meeting come about?
At last year’s OAS General Assembly, held in Guatemala, the region’s foreign ministers instructed the Organization to explore the possibility of establishing a network of parliamentarians. Citing mandates from the Second Summit of the Americas (April 1998 in Santiago, Chile), the foreign ministers emphasized the importance of greater participation by civil society in the key issues of the hemisphere. As leaders elected to represent citizens of all interests, legislators or parliamentarians form a key pillar of the democratic process, the General Assembly resolution affirmed.
What is the OAS role in this effort?
The OAS is hosting this meeting but it is the parliamentarians themselves who will conduct the sessions and make all decisions about what kind of forum, if any, they will create for the future.