OAS Adopts Plan of Action of the Social Charter of the Americas
In a historic event, Member States of the OAS
approved the Plan of Action
of the Social Charter of the Americas on February 11, 2015. The
objectives and strategic lines of action established in the Plan
reflect the region’s overwhelming consensus on the importance of
social inclusion, while simultaneously strengthening one of the main
Inter-American instruments governing the work of the Organization -
the Social Charter of the Americas adopted in 2012.
A region of diverse economies at varying
development levels, the people of the Americas stand together in
recognizing the absolute need for more inclusive societies. At the
joint meeting of the Permanent Council and the Inter-American
Council for Integral Development (CIDI), where the document was
adopted by acclamation, the OAS Secretary General, José Miguel
Insulza, highlighted the "remarkable achievement" represented by the
fact that "34 countries with such different economic, social,
cultural and political realities were able to agree on what are the
fundamental objectives and lines of action which must work in the
social field."
The current Chair of both Councils,
Ambassador Niermala Badrising, Permanent Representative of Suriname
to the OAS, declared that the approval of the Plan "is an important
milestone with regard to the progress in the regional social agenda
and a renewal of our commitment to the pillar of integral
development." Ambassador Badrising also made reference to the
Seventh Summit of the Americas to be held in April in Panama,
with the theme “Prosperity
with Equity: The Challenge of Cooperation in the Americas”,
noting that the Plan of Action of the Charter "will be an
instrumental contribution to the Summit’s agenda."
Permanent Representative of Dominica to the
OAS, Hubert Charles, who chaired the Working Group tasked with the
negotiations, emphasized that the Plan “reflects our commitment to
strive for social advancement in our countries, the construction of
more just and more inclusive societies, and the eradication of
poverty, the last being a need rather than an aspiration in
democratic societies."
During the negotiations, the Executive Secretariat
for the Integral Development (SEDI) provided permanent, technical
support to countries along with other international organizations,
including the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Pan
American Health Organization (PAHO), the United Nations Economic
Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the World Bank.
Member States have given themselves full
responsibility for the implementation of the Plan of Action which
"may be supported by existing mechanisms of the OAS and other
organizations of the Inter-American system." The Plan provides that
priority shall be awarded to partnerships and initiatives that
promote the exchange of information and best practices among Member
States – areas in which the OAS-SEDI excels and has extensive
experience.
Source: Permanent Council and CIDI Approve Action Plan for Social Charter of the Americas - February 11, 2015 from OAS/OEA TV on Vimeo.
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Strategic lines of work and objectives of the Plan of Action
of the Social Charter:
1.
Labor.
Objective: Improve the quality of existing employment and create
greater opportunities for productive employment in conditions of
equality, dignity, safety, and wellbeing.
2.
Social Protection.
Objective: Create or strengthen comprehensive social protection
systems based on respect for human rights and on the principles
of universality, sustainability, equality, inclusion, shared
responsibility, solidarity and equity that include the
generation of opportunities needed for families and individuals
in vulnerable circumstances to enhance their well-being and
quality of life.
3.
Health.
Objective: To progress toward universal access to health care
and universal coverage of comprehensive and quality health care,
with equity, accompanied by social protection models in health
care for populations in situations of vulnerability.
4.
Food and nutrition.
Objective: To promote food and nutrition security in the region,
with the active participation of individuals, communities, and
civil society in general.
5.
Education.
Objective: To guarantee the right to education without
discrimination, promote access to quality education at all
levels and of all forms, and ensure equitable and universal
access to primary and secondary education.
6.
Housing and Basic
Public Services. Objective: To provide more and better
housing options, especially for vulnerable and lower- income
populations, and ensure fair, equitable, and nondiscriminatory
access to basic public services.
7.
Culture.
Objective: Ensure cultural development with the inclusion and
participation of all sectors of society, respecting diversity of
cultures and cultural expressions, and encouraging mutual
respect and knowledge.
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