February 2009 | Summits Online | Español

IN THIS NEWSLETTER: SIRG | See also: South American Civil Society Forum - Policy Roundtable - ICTs - Saint Lucia Forum

Message from the Director

David Morris, Summits of the Americas Secretariat

This week, the OAS General Secretariat wraps up a full calendar of civil society consultations on the themes of the Fifth Summit of the Americas with the holding of a Hemispheric Civil Society Forum at our Organization's headquarters in Washington, DC.

In 2008 and 2009, hundreds of civil society representatives from all corners of the hemisphere and representing a multitude of issues and themes participated in consultations. The activities were kicked off in May 2008 in Miami at a Hemispheric Forum that gathered civil society representatives for discussions on the concept paper that served as a foundation for the draft Declaration of Commitment of Port of Spain presented by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.

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SIRG Meetings Intensify Negotiations

Three SIRG Meetings held in Washington, D.C. this year

Negotiations of the Draft Declaration of Commitment of Port of Spain, to be adopted at the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago, in April 2009, have intensified at the first three meetings of the Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG) held so far in 2009.

The 34 OAS Member States, through their participation at the First 2009 Meeting of the SIRG, held January 14-16, the Second 2009 SIRG, held February 9-13, and the Third 2009 SIRG, held February 23-27, at the OAS Headquarters in Washington, D.C., have so far approved more than 40 paragraphs of the Declaration.

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South American Civil Society Forum concludes sub regional consultation process in preparation for the Fifth Summit

The South American Civil Society Sub-Regional Forum held on February 6-7 2009 in Lima, Peru, concluded a series of three sub regional consultation forums organized by the Organization of American States (OAS) in preparation for the Fifth Summit of the Americas, to be held in April 2009 in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Forum had a turnout of around 150 participants, representing various sectors of civil society and non-governmental organizations from the countries of South America, which compiled their recommendations and suggestions on the region’s challenges. The recommendations formulated by the Forum participants will be considered by the 34 OAS Member States as they continue to negotiate the content of the draft Declaration of Commitment of Port of Spain, which is expected to be adopted by the Heads of State and Government at the Fifth Summit.

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Policy Roundtables Further Dialogue on Key Summit Themes

Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability discussed in Washington, D.C.

In order to provide OAS Member States and other Summit stakeholders with enhanced opportunities to consider and discuss the thematic priorities of the Fifth Summit, the Summits of the Americas Secretariat of the OAS is carrying out a series of policy roundtables and dialogues that bring together top experts from government, international institutions (including institutional partners of the Joint Summit Working Group), academia, the private sector and civil society. At these events, which are webcast live via the OAS website and are open to the general public, panelists present a variety of policy perspectives and recommendations, as well as field specific questions and comments from audience members. The results of the roundtables are then complied into policy briefs and circulated for the consideration of Member States and other Summit stakeholders. Two such roundtables focusing on the Fifth Summit main pillars of Energy Security (see Polciy Brief) and Environmental Sustainability were held in December 2008 and February 2009, respectively.

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ICTs, an Important Ally for the Summits Process

Several virtual consultations related to the themes of the V Summit of the Americas have been held in the first quarter of 2009 through the Summits Virtual Platform (SVP). The SVP is an on-line tool designed by the Summits of the Americas Secretariat in collaboration with the OAS/SEDI Department of Human Development -through the Educational Portal of the Americas-, and with the support of the Institute for Connectivity of the Americas (IDRC/ICA) to facilitate on-going communication with social actors, thus contributing to making the Summits of the Americas Process more participatory through the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).

A total of 600 users from the 34 OAS Member States have registered, predominantly representing Non Governmental Organizations (42%), Governmental Institutions (17%) and Academia (11%). Less represented is the private sector (9%), Inter-Governmental Organizations (7%) and Indigenous Peoples (6%).

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National Civil Society Forum Convened in Saint Lucia

On February 16, 2009 Saint Lucia convened a national Civil Society Forum on the themes of the V Summit of the Americas. This one-day Forum was held at the government conference center (NIC Center) located in Castries, the country’s capital. Of some 60 invited participants, approximately 42 Civil Society Organizations and NGOs, as well as government ministries or agencies, took part in the event.

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Other Events

• January 15-16, 2009
Second Inter-American Afro Descendants Forum
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Upcoming Events

• March 3 - 4, 2009
Hemispheric Level forum for Civil Society in preparation for the Fifth Summit of the Americas
Washington, D.C.

• March 10 - 13, 2009
Fourth Regular Meeting of 2009 of the Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG)
Washington, D.C.

• April 14 - 15, 2009
III Indigenous Leaders’ Summit of the Americas (ILSA)
TBD

• April 15 - 16, 2009
Civil Society Forum
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

• April 15 - 16, 2009
Young Americas Forum
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

• April 15 - 16, 2009
Private Sector Forum of the Americas: Promoting Private Sector-led Prosperity in the Emerging Decade
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

• April 17 - 19, 2009
Fifth Summit of the Americas
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago