Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
JAMAICA AT THE OAS The Ambassador of Jamaica to the United States also serves as Jamaica’s Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS). The Organization of American States (OAS), which has its headquarters in Washington DC, is the primary political multilateral forum in the hemisphere with the main objectives of maintaining peace and stability, preserving and consolidating democracy, protecting human rights, and promoting economic and social development. The Ambassador and staff of the Permanent Mission of Jamaica attend meetings of the OAS and its subsidiary bodies to represent Jamaica’s interests and give support, where necessary, to the requests of other Member States. Through the participation of Ministers, Experts and Governmental representatives, as appropriate, Jamaica also participates in the relevant OAS for a in areas such a culture, education, social development, sustainable development, labour and in the fight against corruption, drug abuse and drug trafficking, terrorism and violence against women. Jamaica has been a member of the OAS since 1969, collaborating with the other Member States to achieve the stated objectives. Jamaica works closely and coordinates its positions with its CARICOM partners. In working towards these objectives, Jamaica firmly upholds the principles of sovereignty and non-intervention in the affairs of other Member States. These principles are clearly articulated in the OAS Charter. Accordingly, the OAS has played a pivotal role in mediating political crises and disputes between Member States and in mounting OAS electoral observation missions. Jamaica supports these efforts as long as they are undertaken at the request of Member States. 1 Development Agenda Jamaica attaches the greatest of importance to the development agenda of the OAS and particularly to the needs of small states. We have benefited over the years from the OAS technical assistance projects and programmes. Jamaica firmly holds the view that the eradication of poverty must remain a high priority on the OAS agenda. Democracy and social and economic and social development are inextricably linked – one cannot be sustained without the other. The eradication of extreme poverty is an integral part of the hemispheric agenda as it is included in both the essential purposes as well as the principles of the Charter of the OAS. To this end, Jamaica supports the ongoing negotiations for the preparation of a Social Charter of the Americas, which focuses on actions to eliminate poverty and promote social inclusion/justice. The Social Charter will also complement the Democratic Charter adopted by the OAS in 2001. Other Sectoral Issues Through the participation of its experts/governmental representatives, Jamaica also participates in the hemispheric discussions and activities in areas such as culture, education, social development, labour and in the fight against corruption, drug abuse and drug trafficking, terrorism, violence against women. Bearing in mind that security threats can no longer be viewed in terms of armed conflict, Jamaica has strongly supported the position that the OAS must address security issues from a multidimensional perspective, encompassing economic, social, health and environmental issues such as the HIV/AIDS pandemic which can affect the security and stability of a state. Jamaica participates actively in the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) and in the Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism (MEM) which monitors the individual and collective efforts of Member States to control drug trafficking and abuse while respecting the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and shared responsibility. 2 Jamaica maintains that both the demand and supply side of the drug trafficking problem must be addressed. As a State Party to the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption, Jamaica also participates actively in the Follow-up Mechanism for the Implementation of the Convention (MESICIC) and has submitted its Country Report which was adopted in the first round of evaluations in 2005. The next report will be submitted in 2014 for evaluation. Jamaica is a State Party to the Convention of Belem do Para to eradicate Violence Against Women and participates in its related Follow-up Mechanism of Experts (MESECVI). Jamaica also attaches great importance to the scholarship and training programmes of the OAS, from which a number of Jamaican nationals have benefited. These include undergraduate and graduate studies as well as professional development courses. Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) is the main organ of the OAS responsible for promoting the observance and protection of human rights in the hemisphere. Jamaica has ratified the Inter-American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has seven Commissioners elected in their personal capacity for a four year term. Commissioner Tracy Robinson of Jamaica is currently serving her first term. The Inter-American Commission has recently published its Report on the Situation on Human Rights in Jamaica 2012. Summit of the Americas Jamaica has been an active participant in the Summits of the Americas process since the first Summit in Miami in 1994. In the Summit process, Jamaica and its CARICOM partners continue to highlight the specific needs and concerns of small states and to draw attention to the need for adequate financial resources to implement the ever increasing mandates of the Summits. Jamaica participated at the 6th Summit held in April 2012 in Cartagena, Colombia. 3