Organization of American States (OAS) Conference

President Gordon McInally visited the Washington DC area in February of this year. An important meeting was held with President McInally and Secretary General Luis Almagro of the Organization of American States (OAS).  Also in attendance were General Secretary John Hewko and Rotary Representative to the OAS Rich Carson.  In addition, the key Rotary leadership from Rotary Districts 7620 (DC and central Maryland), 7610 (Northern Virginia) and 4240 (four of the Central American countries) were also in attendance.

Rotary has a long history with the OAS with multiple projects, major events with the Latin American Ambassadors, and visits and presentations by key officials of Rotary.  OAS is a regional multilateral organization which includes all 34 countries of the Western Hemisphere and 72 permanent observer countries. Today OAS concentrates on four broad objectives: democracy, the promotion of human rights protection, economic and social development, and regional security cooperation.

Last year, Rotary International (through its districts and clubs) and OAS formalized their commitment to address forced displacement through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This strategic partnership aims to tackle the pressing issue of forced displacement, particularly in the Northern Triangle countries of Central America, where communities are disproportionately affected by this crisis. The Rotary involvement includes implementing successful Rotary benchmark projects, which help to empower displaced populations to thrive in their home countries.

All of the Central American countries (except Nicaragua) and Mexico have agreed to work through the MIRPS (comprehensive regional protection and solutions) framework for forced displacement challenges. The challenges are many including the increasingly large numbers of immigrants, the food security issues (32% do not have enough money to cover adequate food), and the multiyear delays in the U. S. Immigration Court backlog.

The project selected is based on a 25-year-old Rotary run vocational training school which has a 95% success rate in obtaining employment for their graduates.  This school has been funded by Rotary Global grants as well as the Guatemalan government.  The in-process Global grant will train 200 indigenous girls from the poorest area of Guatemala. These girls are between the ages of ten and 14.  The global grant will pay for the first year and the subsequent years are paid for by the Guatemalan government.

Through the MOU with the OAS and collaborative efforts with Rotary districts, Rotary International is poised to play a significant role in addressing forced displacement, not only in Central America but also in other regions grappling with similar challenges.  By leveraging its global network and resources, Rotary is well positioned to contribute to sustainable solutions that prioritize the well-being and dignity of displaced populations.