OEA - CP - Resolución CAAP GT RVPP 573

PERMANENT COUNCIL OF THE OEA/Ser.G

ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES CAAP/GT/RVPP-573/26 6 March 2026

COMMITTEE ON ADMINISTRATIVE Original: Spanish AND BUDGETARY AFFAIRS Working Group on the Review of OAS Programs

COMMENTS AND PROPOSALS OF THE PERMANENT MISSION OF MEXICO

ON THE DRAFT CODE OF ETHICSPERMANENT MISSION OF MEXICO

TO THE

ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES

OEA610 Exp. 6.1.0.6 The Permanent Mission of Mexico to the Organization of American States (OAS) presents its compliments to the Permanent Mission of the Canada to the OAS, in its capacity as Chair of the Working Group on the Review of OAS Programs, and has the pleasure to refer to the draft Code of Ethics of the OAS General Secretariat contained in document CP/CAAP-4195/26, which is being examined within the framework of the Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Affairs and its corresponding Working Group. In that regard, the Permanent Mission of Mexico is pleased to submit the following comments on the draft Code of Ethics: • The updated Code of Ethics must strengthen a clear, enforceable, and verifiable regulatory framework applicable on an equal footing to everyone working at the OAS, at all levels. • The instrument should also promote institutional integrity and ensure that the standards of conduct are not limited to stating values and principles, but translate into effective obligations. To that end, the document should adopt imperative and binding language so that its provisions are not interpreted as mere recommendations, but as clear, mandatory, and fully enforceable rules. • With regard to particularly sensitive matters such as “conflicts of interest,” “recusal,” “reports of irregularities,” and “protection against retaliation,” although appropriate principles are established, it is necessary to endow them with greater procedural precision.

In particular, it would be advisable to define more clearly the competent authorities, the applicable procedure, and the corresponding deadlines, as well as the mechanisms for documenting, monitoring, and follow-up on the decisions adopted. The Chair Working Group on the Review of OAS Programs Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Affairs Organization of American States Washington, D.C.- 2 - • Lastly, in order for the Code of Ethics not to be merely a normative declaration but rather an effective tool for institutional ethical management, it is recommended that evaluation and follow-up mechanisms be incorporated by which to measure its actual implementation. Among these, consideration could be given to compliance indicators (ethical KPIs), a mandatory annual declaration of compliance, periodic surveys of the ethical and organizational climate, audits, and an institutional registry of cases. The Permanent Mission of Mexico to the Organization of American States avails itself of this opportunity to convey to the Permanent Mission of Canada to the Organization of American States, in its capacity as Chair of the Working Group on the Review of OAS Programs, the renewed assurances of its highest consideration. Washington, D.C., March 6, 2026