OEA - CP - Resolución CP CISC 1248

PERMANENT COUNCIL OF THE OEA/Ser.G

ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES CP/CISC-1248/26 2 February 2026

COMMITTEE ON INTER-AMERICAN SUMMITS MANAGEMENT Original: Spanish

AND CIVIL SOCIETY PARTICIPATION

IN OAS ACTIVITIES

PROPOSED GUIDELINES FOR THE PARTICIPATION OF CIVIL SOCIETY

ORGANIZATIONS [ORCS: , AFRO-DESCENDANT COMMUNITIES, AND INDIGENOUS

PEOPLES] IN OAS [ORCS: AND SUMMITS OF THE AMERICAS] ACTIVITIES

[Document prepared by the Office of Relations with Civil Society of the Office of the Assistant Secretary General, in accordance with the Course of Action agreed upon by the Committee

(DOCUMENT CP/CISC-1203/25 REV. 1)1 / ]

1 . This proposal was prepared by the Office of Relations with Civil Society (ORSC), and includes specific comments provided by the delegations of Argentina, Chile, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and United States. It also took into account the outcomes of consultations with civil society organizations and social actors, member states, Joint Summit Working Group (JSWG) entities, and OAS secretariats, bodies, and agencies.INTRODUCTION The Organization of American States (OAS) has consistently acknowledged the important contributions made by civil society organizations and other stakeholders to the work of its organs, agencies, and entities, in keeping with the provisions of the Charter of the Organization of American States. Since 1948, the Organization has been steadily pursuing new forms of cooperation and engagement with non-state actors, as part of its institutional objectives and mandates. Throughout this process, various OAS organs, agencies, and entities have established specific mechanisms for engaging with civil society organizations and other stakeholders, based

on their respective areas of competence. This has helped add value to the Organization's work while introducing innovative practices at the intergovernmental level. This wealth of experience has underscored both the value of such contributions and how useful it would be to have a common regulatory framework to organize, systematize, and bring coherence to the different forms of participation. Civil society's role got a significant boost by way of the declarations and mandates issued by the Summits of the Americas process, especially since the 1994 Summit of the Americas, which drew attention to the contribution civil society organizations made toward making democratic institutions stronger, deeper, and more enduring. The Action Plan from the Second Summit of the Americas, held in 1998, stated that the OAS could serve as a forum for sharing experiences and information on civil society organizations, and entrusted the OAS with promoting appropriate programs to encourage greater civil society participation in public affairs. Meanwhile, in 1998 the OAS General Assembly tasked the Permanent Council with exploring ways to increase civil society organizations' participation in OAS activities. Pursuant to the foregoing, the “Guidelines for the Participation of Civil Society Organizations in OAS Activities” were adopted in 1999, by way of resolution CP/RES. 759 (1217 /99), and mechanisms were established under the purview of the Permanent Council to monitor and implement them. Since that time, the OAS has adopted additional resolutions to make civil society participation stronger, broader, and more effective, and to improve the system for registration, dialogue, cooperation, and coordination, both within the OAS and as part of the Summits of the Americas process. Likewise, in keeping with its own principles, instruments, and mandates, the OAS has expressly acknowledged the importance of ensuring that indigenous peoples and people of African descent have full, effective, and inclusive participation. Specifically, the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples reaffirms their right to have a say in decisions

that affect them, as well as in development processes, thereby giving them a stronger voice in the inter-American arena. Likewise, as part of the hemispheric commitments to promote and protect the rights of persons of African descent, the OAS has spearheaded initiatives and resolutions intended to fight racism, racial discrimination, and structural exclusion, and to advocate for them to play a role in formulating, implementing, and evaluating public policies. In recent years, the General Assembly has reaffirmed the importance of clear, orderly, and transparent mechanisms in place for civil society participation -- mechanisms that are also2 compatible with the Organization’s intergovernmental characteristics. In that context, in resolution AG/RES. 3026 (LIV-O/24) the General Assembly called for an evaluation of existing civil society participation mechanisms and the corresponding strengthening of institutional capacity. To fulfill that mandate, in 2025 the Permanent Council’s Committee on Inter-American Summits Management and Civil Society Participation in OAS Activities (CISC) decided on a course of action to review the Guidelines, which establish the stages, principles, and timetable for a member state-led process that, however, would also include input from civil society organizations and social actors, other international organizations, and units of the OAS General Secretariat. This would be a process based on practical experience gathered and aimed at ensuring the applicable regulatory frameworks are consistent, predictable, and transparent. Part of this institutional approach, the current updated Guidelines are meant to adapt the current regulatory framework to the present-day realities, make constructive participation of civil society organizations, other social actors, communities of people of African descent, and indigenous peoples stronger, and consolidate ways to channel their input in an organized manner, without affecting the member states’ authority, prerogatives, and responsibilities.3

GUIDELINES FOR THE PARTICIPATION OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS

[ORCS: AFRO-DESCENDANT COMMUNITIES, AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES]

IN OAS [ORCS: AND SUMMITS OF THE AMERICAS] ACTIVITIES

1. Purpose. The purpose of these guidelines is to govern participation by civil society organizations, [ORCS: Afro-descendant communities, and Indigenous peoples] in

IN OAS [ORCS: AND SUMMITS OF THE AMERICAS] ACTIVITIES

1. Purpose. The purpose of these guidelines is to govern participation by civil society organizations, [ORCS: Afro-descendant communities, and Indigenous peoples] in activities of the organs, agencies, and entities of the Organization of American States (OAS)

[and Summits of the Americas], in accordance with the inter-governmental nature of the OAS and the provisions of the Charter of the Organization, in particular Articles 91.d, 95.d, 103, and 112.h, the statutes and rules of procedure of the corresponding organs, and the rules governing the conduct of OAS activities in pursuit of its essential purposes.

2. Definitions . “Civil society organization” is understood to mean any national or international institution, organization, or entity made up of natural or juridical persons of a nongovernmental

[MX: , non-profit, or non-religious] nature. [RD: organized civil society entities with legal personality, oriented toward purposes of public or social interest, and governed by the principles of transparency, participation, pluralism, and co-responsibility.] [ORCS: “Civil society organization” is understood to mean any institution, organization, entity, network, or other type of association of a national or international nature that is composed of natural or juridical persons, operates outside the governmental sphere, acts autonomously, pursues purposes of publicor community interest, and is not for profit. This includes, but is not limited to, nongovernmental organizations, universities, academic and research centers, foundations, social enterprise companies that primarily pursue publicor community interest, regardless of their legal structure, professional associations, community-based organizations, civil society networks, and other similar entities.]

3. Scope of participation by civil society organizations, [ORCS: Afro-descendant communities,

and Indigenous peoples]: [ORCS: Civil society organizations They may attend the activities of the OAS [ORCS: and of Summits of the Americas], make presentations, provide information, and, at the request of the organs, agencies, and entities of the OAS, provide expert advice, in accordance with these guidelines. They may also participate in operational activities relating to the design, financing, and execution of cooperation programs, in accordance with applicable regulations and specific agreements negotiated for this purpose. a) [ORCS: These Guidelines complement but do not modify the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly, the Rules of Procedure of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI), the rules governing the inter-American specialized conferences and organizations, and the rules governing the inter-American committees of CIDI.4

4. Principles governing the participation by civil society organizations , [ORCS: Afrodescendant communities, and Indigenous peoples] in OAS [ORCS: and Summits of the Americas] activities. [ORCS: Civil society organizations They may participate in OAS activities in accordance with the following principles:

a. The matters with which they are concerned must fall within the competence of the OAS, and the aims and purposes they pursue must be consistent with the spirit, aims, and principles established in the Charter of the OAS. b. [ORCS: Their participation Participation by civil society organizations in OAS activities] shall have the purpose of enabling the organs, agencies, or entities of the OAS to benefit, in a manner consistent with their operational regulations, from expert advice or specialized information provided to them by those organizations on subjects in which those organizations have special competence or interest and from the cooperation such organizations may provide. c. [ORCS: Their participation Participation by civil society organizations in OAS activities] should further the activities of its organs, agencies, and entities without prejudice to the regulatory, policy-making, and policy implementation functions established by the instruments that govern those organs, agencies, and entities. d. [ORCS: Their participation Participation by civil society organizations in OAS activities, while welcome, ] shall not be interpreted as a concession of negotiating

prejudice to the regulatory, policy-making, and policy implementation functions established by the instruments that govern those organs, agencies, and entities. d. [ORCS: Their participation Participation by civil society organizations in OAS activities, while welcome, ] shall not be interpreted as a concession of negotiating functions—which are the exclusive preserve of the States—and shall not alter the intergovernmental nature of the organs, agencies, and entities of the OAS. e. Arrangements for [ORCS: their participation by civil society organizations in OAS activities] are distinct from the rights accorded to member states, permanent observers, and entities and organs of the inter-American system. f. [ORSC: Consultation and participation processes will seek to provide an effective platform for their contributions to be considered in deliberations, clearly communicating the objectives of each opportunity for dialogue and the expected scope of contributions.]

5. Responsibilities of the organs, agencies, and entities of the OAS with respect to participation by civil society organizations, [ORCS: Afro-descendant communities, and Indigenous peoples] in their activities.

a. The Permanent Council, through its [DR: Committee on Inter-American Summits Management and Civil Society Participation in OAS Activities (CISC) Committee on Civil Society Participation in OAS Activities (“the Committee”) ] , shall monitor the arrangements established between civil society organizations, [ORCS: Afro-descendant communities, and Indigenous peoples] and the OAS within the scope of the functions conferred upon it by the Charter of the OAS. b. The [ORCS: other] organs, agencies, and entities of the OAS shall govern their relations with civil society organizations, [ORCS: Afro-descendant communities,5 and Indigenous peoples] in ways that are consistent with their own governing provisions and that will best serve their purposes and specific mandates, with due

regard to these guidelines [DR and keeping the roster of civil society organizations registered with the OAS up to date]. c. The General Secretariat shall carry out the duties entrusted to it by the Permanent Council through the Committee, shall implement the mechanisms and procedures detailed below, and shall present recommendations as it sees fit to the Committee, with a view to improving the system once established. d. [ORCS: The General Secretariat shall ensure that the participation of civil society organizations in the activities of its various units is coordinated and crosscutting, in accordance with these guidelines.] e. [ORSC: The General Secretariat will promote, in coordination with the relevant bodies, mechanisms to inform participating organizations about how their contributions were considered in the deliberation, when feasible.]

6. Application [ORCS: for registration with the OAS to participate] . In order for a civil society organization, [ORCS: Afro-descendant community, or Indigenous people] to [ORCS: be registered with the OAS and] participate in the activities of the OAS, it must direct an application to the Secretary General. [ORSC: The General Secretariat The Secretary General] shall refer the application to the Committee, which shall examine it, make such recommendations as it sees fit, and submit it to the Permanent Council for a decision. The application should contain the following elements: [AR: Keep the paragraph as it is, given that it is a mechanism of incorporation that affords member states the possibility of objecting to the participation of a nongovernmental organization and that the decision adopted is by consensus (not objection), avoiding voting mechanisms.]

a. Official name, address, and date of establishment of the organization and the name(s) of its directors and legal representative(s). b. Its primary areas of activity and their relationship to the activities of the OAS organs, agencies, and entities in which it wishes to participate. [MX: Highlight if the civil

society organization participates in or belongs to any regional or international network]. c. Reasons why it believes its proposed contributions to OAS activities would be of interest to the Organization. d. Identification of the OAS work areas in which it proposes to support ongoing activities or to make recommendations on the best way to achieve OAS objectives. [ORSC: The General Secretariat will provide information on OAS areas of work when the request does not expressly so indicate and when there is a clear lack of knowledge about them].6 e. The application shall be accompanied by the following documents: - Charter or constitution - Statutes - Most recent annual report - Institutional mission statement - Financial statements for the previous fiscal year, including reference to public and private sources of financing. f. [ORCS: Applications for registration from Afro-descendant communities, and Indigenous peoples shall be exempt from the requirement to submit the documents referred to in the preceding paragraph, in consideration and out of respect for their own forms of organization, as appropriate.] g. [ ORSC: For newly-established organizations, activityand financial reports covering the period since their establishment will be accepted as valid.] 7. [ ORSC: Register of civil society organizations. The General Secretariat will establish a register of all civil society organizations that have been accepted by the Permanent Council to participate in OAS activities. The General Secretariat will keep this register up to date, and it will be published on the OAS website on the page for civil society organizations.

8. Conditions of eligibility . In examining the application [ORCS: for registration to participate] submitted by a civil society organization, [ORCS: Afro-descendant community, or Indigenous people] , the Committee shall take into account the following factors in preparing its recommendation thereon: a. [ORCS: The civil society organization It] shall be of recognized standing within its particular field of competence and shall be of a representative nature, [AR: as well as no political motivations and/or sectoral interests]. b. [ORSC: The civil society organization ] shall have an institutional structure that includes appropriate mechanisms for holding its officers accountable and subject to its members. It shall also have a legal representative and an executive officer, as well as

no political motivations and/or sectoral interests]. b. [ORSC: The civil society organization ] shall have an institutional structure that includes appropriate mechanisms for holding its officers accountable and subject to its members. It shall also have a legal representative and an executive officer, as well as established headquarters. c. [ORSC: The civil society organization ] shall obtain its resources primarily from its affiliates or individual members, and shall have provided a listing of its sources of financing and any donations received, including, in particular, those originating from government sources. Those organizations that are not membership-based shall also provide a listing of sources of financing and any donations received, including, in particular, those originating from government sources. d. The Committee must satisfy itself in particular that the institutional and financial structure of the civil society organization is transparent and affords it a degree of independence.7 e. [ORCS: Applications for registration from Afro-descendant communities, and Indigenous peoples shall be exempt from the eligibility requirements referred to in paragraphs (b), (c), and (d), in consideration and out of respect for their own forms of organization, as appropriate.] f. [MX: The Committee will notify the civil society organization of the response to its application to participate in OAS activities in a timely manner.] g. The Committee shall not process applications to participate from civil society organizations, [ORCS: Afro-descendant communities, or Indigenous peoples] that have their headquarters or conduct their principal activities in any territory over which there exists a sovereignty dispute between an OAS member state and a state outside the Hemisphere. [AR: Keep current wording]

9. Geographic origin [ORCS: of the civil society organizations ] . The Committee should seek to ensure the registration of civil society organizations, [ ORCS: Afro-descendant communities, and Indigenous peoples] from all member states, in order to facilitate just, balanced, effective, and genuine participation by all regions of the Hemisphere.

10. Comments and requests for reports by member states.. During the Committee's examination of applications [ORCS: for registration to participate] , member states may submit comments and request ORSC: additional information from the organization in question . These

balanced, effective, and genuine participation by all regions of the Hemisphere.

10. Comments and requests for reports by member states.. During the Committee's examination of applications [ORCS: for registration to participate] , member states may submit comments and request ORSC: additional information from the organization in question . These comments and requests shall be sent [ORSC: by the General Secretariat to that organization for a timely response.]

11. Registration of civil society organizations , [ORCS: Afro-descendant communities, and Indigenous peoples]. The General Secretariat shall establish a register of all [ORCS: applications civil society organizations] approved by the Permanent Council for [ORCS: registration and] participation in OAS activities. The General Secretariat shall [ORCS: publish and] keep this register updated [ORCS:, and shall publish it on the OAS web site in the area pertaining to civil society organizations].

12. Responsibilities of registered civil society organizations , [ORCS: Afro-descendant communities, and Indigenous peoples . By registering, the civil society organization

assumes the following responsibilities] : a. Answer inquiries from the organs, agencies, and entities of the OAS and provide advisory services to them upon request b. Disseminate information on OAS activities to its members. c. Present to the General Secretariat, before [ORCS: March December] 31 of each year, a report, containing an executive summary, on its participation in OAS activities during [ORCS: the previousthat] year, its financial situation and sources of funding, [ORCS: updates to its leadership,] and the activities planned for the [ORCS: current coming] year. [ORCS: This report shall be transmitted by the The General Secretariat shall prepare a compendium of the reports received and8 transmit it] to the Committee. [ORCS: It shall also report on those organizations

that have failed to comply with this obligation.] d. Keep the information on its executive officers up to date. [US and ORSC: Act with integrity, be accountable for their activities and their impact, and promote institutional behavior that is aligned with the principles of the inter-American system.] e. [MX: Inform the CISC in a timely manner in the event that the civil society organization has been dissolved.]

13. CH, US, and ORCS: The modalities of participation of civil society organizations,

[ORCS: Afro-descendant communities, and Indigenous peoples] registered with the OAS shall be those set out below, with the use of hybrid and virtual formats to be encouraged in all cases: a. Informative: Informative participation shall allow civil society organizations to access relevant information on the processes, agendas, mandates, and activities of the organs, agencies, and entities of the Organization, as well as to disseminate information, studies, reports, or positions of a public and general nature related to the topics under consideration. The purpose of this modality is to promote transparency, mutual understanding, and the dissemination of good practices. b. Consultative: Consultative participation shall consist of the possibility for civil society organizations to submit opinions, recommendations, written or oral contributions, and substantive analysis, at the request of member states or the competent bodies of the Organization. These contributions shall be non-binding and aimed at enriching intergovernmental discussions, without conferring decision-making or negotiating functions on the organizations. c. Technical: Technical or specialized participation shall allow civil society organizations with recognized experience or specific knowledge in specific areas to provide technical inputs, specialized advice, or support in the implementation, follow-up, or evaluation of mandates, programs, and projects. This modality shall not imply participation in political negotiations or in the adoption of decisions, which remain the exclusive competence of the member states.

14. Participation [ORCS: by civil society organizations, Afro-descendant communities, and Indigenous peoples] in OAS conferences [ORCS: and meetings and in Summits of the Americas . Participation by civil society organizations in OAS conferences ] shall be

governed by the following rules:

14. Participation [ORCS: by civil society organizations, Afro-descendant communities, and Indigenous peoples] in OAS conferences [ORCS: and meetings and in Summits of the Americas . Participation by civil society organizations in OAS conferences ] shall be governed by the following rules: a. [ORCS: Those A registered civil society organization ] may participate after notifying the General Secretariat of the name(s) of the representative(s) who will attend [ORCS: the conference] . b. [ORCS: Those that are A civil society organization that is ] not registered and

[ORCS: wish wishes] to participate [ORCS: in an OAS conference] shall submit an9 application to that effect to the General Secretariat [ORCS: , which shall transmit it to the Committee] . The application shall contain the information specified in item 6 [ORCS: herein]. c. After the [ORCS: General Secretariat Committee] has made a preliminary review of the application and has made such recommendations as it sees fit, the application shall be transmitted to the [ORCS: committee or working group charged with preparing for the conference area of the General Secretariat responsible for the preparation of the meeting, conference, or Summit of the Americas], which shall take a final decision and, if appropriate, shall issue accreditation to the applying [ORCS: civil society] organization, [ORCS: Afro-descendant community, or Indigenous people] . [US: During Summit of the Americas activities, the host country's prerogatives shall be respected at all times.] d. [ ORCS: If a member state comments on or requests information with respect to an application to participate, the civil society organization referred to should be informed in time for it to be able to respond. ] e. In all other respects, the participation of civil society organizations, [ORCS: Afrodescendant communities, or Indigenous peoples] in OAS [ORCS: meetings and] conferences [ORCS: or Summits of the Americas] shall be governed by the rules governing those activities.

15. Attendance and participation by civil society organizations, [ORCS: Afro-descendant

descendant communities, or Indigenous peoples] in OAS [ORCS: meetings and] conferences [ORCS: or Summits of the Americas] shall be governed by the rules governing those activities.

15. Attendance and participation by civil society organizations, [ORCS: Afro-descendant communities, and Indigenous peoples registered with in] the OAS [ORCS: in at] meetings of the Permanent Council [ORCS: and other political organs , CIDI, and their subsidiary bodies] a. [ORCS: They Registered civil society organizations] may designate representatives to attend, as observers, public meetings of the Permanent Council [ORCS: and other political organs , CIDI, and their subsidiary bodies ] . Whether [ORCS: they representatives of civil society organizations ] may attend closed meetings shall be determined by the chair of the meeting in question, in consultation with the participating member state delegations.

b. The Secretariat shall provide [ORCS: them registered civil society organizations] , in a timely manner, with information on the schedule calendar of public meetings and, when available, the [ORCS: respective order of business of such meetings] . c. [ORCS: In accordance with the modalities established in point 12 of these guidelines, they A registered civil society organization ] may present written documents [ORCS: to the General Secretariat in Spanish and English , not exceeding 2,000 words 1,000 words and at least 8 days in advance , preferably in two of the official languages of the OAS] , on questions that fall within its particular sphere of competence and appear on the agenda or order of business for the meeting. These documents shall be distributed in a timely manner by the General Secretariat to [ORCS: the chair of the Permanent Council or political body, for consideration and distribution to the member states. They will also be distributed10 to the technical areas of the General Secretariat responsible for follow-up on the issues in question member states, insofar as possible, in two of the official languages of the OAS. Texts exceeding 2,000 words shall be accompanied by executive summaries in two of the official languages of the OAS, which the

to the technical areas of the General Secretariat responsible for follow-up on the issues in question member states, insofar as possible, in two of the official languages of the OAS. Texts exceeding 2,000 words shall be accompanied by executive summaries in two of the official languages of the OAS, which the Secretariat shall distribute sufficiently ahead of time. The complete text of the document may be distributed in its original language or languages, the cost to be borne by the civil society organization in question] . d. [ ORCS: In the case of meetings of committees of the Permanent Council or of CIDI, registered civil society organizations may distribute written documents in advance, in keeping with item 13.c, and, with prior approval from the committee in question, may give a presentation at the beginning of the deliberations. Civil society organizations may not participate in deliberations, negotiations, or decisions adopted by member states.] e. In the case of meetings of expert groups and working groups of the Permanent Council or [ORCS: other policy organs of CIDI ] , registered civil society organizations, [ORCS: Afro-descendant communities, or Indigenous peoples] that have special competence in the issue to be discussed [ORCS: may, at the request of the member states or the chair of the Permanent Council or political body, shall receive the relevant documents in advance and, with the prior approval of the meeting, may present a statement in accordance with the above-established provisions as established at the beginning of the deliberations, the text of which may be distributed in advance to the member states. With such approval, they may also give a presentation once the consideration of the issue has concluded. Civil society organizations may not participate in deliberations, negotiations, or decisions adopted by member states] . f. [ORCS: They Civil society organizations ] may not participate in deliberations,

negotiations, or deci