OEA - CP - Resolución CP CSH SA 405

PERMANENT COUNCIL OF THE OEA/Ser.G

ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES CP/CSH/SA.405/26 16 March 2026

COMMITTEE ON HEMISPHERIC SECURITY Original: Spanish Summary of the meeting held on February 19, 20261 / Time: 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Place: Virtual The meeting of the Committee was presided over by its Chair, Ambassador Ana Irene Delgado, Permanent Representative of Panama to the OAS.

A quorum was established with the presence of representatives of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay. The audio recording of the meeting can be found at the following link: http://scm.oas.org/audios/2026/CSH-2379_02-19-2026.mp3

1. Adoption of the order of business The Committee adopted the order of business, document CP/CSH-2379/26 rev. 1

2. Progress and challenges in the implementation of programs and projects by the Executive Secretariat of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) to collect and generate drug-related data and knowledge within the framework of the Multilateral Evaluation

Mechanism (MEM). The current context The Committee received two presentations on the current context from the invited experts:  Mr. Héctor Suárez, Coordinator of the Uruguayan Observatory on Drugs (OUD), National Drug Board, Office of the President of the Republic of Uruguay, (presentation available at the following links): Spanish and English) and  Mrs. Elisa Sproviero, Director of International Relations, Secretariat for Comprehensive Drug Policies of the Argentine Nation (SEDRONAR) (presentation available at the following links: Spanish and English) .

1 . The statements submitted by the delegations are linked in this document in their original language.- 2Progress and challenges

Comprehensive Drug Policies of the Argentine Nation (SEDRONAR) (presentation available at the following links: Spanish and English) .

1 . The statements submitted by the delegations are linked in this document in their original language.- 2Progress and challenges Mr. Luis Adrian Noble, Head of the Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism Unit, Evidence-Based Drug Policy Section of the Executive Secretariat of CICAD (SE/CICAD), then spoke about progress and challenges in this area. Mr. Noble's presentation can be found here. The report of the technical area on the subject and the concept note of the meeting were published as documents CP/CSH-2376/26 and CP/CSH-2377/26, respectively. Dialogue on the topic Before opening the dialogue, the chair referred to the guiding questions included in the concept note on the topic, which were intended to frame the dialogue and facilitate a meaningful exchange among delegations. Subsequently, the delegations of Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador,2 / El Salvador, Mexico (delegation, expert), Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay referred to various aspects of the topic. The Committee took note of the presentations and of the delegations’ comments. Conclusions At the end of the dialogue, Mr. Juan Carlos Araneda, Specialist of Inter-American Observatory on Drugs (OID), Evidence-Based Drug Policy Section of SE/CICAD, presented the conclusions of the meeting. Subsequently, SE/CICAD circulated the following main conclusions and recommendations of the meeting: Recognition of drug information, design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and data collection and analysis as a central component of hemispheric security Most delegations agreed that drug information, design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and data collection and analysis constituted an essential pillar of hemispheric security and the protection of communities, within the framework of the OAS Hemispheric Drug Strategy and its

Plan of Action, providing the necessary evidence for better decision-making by political authorities, the generation of more effective intervention programs, and best practices in the areas of drug demand and supply reduction. It was noted that, in the context of the rapid expansion of synthetic drugs and highly adaptive illicit markets, information and monitoring systems were a strategic tool for hemispheric security, allowing for the standardization of methodologies, the comparison of data among countries, the early detection of emerging threats, and more timely responses to transnational criminal dynamics. It was also noted that the trafficking and markets for illicit drugs and emerging psychoactive substances generated corruption, violence, and the promotion of transnational organized crime, which also includes money laundering, arms trafficking, and human trafficking.

2 . After the meeting the delegation submitted its statement and requested its inclusion in the summary of the meeting.- 3The drug problem should not be addressed solely as a disease or security issue, but also as a social problem. Collaboration mechanisms among countries should be maintained, as they provided information on good practices and analysis procedures to generate intelligence elements that, in turn, lead to actions and policies within countries. The establishment of a working group was suggested to contribute to the harmonization of methodologies and the generation of comparable information among member states. Strengthening information generation, analysis, and response capabilities in a sustained manner The problem of illicit drugs continued to be one of the most complex factors affecting violence, criminality, organized crime, and public security instability in member states. The constantly evolving illicit markets, the emergence of new psychoactive substances, and the diversification of criminal networks required states to strengthen their analytical and response capacities in a sustained and coordinated manner. In this context, it was emphasized that rigorous research and ongoing monitoring of the phenomena associated with illicit drugs were indispensable tools for understanding the magnitude, dynamics, and trends of the problem. It was noted that, without reliable, timely, and comparable

information, public policies risked being based on perceptions or incomplete diagnoses, which limited their effectiveness and sustainability over time. Evidence-based information The delegations underscored that the generation of evidence-based information should be consolidated as a central pillar of public security strategies and drug policies. It was noted that early warning systems, national drug observatories, the Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism (MEM), use surveys, forensic and toxicological analyses conducted by trained and strengthened laboratories, as well as the administrative records of security and justice agencies, made it possible to identify emerging patterns, detect new threats, and evaluate the real impact of the interventions implemented. These inputs were considered essential to anticipate scenarios, guide resource allocation, and design comprehensive and targeted responses. Within this framework, it was noted that the MEM played a strategic role by providing information that made it possible to identify national and regional progress and challenges and to strengthen institutional capacities, mutual learning, and the continuous improvement of national responses to the drug problem. From a hemispheric security perspective, it was indicated that the MEM made it possible to identify structural gaps in national responses to illicit and dynamic markets and to guide policy adjustments that reduced institutional vulnerability in the face of an agile and adaptable drug phenomenon. Interagency coordination It was emphasized that effective articulation among institutions responsible for security, health, justice, and social development was essential for the strategic production and use of information. It was also noted that interagency cooperation, as well as regional and international data exchange, strengthened the capacity of member states to address transnational phenomena such as drug trafficking, trafficking in precursor chemicals, and the expansion of criminal organizations. It was4stressed that an effective response to the illicit drug problem required interoperable information systems, harmonized methodologies, and common standards that facilitated comparison and mutual learning. Technical capacity building It was emphasized that strengthening technical and scientific capacities for research and data analysis should be a public policy priority, supported by clear national regulations and legislative

frameworks and adequate budget allocations. It was noted that investing in information infrastructure, the training of specialists, technological innovation, and evaluation methodologies would improve the quality of decision-making and increase the effectiveness of crime prevention and control strategies. It was further highlighted that evidence not only guided state action, but also contributed to transparency, accountability, and public trust in institutions. Key conclusions for the Executive Secretariat of CICAD It was mentioned that addressing violence, crime, and organized crime linked to the illicit drug problem required a comprehensive approach grounded in sound and up-to-date knowledge. Research, systematic monitoring, and the generation of evidence-based information were identified not as ancillary elements, but as fundamental pillars for designing more effective and sustainable public policies focused on the protection of people and communities. It was noted that only through informed decision-making would it be possible to anticipate emerging challenges and build more strategic and resilient public security responses. There was broad consensus on the need to address drug information, design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and data collection and analysis as a priority hemispheric security issue requiring comprehensive, coordinated, and sustained responses. The importance of strengthening the effective participation of member states in the Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism (MEM), a mandate of the Summit of the Americas, was also recognized, ensuring the compilation and strategic use of the information generated within this process, the comparability of data among member states, as well as the systematic incorporation of its results in the formulation and adjustment of national drug policies. Member states emphasized the need for practical and operational cooperation, particularly in training on emerging drugs, synthetic drugs, and new psychoactive substances, as well as in the implementation of drug information networks and updated research methodologies. It was highlighted that regional cooperation with respect to new psychoactive substances should be oriented toward a diverse range of concrete actions. CICAD was considered strategically positioned to continue coordinating regional efforts, providing specialized technical assistance, and promoting coordinated approaches that contribute to a more effective hemispheric response to drug supply and demand problems.

3. Other business The Chair referred to the preparations for the meeting of the Committee scheduled for February 26, 2026.