OEA - CP - Resolución CP INF 10841

OEA/Ser.G CP/INF.10841/26 9 February 2026

Original: Spanish NOTE FROM THE PERMANENT MISSION OF MEXICO, ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND THAT OF THE PERMANENT MISSIONS OF BRAZIL, CANADA, CHILE, MEXICO, AND URUGUAY, REQUESTING THAT COMMEMORATION OF WORLD DAY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE BE INCLUDED ON THE ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE PERMANENT COUNCIL SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 18, 2026

(Concept paper attached)

PERMANENT COUNCILPERMANENT MISSION OF COLOMBIA

TO THE

ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES

MPC/OEA No.: 135/2026

The Permanent Mission of Colombia to the Organization of American States (OAS) presents its compliments to the Chair of the OAS Permanent Council and has the honor to request, on its own behalf and that of the delegations of Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico, and Uruguay, that an item be placed on the order of business for the regular meeting of the Permanent Council scheduled for Wednesday, February 18, 2026, to observe World Day of Social Justice. Accordingly, enclosed herewith is a concept paper providing details on the proposed panelists and the thematic contents of the commemoration. The Permanent Mission of Colombia to the Organization of American States avails itself of this opportunity to convey to our Excellency renewed assurances of its highest consideration. Washington, D.C. February 9, 2026 To the Chair of the Permanent Council Organization of American States Washington, D.C.- 3CONCEPT PAPER

COMMEMORATION OF WORLD DAY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE: SOCIAL JUSTICE, INTEGRAL DEVELOPMENT, AND HUMAN RIGHTS Date: February 18, 2026

Place: Simón Bolívar Room

Background

Commemoration of World Day of Social Justice, observed on February 20 every year, provides an opportunity to reaffirm the member states' commitment to social justice as a fundamental principle

Date: February 18, 2026

Place: Simón Bolívar Room

Background

Commemoration of World Day of Social Justice, observed on February 20 every year, provides an opportunity to reaffirm the member states' commitment to social justice as a fundamental principle of the inter-American system, in keeping with the Charter of the Organization of American States (OAS Charter). The OAS Charter establishes integral development, poverty eradication, and the reduction of inequalities as essential objectives of the Organization, recognizing as well that justice and social security are prerequisites for lasting peace, stable democracy, and the full enjoyment of human rights. It also holds extreme poverty to be an obstacle to full democratic development for the peoples of the Americas.

Against this backdrop, social justice must be understood as an operating principle to guide the actions of states, and must translate into public policies and appropriate institutional arrangements aimed at effectively reducing poverty, inequality, and social exclusion.

Social justice ties in with the mandates on cooperation and coordinated action among states, to promote economic, social, and cultural development for the peoples of the Americas, in the context of an integral development approach that encompasses equity, inclusion, and social involvement, while recognizing the impact of structural inequality on the actual enjoyment of human rights and the effectiveness of representative democracy.

Economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights are legal obligations and commitments that guide state action. They also call for deliberate, tangible, and progressive steps to be taken, in keeping with the principle of progressivity and the duty of states to put forth their best efforts. These are principles bolstered by key instruments of the inter-American system, notably the Social Charter of the Americas and the Inter-American Democratic Charter, both of which acknowledge democracy, integral development, and social justice as interdependent, warning at the same time that poverty, exclusion, and inequality undermine the quality of democracy and meaningful citizen participation in public affairs.

In the context of the Americas, structural inequality remains – with huge segments of the population living in poverty or social exclusion, which itself affects the sustainability of democratic

same time that poverty, exclusion, and inequality undermine the quality of democracy and meaningful citizen participation in public affairs.

In the context of the Americas, structural inequality remains – with huge segments of the population living in poverty or social exclusion, which itself affects the sustainability of democratic institutions and hinders citizens from fully participating in public life.- 4In specific terms, public policies for resource redistribution are a structural component of social justice, as is the financing of public policies designed to guarantee rights and correct socioeconomic inequality. This commemoration is part of OAS efforts to reinforce social justice as a pillar of integral development, in a manner consistent with the commitments undertaken by the member states in the OAS Charter. It is also part of the 2024-2026 Work Plan of the Special Rapporteurship on Economic, Social, Cultural, and Environmental Rights (SRESCER), especially in its lines of activity related to public policies to combat poverty and inequality and to enhancing inter-American standards on human rights.

I. Objective of the meeting

To promote, within the Permanent Council, an inter-American discussion on the relevance and scope of social justice as enshrined in the OAS Charter, as a guiding principle for formulating, implementing, and evaluating public policies designed to reduce poverty, inequality, and social exclusion in the Americas.

II. Specific objectives

1. To examine the content and scope of the OAS Charter provisions relating to integral development, equity, and the fair distribution of income and wealth, in relation to the gradual achievement of economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights.

2. To explore the challenges associated with the gap between the formal regulatory recognition of economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights and their effective implementation through suitable public policies and institutional arrangements.

3. To identify opportunities to design and put in place policies that are consistent with the

principle of social justice and with the commitments assumed by states within the framework of the OAS.

4. To accentuate the role of the inter-American human rights system, especially the InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights and the Special Rapporteurship on Economic, Social, Cultural, and Environmental Rights, in creating inter-American standards geared toward fairer, more inclusive, and human rights-based development models.

III. Discussion of the item

The Special Rapporteur on SRESCER, Mr. Javier Palummo, will participate, as will two panelists proposed by some proposing countries. Presentations may be guided by the following questions: How does the principle of social justice, as articulated in the OAS Charter, contribute to integral development and to guaranteeing ESCR in the region?- 5What are the main challenges and opportunities to states implementing policies that are consistent with social justice and with the commitments undertaken through the OAS? Once the presentations are over, member states will have an opportunity to make their respective statements, aimed at sharing perspectives, experiences, and best practices for successfully promoting social justice in the Americas.

IV. Agenda o Date: February 18, 2026 o Timetable: to be confirmed o Mode: Hybrid o Languages: Spanish and English with simultaneous interpretation o Moderator: Chair of the Permanent Council Time and duration Activity and proceedings To be confirmed Introductory remarks by the Chair of the Permanent Council, Permanent Representative of Colombia to the OAS Ambassador Luis Ernesto Vargas To be confirmed (7 minutes per participant)

Invitees o Panelists: o Rodrigo Uprimny Yepes – Professor and Research - Colombia o Ambassador Jennifer Feller – Director General for Human Rights and Democracy, Secretariat of Foreign Affairs (Mexico) o Javier Palummo - SRESCER Special Rapporteur To be confirmed. Comments by states