OEA - Resolución AG CG doc LVI O 26 5 de 2026

FIFTY-SIXTH REGULAR SESSION OEA/Ser.P June 22 to 24, 2026 AG/CG/doc.5/26

Panama City, Panama 24 June 2026

Original: Spanish

DRAFT DECLARATION OF PANAMA:

“FIRM MULTILATERALISM IN DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACY: HEMISPHERIC SECURITY

AND STABILITY IN THE AMERICAN STATES”

(Agreed upon by the General Committee on June 24, 2026, and submitted for the consideration by the Plenary)

GENERAL ASSEMBLYDRAFT DECLARATION OF PANAMA:

“FIRM MULTILATERALISM IN DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACY: HEMISPHERIC SECURITY

AND STABILITY IN THE AMERICAN STATES” 1/2/3/4/5/6/

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES (OAS), meeting in the Republic of Panama from June 22 to 24, 2026, on the occasion of its fifty-sixth regular session;

RECALLING that the year 2026 has been declared the Year of the Bicentennial of the Amphictyonic Congress of Panama of 1826, in recognition of its legacy as a milestone in the history of Inter-American cooperation and a precursor of the principles governing the OAS;

RECOGNIZING the historic and fraternal support provided by the Republic of Haiti to some independence movements of Latin America in the 19th century, especially through the decisive assistance rendered by Haitian president Alexandre Pétion to the liberator Simón Bolívar, which remains one of the foundational moments of Inter -American solidarity and foresh adows the ideal of continental unity embodied in the Amphictyonic Congress of Panama;

REAFFIRMING the relevance and centrality of the Charter of the Organization of American

remains one of the foundational moments of Inter -American solidarity and foresh adows the ideal of continental unity embodied in the Amphictyonic Congress of Panama;

REAFFIRMING the relevance and centrality of the Charter of the Organization of American States, including the principles established in Article 3, as well as the work of the Organization in strengthening democracy, human rights, multidimensional security, integral development, international law, and international legal cooperation;

CONSIDERING that the theme of this regular session is “Multilateralism in defense of democracy: hemispheric security and stability in the American States”;

1. Uruguay reaffirms the importance of promoting the full, effective, and meaningful participation of women, Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant persons, and other historically marginalized groups as an essential element for the strengthening of democracy, as well as the obligation of States to eliminate all forms of discrimination.

2. Mexico will present a footnote to this resolution.

3. Argentina reserves the right to present a footnote to this resolution.

4. Brazil will present a footnote to this resolution.

5. Colombia reserves the right to present a footnote to this resolution.

6. Bolivia reserves the right to present a footnote to this resolution.- 2RECALLING the adoption of the Inter -American Democratic Charter in 2001, an essential instrument of the inter-American system that recognizes that the peoples of America have the right to democracy and their governments the obligation to promote and defend it, and that democracy is essential for the social, political and economic development of the peoples of the Americas and also that democracy and economic and social development are interdependent and mutually reinforcing;

HIGHLIGHTING that 2026 marks the twenty -fifth anniversary of that instrument, which constitutes a historic opportunity to reaffirm the value of the Inter -American Democratic Charter, evaluate its implementation mechanisms, and reaffirm the hemispheric comm itment to representative democracy in the face current and emerging challenges;

REITERATING its commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights and

constitutes a historic opportunity to reaffirm the value of the Inter -American Democratic Charter, evaluate its implementation mechanisms, and reaffirm the hemispheric comm itment to representative democracy in the face current and emerging challenges;

REITERATING its commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, bearing in mind their universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated nature;

REAFFIRMING Article 9 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter,7/ 8/ 9/ 10/

EMPHASIZING that both traditional and new threats in the area of hemispheric security are multidimensional in nature and require coordinated responses based on the priorities and realities of each state, strict compliance with international law, including international human rights law; UNDERSCORING the importance of deepening cooperation in this area as one of the articulating axes of hemispheric action, in accordance with the 2003 Declaration on Security in the Americas; 11/

7. Article 9 of the Inter -American Democratic Charter : “[t]he elimination of all forms of discrimination, especially gender, ethnic and race discrimination, as well as diverse forms of intolerance, the promotion and protection of human rights of Indigenous Peoples and migrants, and respect for ethnic, cultural and religious diversity in the Americas contribute to strengthening democracy and citizen participation.”

8. The Republic of Paraguay places on record that any reference to the term “gender” in this and in all documents adopted by this General Assembly shall be interpreted in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Paraguay and its domestic legal order.

9. The Republic of El Salvador reiterates its full commitment to the obligations arising from the interAmerican legal instruments in force to which it is a Party. Likewise, it reaffirms that the application of regional mechanisms must strictly adhere to the principle of legality, due process, and respect for national sovereignty, ensuring that multilateralism operates in harmony with its domestic legal order. In this regard, El Salvador enters an express reservation with respect to the term “gender discrimination” and any other categorization not recognized under its national legislation.

sovereignty, ensuring that multilateralism operates in harmony with its domestic legal order. In this regard, El Salvador enters an express reservation with respect to the term “gender discrimination” and any other categorization not recognized under its national legislation.

10. United States will present a footnote to this paragraph.

11. United States will present a footnote to this paragraph.- 3RECOGNIZING that multilateralism is a legitimate and effective instrument for political consensus-building, regional cooperation, and hemispheric governance in an international context defined by far-reaching transformations and growing interdependence; and 12/

HIGHLIGHTING the strategic role of critical infrastructure for trade, connectivity and stability, including the Panama Canal, as a key element for the economic and food security of the hemisphere,

DECLARES:

1. The unwavering commitment of the member states to compliance with international law, as well as with the strengthening and advancing democracy, the rule of law, and full respect for human rights based on the Charter of the Organization of American States a nd the principles of the

Inter-American Democratic Charter.

2. That democracy, development and full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing.

3. The recognition of Panama’s historic role as the venue of the 1826 Amphictyonic Congress and as the host of the fifty-sixth regular session of the OAS General Assembly.

4. That th e Bicentennial of the Amphictyonic Congress of Panama constitutes an important occasion to reaffirm that hemispheric multilateralism is an effective tool to foster dialogue and cooperation. 13/

5. The importance of promoting strengthened and effective multilateralism with the participation of all actors, aimed at finding consensual solutions and that addresses the needs of the peoples of the Americas. 14/

12. United States will present a footnote to this paragraph.

13. United States will present a footnote to this paragraph.

14. United States will present a footnote to this paragraph.- 4peoples of the Americas. 14/

12. United States will present a footnote to this paragraph.

13. United States will present a footnote to this paragraph.

14. United States will present a footnote to this paragraph.- 46. The willingness to promote dialogue and hemispheric solidarity inspired by the spirit of the Amphictyonic Congress of Panama of 1826 including sovereign equality, cooperation in the areas of migration, security and defense, the peaceful resolution of conflicts, and free trade.

7. Its commitment to strengthening the rule of law, democratic governance, public institutions, and promotion and protection of human rights.

8. The reaffirmation of the principles and commitments enshrined in the Inter-American Democratic Charter on the occasion of its twenty-fifth anniversary, as a fundamental instrument of the inter-American system that guides the actions of member states in the defense and promotion of democracy, in accordance with the principles of international law.

9. The expectation that member states, as appropriate, continue to further develop international cooperation and timely exchanges of information to address common hemispheric challenges.

10. The importance of strengthening hemispheric cooperation on multidimensional security, based on mutual trust, respect for international law, and the protection of human rights.

11. The importance of leveraging existing OAS instruments, regional coordination mechanisms, and judicial cooperation, among others, to promote better coordinated, sustained, and effective responses to common security challenges in the Hemisphere.

12. That in accordance with international law, including international human rights law, it commits to continue its efforts to prevent and combat transnational organized crime; crimes that affect the environment; terrorism; cybercrime ; the drug problem, including drug trafficking; corruption; money laundering; and other challenges to multidimensional security in the Hemisphere, in line with national priorities. 15/

13. Its satisfaction with the strategic alliance concluded between the OAS and CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean for the implementation of the Hemispheric

money laundering; and other challenges to multidimensional security in the Hemisphere, in line with national priorities. 15/

13. Its satisfaction with the strategic alliance concluded between the OAS and CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean for the implementation of the Hemispheric

15. United States will present a footnote to this paragraph.- 5Observatory on Organized Crime and Illicit Markets, as a concrete tool at the service of confronting transnational organized crime and other criminal phenomena, based on technical cooperation instruments and analytics tools that allow for an improvement of the understanding and characterization of these phenomena, contributing to evidence-based policymaking. The Permanent Council Committee on Hemispheric Security will address the development of strategic guidelines aimed at ensuring their relevance and alignment with national and regional priorities in the area of security.

14. Its commitment to encouraging political dialogue, diplomacy and the peaceful settlement of disputes guided by the principle of good faith as essential pillars of regional stability.

15. To promote, under the principles of Inter-American solidarity and cooperation and in accordance with the international commitments assumed, integral development and eradicating poverty, seeking to support the achievement of the national objectives of member states and to respect the priorities set by each country, as well as to strengthen hemispheric cooperation and the exchange of best practices, particularly for the benefit of developing countries, recognizing that such efforts are crucial to democratic stability.