OEA - Resolución CP ACTA 2586 de 2026

OEA/Ser.G CP/ACTA 2586/26 26 marzo 2026

ACTA

DE LA SESIÓN EXTRAORDINARIA PRIVADA

CELEBRADA

EL 26 DE MARZO DE 2026

Aprobada en la sesión del 20 de mayo de 2026

CONSEJO PERMANENTEiii

ÍNDICE

Página

Nómina de los Representantes que asistieron a la sesión ................................................................................ 1

Aprobación del proyecto de orden del día ....................................................................................................... 3

Dispensa excepcional para la presentación del Secretario General de la Organización de los Estados Americanos............................................................................................ 3

Proyecto de Programa-presupuesto de la Organización de los Estados Americanos para 2027 ................................................................................................................................. 3

• Presentación del Secretario General de la Organización de los Estados Americanos, Embajador Albert R. Ramdin ............................................................................ 4

• Intervenciones de los Estados Miembros................................................................................................ 9iv

DOCUMENTOS CONSIDERADOS EN LA SESIÓN

(SE PUBLICAN POR SEPARADO)

CP/doc. 6190/26, Proyecto de programa -presupuesto de la Organización de los Estados Americanos para 2027 (Presentado por la Secretaría General).

CP/INF. 10872/26, Nota de la Misión Permanente de Antigua y Barbuda mediante la que solicita que se convoque una sesión extraordinaria privada del Consejo Permanente para el 26 de marzo de 2026 con el propósito de escuchar la presentación del programa -presupuesto de la Organización para 2027 por el Secretario General.CONSEJO PERMANENTE DE LA ORGANIZACIÓN DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS

2026 con el propósito de escuchar la presentación del programa -presupuesto de la Organización para 2027 por el Secretario General.CONSEJO PERMANENTE DE LA ORGANIZACIÓN DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS

ACTA DE LA SESIÓN EXTRAORDINARIA PRIVADA

CELEBRADA EL 26 DE MARZO DE 2026

En la ciudad de Washington, D. C., a las dos y treinta y seis de la tarde del jueves 26 de marzo de 2026, celebró sesión extraordinaria, de carácter privado, el Consejo Permanente de la Organización de los Estados Americanos, con el propósito de recibir la presentación del proyecto de programa-presupuesto de la Organización de los Estados Americanos para 2027 por parte del Secretario General. Presidió la sesión el Embajador Luis Ernesto Vargas, Representante Permanente de Colombia y Presidente del Consejo Permanente. Asistieron los siguientes miembros:

Embajador Stuart Savage, Representante Permanente del Canadá y Vicepresidente interino del Consejo Permanente Embajadora Alejandra Solano Cabalceta, Representante Permanente de Costa Rica Embajador Samuel Hinds, Representante Permanente de Guyana Embajador Chet Donovan Neymour, Representante Permanente del Commonwealth de las Bahamas Embajador Benoni Belli, Representante Permanente del Brasil Embajador Steve Ferrol, Representante Permanente del Commonwealth de Dominica Embajadora Wendy Jeannette Acevedo Castillo, Representante Permanente de El Salvador Embajadora Claudia Lisette Escobar Mejía, Representante Permanente de Guatemala Embajador Raúl Alberto Florentín Antola, Representante Permanente del Paraguay Embajadora Ana Irene Delgado, Representante Permanente de Panamá Embajador Carlos Bernardo Cherniak, Representante Permanente de la Argentina

Embajador Raúl Alberto Florentín Antola, Representante Permanente del Paraguay Embajadora Ana Irene Delgado, Representante Permanente de Panamá Embajador Carlos Bernardo Cherniak, Representante Permanente de la Argentina Embajadora Mónica Rosa Irene Palencia Núñez, Representante Permanente del Ecuador Embajador Edison Antonio Lanza Robatto, Representante Permanente del Uruguay Embajador Alejandro Encinas Rodríguez, Representante Permanente de México Embajador Rodolfo Enrique Coronado Molina, Representante Permanente del Perú Embajador Jean Josué Pierre, Representante Permanente de Haití Primera Secretaria Saschele Takesha Griffith, Representante Interina de Trinidad y Tobago Primera Secretaria Chanel Vanessa Nahar, Representante Interina de Suriname Embajadora María Marlene Villela-Talbott, Representante Interina de Honduras Primera Secretaria Ana María Saldías Morales, Representante Interina del Chile Ministra Consejera Joy-Dee Davis-Lake, Representante Alterna de Antigua y Barbuda Ministro Consejero Omari Seitu Williams, Representante Alterno de San Vicente y las Granadinas Consejera Julianna Aynes-Neville, Representante Alterna de los Estados Unidos Consejero Wendell Stallone Carlson Cornwall, Representante Alterno de Grenada Ministra Consejera Andrea Marcela Alarcón Mayorga, Representante Alterna de Colombia Consejera Maysa Rossana Ureña Menacho, Representante Alterna de Bolivia Ministro Consejero Radhafil Rodríguez Torres, Representante Alterno de la República Dominicana Ministro Consejero Augustine Fitzstephen Abdullah Skerritt, Representante Alterno de Saint Kitts y Nevis Primera Secretaria Dalia Clement, Representante Alterna de Santa Lucía Primera Secretaria Aleyxa Vida Pérez, Representante Alterna de Belize2Ministro Consejero Augustine Fitzstephen Abdullah Skerritt, Representante Alterno de Saint Kitts y Nevis Primera Secretaria Dalia Clement, Representante Alterna de Santa Lucía Primera Secretaria Aleyxa Vida Pérez, Representante Alterna de Belize2También estuvieron presentes el Secretario General de la Organización, Embajador Albert R. Ramdin, y la Secretaria General Adjunta, Embajadora Laura Gil Savastano, Secretaria del Consejo Permanente.- 3El PRESIDENTE: Buenas tardes a todas y a todos ustedes y gracias por el saludo.

[Como] ya ha verificado el cuórum la Secretaría, declaro abierta la presente sesión extraordinaria, que además tiene carácter privado a petición de [la Delegación de] Antigua y Barbuda en los términos previstos en los artículos 37, literal b. y 39 del Reglamento [del Consejo Permanente], con el propósito de recibir el día de hoy la presentación del proyecto de programapresupuesto de la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA) para 2027, por parte del Secretario General.

En ese sentido, de conformidad con lo dispuesto en el artículo 43 del Reglamento, someto a consideración el proyecto del orden del día, que está contenido en el documento CP/OD-2586/26.

APROBACIÓN DEL PROYECTO DE ORDEN DEL DÍA

[El proyecto de orden del día contiene los siguientes puntos:

1. Aprobación del orden del día

2. Proyecto de Programa-presupuesto de la Organización para 2027 • Presentación del señor Albert R. Ramdin, Secretario General de la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA) • Intervenciones de los Estados Miembros.]

Como no veo observaciones, procedemos a su aprobación.

• Presentación del señor Albert R. Ramdin, Secretario General de la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA) • Intervenciones de los Estados Miembros.]

Como no veo observaciones, procedemos a su aprobación.

DISPENSA EXCEPCIONAL PARA PRESENTACIÓN DEL SECRETARIO GENERAL

DE LA ORGANIZACIÓN DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS

El PRESIDENTE: Antes de proceder, les consulto a todos ustedes como integrantes del Consejo [Permanente] si podemos otorgar una dispensa excepcional de tiempo máximo para las intervenciones prevista en el artículo 46 al el señor Secretario General, a fin de concederle hasta 20 minutos para la exposición que hará. Ya habíamos tenido una sesión informal en la cual él tuvo ocasión de hacer la presentación, de manera que tratamos de reducirlo al máximo [en esta ocasión,] serían 20 minutos.

No hay objeción, de manera que así también queda acordado.

PROYECTO DE PROGRAMA-PRESUPUESTO DE LA

ORGANIZACIÓN DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS PARA 2027

El PRESIDENTE: A continuación, corresponde oír la presentación del Proyecto de Programa-presupuesto de la Organización de los Estados Americanos para 2027. Ese documento fue transmitido por la oficina del Secretario General a las presidencias del Consejo Permanente y del Consejo Interamericano para el Desarrollo Integral (CIDI) de conformidad con lo dispuesto en los capítulos quinto y sexto de las Normas Generales para el Funcionamiento de la Secretaría General y4en el Programa -presupuesto de la Organización para 2026, distribuido también a todas las delegaciones el pasado 20 de marzo como documento CP/doc. 6190/26.

en el Programa -presupuesto de la Organización para 2026, distribuido también a todas las delegaciones el pasado 20 de marzo como documento CP/doc. 6190/26.

PRESENTACIÓN DEL SECRETARIO GENERAL DE LA

ORGANIZACIÓN DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS, EMBAJADOR ALBERT R. RAMDIN

El PRESIDENTE: Con este propósito, entonces, doy la bienvenida al señor Secretario General y le ofrezco el uso de la palabra.

Señor Secretario General, Embajador Ramdin, lo escuchamos hasta por 20 minutos.

El SECRETARIO GENERAL: Thank you very much, Chair, and I want to start by congratulating you officially on behalf of the General Secretariat, on your birthday. I am sure it will be a blessing to the proceedings on the budget. You know, this is one of my special days in the year.

I want to start by saying that this leadership, Laura Gil and myself as elected officials, supported by a dedicated team of senior officials, takes the operational and financial management of this Organization very seriously. We are very much engaged directly. The political direction of the Organization of American States (OAS) is firmly connected with the institutional Secretariat. I must say that from the beginning of last year, when we came into this position, we have been prudent since then. And that can be shown by the report which you have received by now, where we have saved, or not utilized, US$750,000 for the transition budget for this new team. We have not utilized that. So that should give an idea about where we are.

Now there is a slide [presentation] which all of you have seen more or less before. So I am going to be very high level, Chair, distinguished ambassadors, simply because twenty minutes is not enough to present the budget in detail, but at high level. We will do that. Also because we have met with several delegations and regional groups on many occasions to discuss this budget much more in detail with more background.

going to be very high level, Chair, distinguished ambassadors, simply because twenty minutes is not enough to present the budget in detail, but at high level. We will do that. Also because we have met with several delegations and regional groups on many occasions to discuss this budget much more in detail with more background.

So just the boundaries of our approach, the rationale behind this budget. It is based on budget resolutions of 2026 with clear instructions. It also includes the mandates and the mandatory adjustments which were instructed by member states. We have included in our own deliberations the goals, objectives, and priorities of OAS member states and the new administration, including your own, based on the resolutions. We have looked at, given the fact that our focus is on institutional relevance and institutional effectiveness, on the basis of the priority needs which have been identified by the different groups, we have prioritized within that to look in which areas improvements are necessary. And you will see that reflected in one of the slides. We have also looked at the Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) report which, although not a mandate, is important. And we have included from a holistic perspective also the Staff Association, so that we can hear from them, from the employee side, where the needs are.

You gave us instructions with regard to the 2027 budget. First of all, I think it is important that we go into the regular phase of approving the budget in a regular [session of a] General Assembly, which in this case is Panama. So I hope we have done a lot. Our team has worked very hard to submit all the documents to you four days before the deadline, which was the twenty -fourth, simply so that you have sufficient time to be ready for the fifty -sixth regular session of the General Assembly in Panama, 2026 , for the consideration and ultimately approval. I can only say that delay5will cost efficiency. And it will also cost us in terms of additional resources to be allocated to a special [session of the] General Assembly. So, I really hope that we all can agree that the upcoming

Assembly in Panama, 2026 , for the consideration and ultimately approval. I can only say that delay5will cost efficiency. And it will also cost us in terms of additional resources to be allocated to a special [session of the] General Assembly. So, I really hope that we all can agree that the upcoming General Assembly will have to adopt the 2027 budget.

Member states have asked for a zero net growth scenario, which we have presented. I will come back to that. I must say that there are certain mandates which have been given to us as instructions, but without funding. And that is something which we not only see in the case of the two P5 Regular Fund positions for the Inter -American Commission on Human Rights —the Special Rapporteurs. We will comply with that, but the immediate effect of that is that we cannot continue like that anymore, otherwise it becomes very difficult to manage the Organization. We will finance that and we will showcase that within the budget. That means that some other things, in some other part of the Organization, will not be able to be done. It is about US$476,000 that needs to be found to regularize these positions. Upon your instruction, I would hope that in the future we keep in mind that any mandate given must also have the sourcing of funding identified. Then we also have the instruction not to use reserves, and we have complied with that. We have not used reserves. Transfer of specific fund section chiefs in the Security Department to Regular Fund. That is also a costing that has been mandated.

Overall, I must say, as you have requested and as good management requires, we have aligned the strategic plan, the vision, and the specific goals and specific activities. And you will see that also in the budget, which you have received already, in reference to different line items, to what part of the strategic plan they refer. The strategic plan, mandate, efficiency operation, and budget 2027 are fully aligned. I will come back to this at the end because it has consequences to follow this right approach, but it also requires us then to follow the consequences of that.

part of the strategic plan they refer. The strategic plan, mandate, efficiency operation, and budget 2027 are fully aligned. I will come back to this at the end because it has consequences to follow this right approach, but it also requires us then to follow the consequences of that.

I want to say that in terms of compliance with new and old mandates, and mandatory adjustments, we have to continue with the prioritization and elimination exercise on the mandates. That is an ongoing effort. We will continue with that. We still have a risk officer, unfunded in 2020. It is one of the other positions in the approved organizational chart. We will have to find the resources to do this in the 2027 budget. We are also facing something which we inherited: contradicting mandates in terms of what needs to be done and when it is done and what the consequences of that are. Like, and this is just one example, the 2017 mandate of the Inter -American Human Rights Court, which was a mandate of 2017, only achieved in 2025. So, eight years later, more or less, to enable two P5 [positions] as instructed. It will mean that we will need to cut in every single area to finance the two P5 [positions] for the Inter -American Commission on Human Rights. But given this mandate, we are apparently not allowed to put the same percentage, which we need for the two P5 [positions], that it would not apply to an Inter -American Human Rights Court. The question is, how fair is that? Because every single area will have to contribute. This one is difficult because there is there is a mandate not to do that.

We also have something which returns every year: mandates with regard to the United Nations post-adjustments. The inflation rate then increases in market rates of common cost, and labor law requirements in the specific case of el Instituto Interamericano del Niño, la Niña y Adolescentes , which amount to US$2.2 million. That is mandatory. That is if we do not do anything, if we do not

law requirements in the specific case of el Instituto Interamericano del Niño, la Niña y Adolescentes , which amount to US$2.2 million. That is mandatory. That is if we do not do anything, if we do not ask anything extra for the Secretariat, it is US$2.2 million which will need to be found. And of course, the preference is that it is an automatic adjustment to the quota system and not so much embedded within the Regular Fund, which is approved, because that means de facto that we are lowering the operational capabilities of the OAS Secretariat.- 6The goals and objectives which we have also facilitated in the strategic plan, and also based on your own views and guidance, is to make the OAS a model Organization that is relevant, closer to the people, more visible, transparent, accountable and effective. And that is exactly what we are doing. I reported on that a couple of weeks ago. For instance, we cannot work on improving our media exposure, our outreach, if there is no functioning, updated website and a webmaster for the Department of Press and Communications. We need that kind of capacity to deliver. The [Comprehensive Strategy for the Offices of the General Secretariat in the Member States], which has been proposed by the Assistant Secretary General, has been approved. But we cannot approve a document without resources, because then it does not make sense. The repositioning of the political rule, conflict mitigation, and election observation missions are all activities regular to the function and purpose of the Organization. Those must continue, and we have been delivering on this. So that has to continue. The proactive political mediation and prioritization in many countries. Haiti is a priority. Still, there is no operational budget for Haiti reserved. So we would have to find the money somewhere else to execute that. But we will do that.

I must say that if we want to finance more through the private sector and permanent observers and international institutions, the Department of External and International Relations will have to be strengthened to be able to do this. There are some challenges here. Given what is

somewhere else to execute that. But we will do that.

I must say that if we want to finance more through the private sector and permanent observers and international institutions, the Department of External and International Relations will have to be strengthened to be able to do this. There are some challenges here. Given what is happening in the world, many countries are diverting resources to other purposes, and as a consequence it is difficult for us to make the case to support us. It will also mean that the OAS, in terms of its policies, will have to remain attractive for these donors —the permanent observers especially—to see the benefit and have the trust in financing OAS activities. That is also a challenge which we already face, so we have to keep that in mind.

We will continue increasing savings, effectiveness and efficiencies in the General Secretariat, reforming many processes, Human Resources, filling vacancies, using hubs, outsourcing, the Code of Ethics Policy, implementing recommendations of the Inspector General, which will come on board hopefully on May 1, the Audit Committee recommendations, require human resource policy staff and more staff to be able to carry all these functions. These are regular functions of an organization. We cannot do without it. We cannot keep making it bare boned. We need to be aware that there are legal liabilities. I must say that one of them, thanks to the Department of Legal Services through a negotiating process, has been averted. But we have to continue focusing on the move from Performance Contracts (CPRs) to the Regular Fund. And for that, we will need timely resources. And if we do not do that, then I want to just place on record that there is a risk to the Organization which will not be able to be excused, because that is a judgment by a court, if we are punished for not complying with rules and regulations or labor laws and so on.

So, I am going to just, very high level, you have received this already. I have already said that we have the mandatory cost involved in terms of the budget. That is US$2.3 million approximately.

complying with rules and regulations or labor laws and so on.

So, I am going to just, very high level, you have received this already. I have already said that we have the mandatory cost involved in terms of the budget. That is US$2.3 million approximately. You have received this already in your documents. Given the time, I am going to go quickly through it. Member states have requested at least three scenarios. We have presented four. And the first one is the zero nominal growth, the zero net growth, which means basically that everything will have to be done within the budget as approved in 2026. Of course, that is not the ideal situation, because that would mean automatically including the discount strategy, which is in place, a reduction of US$ 3 million or more in the Regular Fund. And then we will have to inform you how much needs to be cut in every single department additionally. When we have the baseline—zero real growth—that means it7will require extra quota to offset the US$2.3 million I just spoke about. That is all, because those are mandatory.

Then we had asked, as I said, to the different Secretariats and the independent organizations, activities, entities, what their priority list is, not their wish list, but what their priority list is. They came up with a list of monetized US$16 million. We have selected, on the basis of priorities and what happened last year in the 2026 budget exercise, we have prioritized 25 percent of that, so one quarter. That is approximately US$ 4 million, additionally. If you bring all those matters together, that results in scenario four, which is called the Secretary General’s proposal. So included in that is that the mandatory increases are paid by member states, that we include the increase for the additional tasks to be undertaken by member states. That is US$4 point something million.

And that will bring us, in the next slide, to the four scenarios, where you can see that scenario

mandatory increases are paid by member states, that we include the increase for the additional tasks to be undertaken by member states. That is US$4 point something million.

And that will bring us, in the next slide, to the four scenarios, where you can see that scenario one is the zero net growth, US$ 91.5 million. The illustrative, if it is paid within this budget exercise, would be US$94.3 million. And if we take everything on board and you are so kind enough to support that, it will be US$110 million. That means that all departments can exercise and implement what they think is priority for this year, based on your mandates as well. The more conservative figure is what we have proposed as a Secretariat, knowing well the challenges which we face in many countries, is a reduction of the illustrative budget with approximately US$12 million, which takes us to US$98 million. That is what we are proposing.

The next slide indicates to you how that amount of US$4.1 million is based. And this slide, you can look at it. It is going to be detailed, but these are the needs based on priorities, based also on what we think is necessary to have enough operational capacity to execute specific funds. We can bring in specific funds, but if we do not have the operational capability —that means labor, people, experts, and programs —then it will not be possible. Then it does not make sense to bring in more money, because we do not have the capacity to execute. I want to make that point because I know that member states are looking at how we can get more revenue. We can only utilize effectively more revenues if we have operational capacity to deliver on those programs. The donor community does not provide resources for operational capacity. Is for substantive work, and we understand that. But we need to be aware of this relationship between operational capability and resource mobilization.

The next slide is in fact a slide which indicates what would be expected from member states, each member state on its own, in the four scenarios—how much more would be needed to finance the

we need to be aware of this relationship between operational capability and resource mobilization.

The next slide is in fact a slide which indicates what would be expected from member states, each member state on its own, in the four scenarios—how much more would be needed to finance the budget. And if you look at it, we are not looking at zero net growth, and we are not looking at the illustrative optimal. But if you look at the illustrative baseline, then you can see that most of the countries—95 percent of the countries —have limited, very limited additional resources to be paid as part of the quota. And a couple of countries, based on their Gross Domestic Product (GDP), have of course more substantive amounts. So, my suggestion would be, if I may, to say that the 7.3 percent increase, which is the Secretary General’s proposal, is possibly a good starting point to look at.

Now, in closing, I have two minutes. I want first of all to thank the Chair of the Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Affairs (CAAP), Ambassador Benoni Belli, for continuing to discuss with us, on several occasions, the budget and also the background to it specifically. We appreciate that. We will need to invest in systems and human capital to execute the efficiencies and reform the procedures. It is not happening overnight. It is only nine months in, and still a lot of work still needs to be done.- 8But there are some positives in terms of the future. I think the 2028 budget will have a different approach because by that time we will possibly have —and the Executive Director will provide a little bit more details in the CAAP—some other issues in place. Real estate policy: The new revenue streams, as I mentioned, the Department of External and Institutional Relations will work on that. The more effective use of hubs as well as outsourcing, streamlining, further efficiency in human resources and finance and in other areas, time -consuming processes which will free up time can be utilized more effectively.

revenue streams, as I mentioned, the Department of External and Institutional Relations will work on that. The more effective use of hubs as well as outsourcing, streamlining, further efficiency in human resources and finance and in other areas, time -consuming processes which will free up time can be utilized more effectively.

We have, of course, and this is a question that may come, the previous savings from unfilled vacancies in the 2026 budget. Most of those vacancies are in process of being occupied, but as I said, the Department of Human Resources is severely understaffed to be able to do that work in the timeframe which was indicated. I hope you understand that the demands of both the Department of Legal Services and Human Resources have been extremely high. This is a different discussion which we must have as well.

If the quotas do not account for the mandatory increases of the Regular Fund, we will continue cannibalizing within our own budget. That has an adverse effect. That has been going on for many years, and that cannot continue. We need solid, strong organizational capacity. The Secretariat is already at the bare minimum. We need to increase in certain areas to be able to deliver to your wishes. We have in our assessment of the US$4.2 million, we have been trying to stay fair and equitable. The priorities are based on short -term needs and goals in line with the strategic plan and mandates. It is for that reason that I suggested, and I am happy to hear good responses to put the pause on mandates that will have a cost implication for 2027, because we cannot implement our current mandates already. So adding more to it will make no sense.

I want to end on a positive note. That is that I think you will receive, by the latest by the end of next week, an overview of the benefits to each country. Indicatively, not in detail, but indicatively, benefits from the OAS functional cooperation, not from the political, democracy, human rights issues, because that is difficult to monetize, but in functional cooperation. And you will see that the

of next week, an overview of the benefits to each country. Indicatively, not in detail, but indicatively, benefits from the OAS functional cooperation, not from the political, democracy, human rights issues, because that is difficult to monetize, but in functional cooperation. And you will see that the OAS stands for something which is unmatched in this Hemisphere. With limited resources, a lot is being done. We will send that to you next week so you can take that into consideration as well. So there is a positive return on investment. And I strongly believe that we can continue working on this, and I look forward to the discussions in the CAAP.

From a holistic perspective, it is important that we have to understand that the interconnectedness between the different parts, the different line items in the budget is really relevant. If we do not do one thing, the other thing will be affected. So