Ninth Report to the Secretary General of the OAS on the actions undertaken by Member States to combat the commercial sexual exploitation of Children in the Americas

This report was made in the framework of the "Inter-American Program for the Prevention and Eradication of Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Smuggling of and Trafficking in Children”. It highlights the progress made in the Member States on the most important developments in relation to legislative matters and public policies, and provides comparative tables for the regional analysis of the subject.

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The Inter-American Children’s Institute celebrates its 82nd Anniversary

Since its foundation, on June 9, 1927, the Inter-American Children’s Institute has worked constantly to promote and guarantee the rights of children and adolescents in the Americas.

The IIN began its work as the "International American Institute for the Protection of Children", as an initiative of the eminent Uruguayan pediatrician Luis Morquio, M.D., who conceived the idea of creating an Inter-American Institute as a center for studies, action and dissemination of all matters relating to children and adolescents in the region.

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New Director of Areas and Projects at the IIN

Paulina Fernández Fawaz, sociologist and with a master in Management and Public Policies, recently joined the IIN technical team, as Director of Areas and Projects.

She will work in coordination with the Director General and with the Legal, Promotion and Protection of Rights and Communication and Information Areas, and will be responsible for managing and monitoring the projects with specific funds that the IIN manages.

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Speech by the Secretary General at the 39 Regular Session of the OAS General Assembly

Towards a culture of peace and non-violence

In his speech at the inaugural ceremony of the 39th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), held in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, the Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza, affirmed that “the rejection of violence as a way for human beings to relate to one another, and particularly as a way to settle their differences, is an especially important aspiration for our Hemisphere”.

He recalled in this regard that “region’s governments have unanimously embraced the proposal to develop a culture of peace and non-violence to express values, attitudes, and behaviors, based on respect for life and human dignity”.

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39 OAS General Assembly in San Pedro Sula, Honduras

On Tuesday, June 2, in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, began the 39th OAS General Assembly, which  theme was "Towards a culture of nonviolence”. At the opening ceremony were present the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the countries from the Inter-American System and the opening speeches were made by the OAS Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza and the President of the Republic of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya.

The central matters of the speeches of the Secretary General and the President of Honduras were non-violence, social protection at times of economic crisis, the democratic situation of the countries of the region, the role of the Court and the Inter-American Human Rights Commission, and the validity of resolution 1962 which suspended the rights of participation of Cuba in the hemispheric body.

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Began the Seminar "The democratization of knowledge for the creation of a Culture of Peace"

Under the auspices of the Organization of American States and with the presence of the Foreign Minister Gonzalo Fernández, the Representative of the OAS Uruguay Office, Ambassador John Biehl del Rio and the President of the Technological Laboratory of Uruguay (LATU), Miguel Brechner, began today in Montevideo, in the framework of “Plan CEIBAL”, the seminar "The democratization of knowledge for the creation of a culture of peace".

The objective of “Plan CEIBAL” is to promote social justice by promoting equal access to information and communication tools in Uruguay. It seeks to promote active participation of students and teachers in the world of Internet, through the distribution of laptops.

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Decalogue on the Defense of Children and Youth in Times of Crisis

Undoubtedly, today the international financial crisis focuses the attention of world leaders. In the middle of economies and financial system reordering and the efficient and effective use of resources that the nations allocate for their sustainable development, arises a valuable opportunity for those who work for the promotion and protection of particularly vulnerable sectors, such as children and adolescents. We consider that it is a propitious time to “make their voices be heard”.

The Inter-American Children’s Institute, Specialized Organization of the Organization of American States, has considered pertinent to develop a Decalogue on the defense of children and youth, which constitutes an appeal to governments to ensure their commitment and decision making in favor of children and adolescents, and combat those causes that systematically, and especially in times of crisis, violate their rights.

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Meeting of the President of the IIN Directing Council, Mario Víquez, with the President of Uruguay, Tabaré Vásquez during his visit to Costa Rica

On April 23 a meeting was held between the President of Uruguay, Dr. Tabaré Vásquez and the President of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias Sánchez.

As part of this visit, Mario Víquez, President of the IIN Directing Council had the opportunity to highlight in front of both presidents, the importance and the actions of the Institute in the Americas.

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The OAS Permanent Council designates as "Specialized Inter-American Conference" the 20th Pan-American Child Congress

On April 21, during the Regular Session of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS), they agreed to designate as "Specialized Inter-American Conference" the Twentieth Pan American Child Congress, to be held in Lima, Peru, 22 to 25 September this year.

The Specialized Conferences are intergovernmental meetings to deal with special technical matters or to develop specific aspects of inter­-American cooperation. They shall be held when either the OAS General Assembly or the Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs so decides, on its own initiative or at the request of one of the Councils or Specialized Organizations.

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Today the IIN celebrates 60 years of its integration to the Organization of American States (OAS)

On April 22, 1949, the then International American Institute for the Protection of Children, founded in 1927 (now Inter-American Children’s Institute-IIN) signed an agreement with the Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) through which this international agency is integrated as Specialized Inter-American Organization.

The OAS is the principal multilateral forum in the region for democracy strengthening, the promotion of human rights and the fight against shared problems such as poverty, terrorism, drugs and corruption. It was established in April 1948 when 21 nations of the Western Hemisphere have adopted the Charter of the OAS, reaffirming their commitment to common goals and respect for the sovereignty of others. Since then, it has expanded to include the nations of the English-speaking Caribbean and Canada. The predecessor organization of the OAS was the Pan American Union, founded in 1910, that emerged from the International Union of the American Republics, established at the First International Conference of the American States in 1889-90.

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