Thirty-sixth regular session oea/Ser. P june 4 6, 2006 ag/doc. 4634/06 re

AG/RES. 2244 (XXXVI-O/06)

PROMOTION OF PRIVATE-SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN
ACTIVITIES OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES

(Adopted at the fourth plenary session, held on June 6, 2006)

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
RECALLING that, in the Charter of the Organization of American States (OAS), the member states agreed that equality of opportunity, the elimination of extreme poverty, equitable distribution of wealth and income, and the full participation of their peoples in decisions relating to their own development are, among others, basic objectives of integral development and that, in order to achieve them, they agreed to devote their utmost effort to accomplish a number of basic goals, including, inter alia, the promotion of private initiative and investment, in harmony with public-sector activities;
CONSIDERING that, at the Special Summit of the Americas in Nuevo León, the Heads of State and Government of the Americas declared that they would encourage civil society participation in the Summits of the Americas process, and specifically proposed institutionalizing the meetings with civil society, the academic sector, and the private sector; and bearing in mind as well the content of the Declaration of Nuevo León, under the heading of “Democratic governance,” especially the provisions of paragraphs 49 to 52, which concern efforts to combat corruption;
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT that, at the Fourth Summit of the Americas, the Heads of State and Government agreed on the importance of business-sector participation in pursuing their objectives;
CONSIDERING that, in the Plan of Action of the Fourth Summit of the Americas, the OAS General Secretariat was asked to present for consideration by the political bodies of the Organization, before 2007, an inter-American program for the discussion of experiences and best practices in strengthening and improving in our countries the mechanisms for participation and collaboration of civil society organizations, the private sector, and citizens in general in government administration, in particular in the development of government policies for generating employment and fighting poverty, including local governments, in a context of inclusive social dialogue that takes into account the vulnerability of the most excluded sectors of our societies;
TAKING IN ACCOUNT the deliberations and conclusions of the Second Private Sector Forum of the Americas, organized by the OAS and held in Buenos Aires in November 2005, during the Fourth Summit of the Americas, for the purpose of formulating recommendations to help improve investment conditions, competitiveness, and job generation, and to strengthen democracy in the Hemisphere, and the discussions and conclusions of the Third Private Sector Forum of the Americas, which met in Santo Domingo on June 2 and 3, 2006, on the occasion of the thirty-sixth regular session of the General Assembly; and
BEARING IN MIND that the OAS General Secretariat signed a cooperation agreement with private-sector representatives on April 11, 2006,

RESOLVES:

2. 
   To continue supporting the dialogue with the ministers of foreign affairs before the inaugural sessions of the OAS General Assembly and the Summits of the Americas, so that the private sector may make recommendations, including proposals for initiatives related to the topic of the Assembly or Summit and directed at the member states and the OAS.
   

2. 
   To continue exploring ways in which linkages with the private sector may contribute to attainment of the essential purposes of the Organization, in particular those that relate to integral development, including activities associated with the development of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.
   

2. 
   To thank the United States for hosting the inaugural meeting of the Private Sector Forum of the Americas, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, in June 2005, during the thirty-fifth regular session of the OAS General Assembly; to note with satisfaction the holding of the Third Private Sector Forum, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on June 2 and 3, 2006, and to thank the Dominican Republic for its efforts, as host country, in facilitating and organizing the forum.
   

2. 
   Also to note, that the Fourth Private Sector Forum of the Americas will be held in Panama City in June 2007, on the occasion of the thirty-seventh regular session of the General Assembly.
   

2. 
   To instruct the General Secretariat that, as appropriate, it provide technical support on the activities related to private-sector participation in activities and projects conducted within the framework of the OAS.
   

2. 
   To urge the member states to promote programs and initiatives on corporate social responsibility that are voluntary and suited to each country’s particular characteristics.
   

2. 
   To strengthen, in particular, those programs and initiatives within the OAS framework that, with private-sector participation, contribute to the integral development of the states of the Hemisphere and encourage ethical practices that avoid possible effects prejudicial to their economies.
   

2. 
   To request the General Secretariat to report to the Permanent Council of the Organization, prior to the thirty-seventh regular session of the General Assembly, on the implementation of this resolution.
   

AG/RES. 2245 (XXXVI-O/06)

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