FAQs

What’s the organizational relationship between the OAS and the United Nations?
Within the United Nations, the Organization of American States is a regional agency.

The Charter of the OAS and the Charter of the United Nations establish that among the purposes of both organizations are to strengthen peace and security, ensure the peaceful settlement of international disputes, and promote economic, social, and cultural development based on the principles of the sovereign juridical equality of states, nonintervention in their internal affairs, solidarity, cooperation, good faith, and full respect for international law.

Under Article 53.c of the Charter of the Organization of American States, one of the principal powers of the General Assembly is to strengthen and coordinate cooperation with the United Nations and its specialized agencies, and the Charter of the United Nations establishes the importance of cooperation with regional organizations.

On April 18, 1995, a Cooperation Agreement between the United Nations Secretariat and the General Secretariat of the OAS was signed; and, since then, there has been steady progress in the area of UN/OAS cooperation.

The joint United Nations OAS International Civilian Mission in Haiti (MICIVIH) remains the main vehicle of cooperation between the two organizations. The coordination of MICIVIH operations are carried out by the Joint Working Group on MICIVIH, comprised of representatives from the Secretariat of the United Nations and representatives of the General Secretariat of OAS. The UN/OAS cooperation in Haiti is helping the efforts to consolidate democratic institutions and economic and social development in this country.