The Organization of American States (OAS) is, according to its Charter, an international organization developed by the countries of the Americas to “achieve an order of peace and justice, to promote their solidarity, to strengthen their collaboration, and to defend their sovereignty, their territorial integrity, and their independence.”

The OAS brings together the nations of the Western Hemisphere to strengthen cooperation on democratic values, defend common interests and debate the major issues facing the region and the world.

The OAS is the region’s principal multilateral forum for strengthening democracy, promoting human rights, and confronting shared problems such as poverty, terrorism, illegal drugs and corruption.

It plays a leading role in carrying out mandates established by the hemisphere’s leaders through the Summits of the Americas. For more information about the OAS, what we do and how we do it, please go to the About the OAS section of our Website.