According to the OAS Charter, the Organization accomplishes its purposes by means of the General Assembly; the Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs; the Councils; the Inter-American Juridical Committee; the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights; the Specialized Conferences; the Specialized Organizations and the General Secretariat. (Organizational Chart)

The term General Secretariat refers to the central and permanent organ of the Organization of American States. The OAS General Secretariat performs the functions assigned to it in the OAS Charter, in other Inter-American treaties and agreements, and by the General Assembly, and carries out the duties entrusted to it by the General Assembly, the Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, or the Councils.

To learn more about each institution’s role, visit the Organizational Structure page.