MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

OAS assembly calls for new multi disciplinary approach to the drug problem

End of the general assembly ceremony in Antigua

Member States from of the Organization of American States (OAS), meeting in Antigua, Guatemala at the 43rd General Assembly, declared on Friday “that it is essential that the Hemisphere continue to advance in a coordinated manner in the search for effective solutions to the world drug problem with a comprehensive integrated, strengthened, balanced and multidisciplinary approach with full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

The Declaration of Antigua, Guatemala calls on governments of the region to incorporate “public health, education, and social inclusion, together with preventive actions to address trans-national organized crime, and the strengthening of democratic institutions, as well as the promotion of local and national development.”

The final Declaration of the Assembly also encourages the consideration of new approaches to the world drug problem in the Americas based on scientific knowledge and evidence.

The approved text also suggests that “it is necessary, based on the principle of common and shared responsibility, to bolster and promote hemispheric cooperation by mobilizing different resources,” recognizing “the different impacts and manifestations of the world drug problem in each country” and by using for this purpose “mechanisms for the exchange of information and experiences among countries.”

At the fourth plenary meeting, elections were held for the officers of the organs, agencies and entities of the organization. The winning candidates in the elections to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights are Jose de Jesús Orozco (Mexico) who was reelected, James L. Cavallaro (United States) and Paulo De Tarso Vannuchi (Brazil).

Ana Elizabeth Villalta Vizcarra (El Salvador) and Miguel Aníbal Pichardo Olivier (Dominican Republic) were elected to the Inter-American Juridical Committee. One position remained vacant and will be filled at an election to be held at the first regular meeting of the OAS Permanent Council in September. Nominations must be submitted by June 22.

Ernesto Pazmiño Granizo (Ecuador) was elected to the Justice Study Centre for the Americas, leaving one vacancy to be filled at the first regular meeting of the OAS Permanent Council in September. Nominations must be submitted by June 22.

Homero Bibiloni (Argentina), the lone candidate, fills the vacancy on the OAS Administrative Tribunal. Martin Rubenstein (Canada), also the only candidate, joins the Board of External Auditors to Examine the Accounts of the General Secretariat.