FPOSC 2009

Dear Civil Society representative,

The Organization of American States (OAS) extends its greetings and is pleased to announce that a wide-ranging and constructive calendar of meetings and consultation is being developed to engage civil society participation in preparation for the Fifth Summit of the Americas. The Summits of the Americas Secretariat, in collaboration with the Department of International Affairs, will promote the involvement of civil society representatives in a series of Sub Regional, Regional and Thematic forums to be held prior to the Fifth Summit of the Americas, taking place on April 17-19, 2009, in Trinidad and Tobago, in order to enlist the views of civil society organizations on the themes of the V Summit.

These meetings (dates and venues to be announced) will be open to civil society organizations, representatives of Member States, and institutions of the Joint Summit Working Group. Meeting agendas for these roundtables will provide an opportunity for civil society to examine the Draft Declaration of Commitment of Port of Spain presented by the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago entitled Securing our Citizen's Future by Promoting Human Prosperity, Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability to debate its themes and formulate recommendations and submit inputs for the consideration of the OAS member States as they negotiate the Draft Declaration. Sub Regional meetings are planned to be held in the Caribbean, Central America (including Mexico and Dominican Republic) and South America. Thematic meetings will include a specific focus on promoting participation by vulnerable groups, including indigenous peoples, afro-descendents, and engaging the youth, among others.

An Open Invitation will be widely distributed through the Department of International Affairs’ listserv as well as posted on DIA’s’ civil society website and the Summits of the Americas Information Network. The OAS anticipates financing the participation of a limited number of civil society organizations with the purpose of assuring ample thematic and regional representation in the Sub Regional Forums.

More information regarding the dates and venues of these meetings will be disseminated once it becomes available.

Kind regards,

Summits of the Americas Secretariat Department of International Affairs

Secretariat for External Relations