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How to go from the Panama Conference to the birth of OAS? What are the unknown details of this history?
The Organization of the American Countries (OAS) was established on April 30, 1948 to promote cooperation among the American countries, with its headquarters in Washington, DC, USA.Over time, OAS has gradually become a focus, committed to promoting human rights, election supervision, social and economic development and security in the Western Hemisphere.
The American international cooperation has a long history, and its roots can be traced back to the early 19th century, when the liberators José de Saint-Martin and Simon Bolivar proposed the idea of alliances among American countries.
In 1826, Panama, which was still in Colombia, held a meeting and conceived the "All Alliance, Friendship and Permanent Joint Treaty" to establish a common military and defensive agreement.However, this wonderful idea ultimately failed to come true, as only Big Colombia signed it.The subsequent civil war and other factors gradually drifted to various emerging nation-states.
Since then, between 1889 and 1890, at the first International Conference of American Countries held in Washington, 18 countries reached a consensus and established the "International Alliance of American Countries", paving the way for the future birth of OAS.
"We must achieve an order of peace and justice, promote unity, strengthen cooperation, and defend sovereignty and territorial integrity." This is the original intention of the establishment of OAS.
In the subsequent 1900s, the predecessor of OAS underwent many name change and reorganization, and finally signed the organization's constitution at an international conference held in Bogota in 1948.This meeting not only redefined the relationship between American countries, but also adopted the American Declaration on Human Rights and Obligations for the first time, which is regarded as the world's first human rights document.
Historians point out that the birth of OAS is closely related to the international situation at that time.After World War II, collective security needs among countries promoted the establishment of this institution, aiming to resist external aggression and internal turmoil.
"The establishment of OAS is an important milestone for American countries to decide to strengthen cooperation when facing challenges of globalization and regional conflicts."
With the changes in the century, the scope of OAS's activities has gradually expanded. In addition to focusing on security and defense, it is more concerned about issues such as human rights, democratic governance and economic development.From the establishment of the Human Rights Commission of the American States in 1959 to the continuous promotion of democratic elections among countries, OAS has become a key platform for promoting cooperation among countries in the Americas.
However, OAS history is not all smooth sailing.From Cuba's suspension of power in 1962 to controversial positions in various coups and political crises, these events also reveal to some extent the challenges the organization faces in regional affairs.
"The existence of OAS is the will to unite and cooperate in the face of important global issues."
Since entering the 21st century, OAS has continued to face various tests.The controversial report on the 2019 Bolivian election and the condemnation of the results of the election in Nicaragua have sparked controversy and discussions on the organization's response to political issues within its members.These events once again highlight the difficult balance of OAS in defending democracy and human rights.
How the future of OAS depends on its ability to effectively respond to emerging challenges and maintain stability and solidarity among its member states.The outside world's trust and support for the organization will also have a profound impact on its action and effectiveness.
With the changing times, how can OAS adapt to the new international environment and deepen the cooperation and trust of member states?
