The Americas Project colloquium is an annual highlight at the Baker Institute, bringing together young leaders of the Americas as part of a collaborative venture between the institute and the Organization of American States. The objective is to give young leaders from North, South and Central America and the Caribbean a platform to discuss a particular theme and share their knowledge. So far, we’ve had 122 participants — or program fellows — from 30 countries in the hemisphere.
The most recent conference, “Beyond the Absence of War: Peace and Stability in the 21st Century in the Americas,” took place in October. Fifteen young leaders attended, with the conversation mostly centering on the role of international organizations, national governments and civil society in supporting and maintaining peace among the countries of the Hemisphere.
While armed conflicts are rare between the countries of the Americas, there are ongoing internal conflicts that continuously challenge security and peace in the region, such as those in Colombia and Mexico. Apart from more commonly identified threats to security as organized crime, terrorism, gangs and human trafficking, there are millions of people in the region that are living in poverty, with limited access to basic necessities like potable water and nourishment. This scenario, not only takes a toll in peoples’ physical and emotional wellbeing but it also seriously undermines development in the region. At the end of their discussions, the fellows wrote a report with some of the highlights of the colloquium. You can download and read their report in Spanish or in English.
As part of the program, the fellows also attended a keynote address by Ambassador Raúl Lago, senior political adviser at the Secretariat for Political Affairs of the Organization of American States (OAS). Ambassador Lago has held various posts at the OAS as well as many distinguished offices in the Uruguayan government. He spoke on “Supporting and Safeguarding Peace in the Hemisphere: The Role of the International Community.” Click here to view a webcast of Ambassador Lago’s Oct. 9, 2009, remarks at the Baker Institute.
We share a hemispheric space in the Americas that increasingly requires multinational attention to convergent interests and concerns. The Americas — particularly the developing nations of Latin America — occupy an increasingly vital position on our world’s economic, political, cultural and social map. From Mexico to Venezuela to Chile, these emerging countries are assuming a vital presence on the world’s stage. The Americas Project furthers this conversation and promotes a better understanding of the Hemisphere by those that are and will be vital players in its history.
Lisa Guáqueta is the project administrator for the Latin American Initiative at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy. Her areas of research interest include the urban dynamics of Latin America, especially the role of cities and local governments in international issues. She studied economics at Universidad Externado de Colombia and holds a master’s degree in international affairs from The New School in New York.