Washington, D.C., September 25, 2024 – The Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) and the Department of Social Inclusion (DSI) of the Secretariat for Access to Rights and Equity (SARE) of the Organization of American States (OAS) have been selected to establish the joint Technical Secretariat of the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection. This appointment will strengthen hemispheric collaboration and continue to mobilize the entire region to implement innovative actions on migration governance in the Americas.
The Los Angeles Declaration, launched during the IX Summit of the Americas in June 2022, is a unique hemispheric mechanism that promotes shared responsibility in addressing migration and forced displacement in the region. It is structured around four key pillars: promoting stability and assistance for communities of destination, origin, transit, and return; promoting regular pathways for migration and international protection; promoting humane migration management; and promoting a coordinated emergency response. To date, 22 countries have endorsed the Declaration, reaffirming their commitment to creating conditions for safe, orderly, and regular migration in the Americas.
Through the Technical Secretariat, PADF and DSI/OAS will play a key role as neutral technical coordinators, facilitating the implementation of activities linked to the Los Angeles Declaration. Responsibilities of the Technical Secretariat will include coordinating among states, advancing the technical work of the Action Packages Committees, generating conditions to prevent duplication of efforts with other regional processes, and convening a broad range of strategic actors such as international organizations, civil society, academia, the private sector, and multilateral development banks. To achieve this, the Technical Secretariat will establish a group of independent Permanent Strategic Advisors, seeking to engage key stakeholders such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the Center for Engagement and Advocacy in the Americas (CEDA).
Acknowledging the leadership and ongoing support of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, as well as the trust placed by the Declaration’s endorsing states, PADF and DSI/OAS are committed to fulfilling the responsibilities that come with their role in managing the Technical Secretariat and strengthening the partnerships necessary to achieve the goals outlined in the Los Angeles Declaration.