What is the OAS?

The Organization of American States is the oldest regional society of nations in the world, dating back to the First International Congress of American States in 1890. When the United Nations was established, the OAS joined it as a regional organization. Its charter was signed in 1948 and has been amended several times. Today the OAS has thirty-five Member States. There also are numerous nations from outside the hemisphere that have permanent observer status.

What does it do?

The OAS has the following essential purposes:

1. To strengthen the peace and security of the Hemisphere.
2. To prevent possible causes of difficulties and to ensure the peaceful settlement of disputes that may arise among the Member States.
3. To seek the solutions of political, judicial, and economic problems that may arise among them.
4. To promote, by cooperative action, their economic, social, and cultural development.

How is it organized?

The General Assembly is the supreme organ of the OAS. It holds a regular session each year, either in one of the Member States or at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. The University of Wisconsin - Parkside's Model OAS simulates the meeting of the General Assembly and is the oldest regional simulation in the United States. If you would like to learn more about our simulation, click here.

What nations belong to OAS?

Antigua and Barbuda
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=ANT#Inicio

Argentina
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=ARG#Inicio

The Bahamas
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=BAH#Inicio

Barbados
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=BAR#Inicio

Belize
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=BEL#Inicio

Bolivia
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=BOL#Inicio

Brazil
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=BRA#Inicio

Canada
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=CAN#Inicio

Chile
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=CHI#Inicio

Colombia
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=COL#Inicio

Costa Rica
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=COS#Inicio

Cuba

Dominica
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=DOM#Inicio

Dominican Republic
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=DRE#Inicio

Ecuador
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=ECU#Inicio

El Salvador
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=ELS#Inicio

Grenada
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=GRE#Inicio

Guatemala
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=GUA#Inicio

Guyana
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=GUY#Inicio

Haiti
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=HAI#Inicio

Honduras
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=HON#Inicio

Jamaica
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=JAM#Inicio

Mexico
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=MEX#Inicio

Nicaragua
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=NIC#Inicio

Panama
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=PAN#Inicio

Paraguay
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=PAR#Inicio

Peru
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=PER#Inicio

Saint Kitts and Nevis
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=STK#Inicio

Saint Lucia
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=STL#Inicio

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=STV#Inicio

Suriname
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=SUR#Inicio

Trinidad and Tobago
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=TRI#Inicio

United States of America
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=USA#Inicio

Uruguay
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=URU#Inicio

Venezuela
http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/memberstates.asp?sCode=VEN#Inicio