OAS calls for cooperation and joint support against crime

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador - With a call to boost cooperation on all levels regarding regional citizen security matters, representatives of the 35 member nations of the Organization of American States (OAS) unanimously approved the Declaration of San Salvador to conclude the 41st General Assembly on June 7.

The declaration recognizes "the obligation of states to develop and implement public policies in the area of public security in the framework of a democratic order, the rule of law, and observance of human rights, geared towards providing security and strengthening peaceful coexistence in their communities."

The declaration mandates public security policies must promote measures for dealing with the causes of crime, violence, and insecurity.

"This General Assembly happened at a time when there is deep concern throughout the region about security matters," OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza said at a press conference after the declaration was approved. "But this conference also happens at a time when countries [throughout the region] are working hard against crime."

Insulza added: "We certainly have a problem with crime in the region, but in terms of numbers, there hasn't been a growth in crime in our region in the last decade. There are 14.4 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, down from 16 in 2000. We should bring that further down. We believe it is perfectly possible to control this phenomenon."

United Nations Secretary Ban Ki-moon praised the declaration.

"The call for a hemispheric plan of action, set forth in the Declaration of El Salvador, is a welcome step in that direction," he said in a message broadcast at the General Assembly.

The declaration seeks to protect and bring more opportunities for the region's citizens, said Jaime Miranda, El Salvador's deputy minister for cooperation and development, at the closing session of the assembly.

"This document, for its high purposes and social commitment to our most vulnerable citizens, must prompt us to build concrete actions to keep our citizenry from the evil interests of transnational organized crime, narco-trafficking and other associated crimes," Miranda said.

Miranda added: "This is a commitment that demands all of us keep a watchful eye in our communities under the framework of respect for human rights and rule of law. We congratulate [all member nations] for the approval of this ground-breaking legislation in hemispheric security."

During the 41st General Assembly, the OAS approved several security-related agreements, such as the Police Community of the Americas, that will be implemented regionwide.

Member nations also signed agreements to strengthen security measures throughout the hemisphere.

The Caribbean island nations of Barbados, Grenada, and Saint Lucia signed an agreement with OAS to promote the marking of firearms so they can be tracked by law enforcement agencies.

The agreement seeks to combat weapons trafficking in the Caribbean region.

"We welcome the commitment of the governments of Barbados, Grenada and Saint Lucia to strengthening controls and building up the capacity needed to combat arms trafficking more effectively," the OAS said in a statement.

The 42nd General Assembly will be held July 8-10, 2012 in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

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