As set out in Permanent Council resolution CP/RES. 759 (1217/99), “Guidelines for the Participation of Civil Society Organizations in OAS Activities,” the registry of civil society organizations provides CSOs with an opportunity to be part of the hemispheric network of organizations working in the various thematic areas of interest to the member states and to have access to information on political, economic, and social processes under way in the OAS, which are part of the inter-American agenda. Moreover, registration – a cost-free process – facilitates the exchange of information and experiences that contribute to public policy design by means of organized participation and dialogue among CSOs, governments, and inter-American and international organizations. 

Civil society organizations (CSOs) seeking to be registered with the OAS must follow the CP/RES. 759 (1217/99), “Guidelines for the Participation of Civil Society Organizations in OAS Activities,” and send a letter to the OAS General Secretariat indicating their interest in being considered as a registered CSO.  The letter should be sent to:

Secretary General
Organization of American States
MNB-20
17th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington D.C. 20006,
U.S.A. 

The General Secretariat requires that the application contains the following information: 

1. Official name, address, telephones, and date of establishment of the organization and the name(s) of its director(s) and legal representative(s).
2. Primary areas of activity and their relationship to the activities of the OAS organs, agencies, and entities in which it wishes to participate.
3. Reasons why the organization believes its proposed contributions to OAS activities would be of interest to the OAS.
4. Identification of the OAS work areas in which your organization proposes to support ongoing activities or to make recommendations on the best way to achieve OAS objectives.

Applications should include the following documentation: 

• A duly notarized copy of the articles of incorporation, charter, or constitution;
• A duly notarized copy of the certificate of incorporation, if any;
• A duly notarized copy of the bylaws;
• A copy of the most recent annual report;
• An institutional mission statement signed by a director or the legal representative; and
• A copy of the financial statements for the previous fiscal year, including reference to public and private sources of financing, signed by the financial officer or the public accountant of the applicant organization.

Upon receipt, the OAS confirms that all the required and supporting documents mentioned above have been included in the application. If the application is complete, the Committee on Inter-American Summits Management and Civil Society Participation in OAS Activities (CISC) of the Permanent Council examines the application ensuring compliance with the Guidelines in CP/RES. 759 and generates recommendations on eligibility for registration.  An organization may be required to provide additional information and clarification before the Committee completes its review. Only complete applications will be referred by the Secretary General to the CISC, for the Committee’s examination and eventual recommendation to the OAS Permanent Council for decision. 

The recommendations of the CISC will be submitted to the Permanent Council for a final decision.  Please be advised that the request and supporting documentation may be discussed and distributed in a public forum during the registration process and cannot be given the protection of confidential, private, or otherwise privileged information.  If the Permanent Council decides to accept the request, the civil society organization will be notified and the name of the organization and its application will be added to the Registry of CSOs.  

Recognized standing within its particular field of competence.  

• Representative nature.
• Institutional structure that includes appropriate mechanisms for holding its officers accountable and subject to its members. 
• Legal representative and an executive officer, as well as established headquarters.
• Financial resources obtained primarily from its affiliates or individual members.
• Transparency within institutional and financial structure.
• Institutional and financial structure affords a certain degree of independence.
• Headquarters or principal activities not located in any territory over which there exists a sovereignty dispute between an OAS member state and a state outside the Hemisphere.
• Geographic origin-- The Committee seeks to ensure the registration of civil society organizations from all member states, in order to facilitate just, balanced, effective, and genuine participation by all regions of the Hemisphere.

The OAS identifies the following responsibilities of CSOs registered with the OAS:  

• Answer inquiries from organs, agencies, and entities of the OAS and provide advisory services to them upon request.
• Disseminate information on OAS activities to its members.
• Present, to the General Secretariat, before December 31 of each year, a report containing an executive summary on its participation in OAS activities during that year, its current financial situation, sources of funding, and the activities planned for the coming year. 
• Keep the information on its executive officers up to date.

According to resolutions CP/RES. 759 and CP/RES. 840, (1361/03) "Strategies for Increasing and Strengthening Participation by Civil Society Organizations in OAS Activities", registered civil society organizations have the following benefits: 

• Obtain access to virtual consultations on issues and initiatives promoted by the OAS.
• Contribute to the elaboration of the agenda of a meeting, once a year, within the Permanent Council, on a matter of special interest to registered civil society organizations for a broad and substantive dialogue.
• Receive the calendar of OAS meetings and when possible, the themes to be discussed in the meetings.
• Registered civil society organizations may designate representatives to attend, as observers, public meetings of the Permanent Council, CIDI, and their subsidiary bodies.
• Whether registered civil society organizations may attend closed meetings shall be determined by the chair of the meeting in question, in consultation with the participating member state delegations.
• In the case of meetings of committees of the Permanent Council or of CIDI, registered civil society organizations may distribute written documents in advance.
• Present written documents, not exceeding 2,000 words, on questions that fall within its particular sphere of competence and appear on the agenda or order of business for the meeting. These documents shall be distributed by the General Secretariat to member states.
• Receive the OAS the resolutions adopted at each session of the General Assembly.
• Comment and assist in effectively implementing the OAS the resolutions adopted at each session of the General Assembly, as appropriate.

For more information on the civil society registration process and means of participation in OAS activities please refer to the Manual for Civil Society Participation in the Organization of American States and in the Summits of the Americas Process, which compiles all information related to the participation of non-governmental organizations at the OAS.