PROPOSED CENTRAL THEME FORTY-FIRST REGULAR SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES SAN SALVADOR, JUNE 5-7, 2011

Introduction We wish to draw the attention of the member states to an issue faced the length and breadth of the Hemisphere. Our aim in highlighting this issue is to secure its inclusion on the agenda of each member state and that of the Organization. One of the main problems or challenges in the Hemisphere is the need to ensure greater security for our citizens, as conceived from a multidimensional perspective.

Rationale Our countries have given particular attention to consolidation of our democratic systems and encouragement of a process that brings development to our peoples. Although states have striven to ensure the security of all their citizens, the problem of insecurity stems from multiple factors that can be grouped in two categories: short-term and structural. Some of these factors are: poverty, injustice, exclusion, corruption, loss of values, family disintegration, and the economic crisis, among others.

Rationale These factors manifest themselves in phenomena such as trafficking in persons, terrorism, organized crime, drug trafficking, contract killing, and criminal conspiracies. We cannot remain indifferent to this situation; for these scourges to be efficiently and effectively dealt with, they must be confronted with greater energy, new initiatives, and increased coordination.

Rationale We are aware that to combat these scourges in our Hemisphere we must implement regional efforts by which to coordinate steps not only to harmonize the laws that criminalize these behaviors, but also to create instruments for prevention and rehabilitation of victims.

Proposal The Government of El Salvador believes that the central theme of the forty-first regular session of the OAS General Assembly to be held in San Salvador should be: Citizen Security in the Americas

Proposals Member states should discuss and push forward the adoption of strategic guidelines, policies, and measures to strengthen international cooperation and institutional capability to combat these serious criminal afflictions.

Conclusions We share the vision of all the member states of defending the principles of citizen security in order to protect victims and our societies from the above threats. These threats respect no frontiers, corrupt our institutions, undermine our democratic achievements, and divert very considerable resources and efforts toward security when they could otherwise be invested in development for our peoples.

Conclusions The time is right to reaffirm our vocation to unite and move forward in tackling the challenge of building Citizen Security in the Americas and take into account the timeliness and relevance of this proposal.

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Thank you very much.