FAQs
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What is the Inter-American System? |
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The Inter-American system is not only the oldest regional group of institutions, but also the one that has experienced a notable degree of developing and strengthening on its various spheres of activity. It had its beginning in a hemisphere with favorable circumstances for cooperation: a similar origin and historical evolution, a geographic proximity and similarity of political institutions. In fact, all the countries that function within the Inter-American System were born of European colonialism. They struggled for many years to gain their freedom and independence, and once these were won they choose representative democracy as their form of government. The principles that embody the Inter-American cooperation grew out of a history dating back to the 19th century. In 1826, Simón Bolívar convened the Congress of Panama with the idea of creating an association of states in the hemisphere. In 1890, the First International Conference of American States, held in Washington, D.C., established the International Union of American Republics and its secretariat, the Commercial Bureau of the American Republics—the forerunner of the whole regional system. The Inter-American System, today, comprises the Organization of American States and its system, the Inter-American Development Bank, and several other sub regional organizations, entities and institutions. To learn more about some of the organisms of the Inter-American System go to the Entities and Institutions of the Inter-American System page. |
