Civil Society / Participation Mechanisms

Information exchange sessions

The information below was created for the 2001 Summit and has not been updated or reviewed since that time. It is being provided here for information/background purposes only.

Information exchange sessions: Through the Inter-American Affairs Division, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) regularly organized information exchange sessions. These sessions were an opportunity for representatives from the Canadian Government and civil society to exchange ideas and opinions with regards to the themes proposed for the Summit's Plan of Action. These sessions were held in Ottawa, and a telephone-conference connection was provided for those participants who were not from the region. Portfolio consultations were also held concerning the more specific items of the Plan of Action. Likewise, through the communication and outreach program, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade organized meetings with various civil society representatives from across Canada.

The icon(s) indicate the language(s) that each Web site is available in.

= English = French = Spanish = Portuguese

Information exchange session - Meeting Report for March 01, 2000 ^(PDF)

Information exchange session - Meeting Report for September 15, 2000^(PDF)

Information exchange session - Meeting Report for November 16, 2000 ^(PDF)

Information exchange session - Meeting Report for February 7, 2001 ^(PDF)

Information exchange session - Meeting Report for May 24, 2001

Information exchange session - Confirmation for May 24, 2001

Consultation session - Meeting Report for July 27, 2001

Consultation session - Confirmation for July 27, 2001

Free Trade Area of the Americas: This site has information on the consultation mechanisms, in Canada and in the Hemisphere, concerning the process of the Free Trade Area of the Americas. See also the FTAA site.

Public meetings of the OAS Special Committee on the Inter-American Summits Management (CEGCI): The CEGCI brings together member states of the OAS and representatives from civil society organizations of the Hemisphere. Regular meetings are held to hear the points of view of civil society organizations interested in the inter-American concerns. Summaries of these meetings are distributed to the 34 National Coordinators of the Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG), who are responsible for implementing the commitments of previous Summits and developing the Plan of Action for the next Summit. The meetings are held at the OAS headquarters in Washington and are broadcast in real time over the Internet. Additional information is available on the Summit of the Americas, 2001 Information Network site.

CEGCI - Meeting Report of February 18, 2000 CEGCI - Meeting Report of September 19, 2000 CEGCI - Meeting Report of November 07, 2000 CEGCI - Meeting Report of February 16, 2001

Representatives from several Member States to the OAS at their Special Committee Meeting on Sept. 19, 2001, in Washington, D.C.

Civil Society participation in the activities of the Organization of American States: The site provides a description of the guidelines approved by the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States in December, 1999, and explains civil society participation in OAS activities and outlines the procedure for registering.

Inter-American Strategy for the Promotion of Public Participation in Decision-Making for Sustainable Development (ISP): The goal of the ISP is to increase responsible and effective public participation in politics, projects and sustainable development programs across the Hemisphere.

List of the representatives of civil society organizations^(PDF) invited to the Round Table with the Ministers from Canada and the Americas, and the heads of international and regional organizations involved in the process of the Summit of Americas. Canada has taken the initiative to invite representatives of trade unions, academics, business associations, NGOs, young people, religious organizations and indigenous groups from across the Americas to the Summit to participate in a roundtable discussion with Canadian and Hemispheric Ministers, as well as the Heads of the regional and international organizations present. Canada strongly believes that the participation of all groups of society in national and inter-american affairs is essential if we want to achieve a more prosperous and equitable Hemisphere.