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History

Founded In 2005, as a direct response to the 2003 Declaration on Security in the Americas, adopted in Mexico City, Secretary General José Miguel Insulza of the Organization of American States created the Secretariat. This move firmly established the multidimensional concept of security, ensuring that the public and citizens were at the center of our policy discussion. ^[1]

The Secretariat for Multidimensional Security (SMS) promotes cooperation between OAS Member States, as well as with Inter-American and international organizations, such as the United Nations and its subsidiaries, in order to analyze, prevent, confront and respond to security threats.

The Secretariat is composed of three main directorates – the Department of Public Security (DPS); the Executive Secretariat of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD); The Executive Secretariat of the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE). ^[2]

The Secretariat works in close coordination with the Reunión de Ministros en Materia de Seguridad Publica de las Américas (MISPA) and the Reunión de Ministros de Justicia o de Ministros o Procuradores Generales de las Américas (REMJA).

The sphere of activity of the SMS is defined by the Declaration on Security in the Americas and its new concept of hemispheric security as being multidimensional and comprising traditional threats and new threats, concerns, and challenges to the security of the states of the Hemisphere.

The Secretariat’s duties stem from the following document:

• Declaration on Security in the Americas

Responsibilities

The Secretariat focuses on the following six distinct aspects: ^[3]

1. Laws;
2. Compliance with laws;
3. The prevention of delinquent activities and drug consumption;
4. Victims assistance;
5. Rehabilitation of criminal offenders;
6. The promotion of peace and security in the Hemisphere. ^[4]

The Secretariat of Multidimensional Security offers solutions founded upon the model of “Smart Security”. This model requires the integration, in every one of its actions, of objective identification based on reliable evidence pertaining to the issues being addressed; the development of proposals based on the national or regional necessities and capacities; and a multidimensional focus which ensures a systematic response to problems. ^[5]

Organizational Structure

Mission Statement

The mission of the Secretariat for Multidimensional Security (SMS) is to promote and coordinate cooperation among the OAS Member States and between them and the Inter-American system and other bodies in the international system, in order to assess, prevent, confront, and respond effectively to threats to security, with a view to being the leading point of reference in the Hemisphere for developing cooperation and capacity-building in the OAS Member States. ^[6]

Secretariat for Multidimensional Security

Secretary for Multidimensional Security

Ambassador Adam Blackwell is a former career Canadian diplomat and current Secretary of Multidimensional Security at the Organization of American States. He first joined the Canadian Foreign Service in 1980, serving various assignments in Central and Eastern Africa, as well as acting as the Consul General in Mexico and New York City.

From 2002 to 2005 he served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Dominican Republic. At the end of his term in Dominican Republic, he published the book Canada and the Dominican Republic 50+ years of Diplomatic Relation. Following his appointment, from 2005 to 2006, he was Director General of Strategy and Services in the Bilateral Relations Branch of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.

In 2006, Ambassador Blackwell joined the Organization of American States in Washington D.C, and became the Assistant Secretary in the Secretariat for Finance and Administration. Soon after he moved on to become acting Secretary, in the Secretariat for External Relations. In 2010, he was appointed Secretary for the Secretariat for Multidimensional Security at the Organization of American States. Over the years, Secretary Blackwell has also participated in, and led several OAS electoral cooperation and observation missions.

In 2012, Ambassador Blackwell became involved on the topic of Central American violence, gangs, and governance. He has been working on Central American gangs since late 2012, acting as mediator and guarantor of the truce between gangs on behalf of the Organization of American States.

In June 2013, Ambassador Blackwell became Chair of the Global Agenda Council on Illicit Trade and Organized Crime of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Other Posts:

• Member of the Board - Trust of the Americas.
• Member of the Commission to Reform the Security Sector - Honduras
• Member of the Advisory Board for the Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety – Arizona State University
• Member of the Global Agenda Council - World Economic Forum.

Other dependencies

The Department of Public Security (DPS)

The DPS works with Member States to develop mechanisms to evaluate and strengthen their institutional capacity to deal with security threats. These efforts focus on the following areas: the strengthening of security legislation, the improvement of law enforcement coordination and practices, the prevention of crime and violence, victim assistance and the social reintegration of convicted criminals. ^[7]

The Department’s principal areas of focus are facilitating sharing among Member States of successful experiences of and best practices for combating crime and violence, fighting transnational organized crime, gang violence and the trafficking of firearms and persons and promoting public policies aimed at preventing crime and violence in the Americas. The Section for the Promotion of Security and Social Tolerance and Cooperation functions under the Department of Public Security and is comprised of the Vulnerable Populations and Crime Prevention Unit, the Arms Control and Anti-Mining Strategies Unit, and the Criminal Justice System Unit. The Section for Coordination and Cooperation also operates under DPS and is comprised of the Documentation, Information and Follow up, and Training Development Units. ^[8]

DPS Director Paulina do Carmo Arruda Vieira Duarte

Executive Secretariat of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD)

The Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) is the Western Hemisphere's policy forum for dealing with the drug problem. The CICAD Executive Secretariat supports the Commission by strengthening the human and institutional capabilities and channeling the collective efforts of its member states to reduce the production, trafficking and use of illegal drugs. The Hemispheric Drug Strategy, approved in May 2010, expresses the firm commitment of member states to deal with the consequences of the drug trade, which pose a growing threat to health, economic development, social cohesion, and the rule of law. ^[9]

CICAD was established by the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) in 1986. Each member government appoints a high-ranking representative to the Commission, which meets twice a year. ^[10]

CICAD Executive Secretary Paul E. Simons

The Secretariat of the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE)

The main purpose of the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE) is to promote and develop cooperation among Member States to prevent, combat and eliminate terrorism, in accordance with the principles of the OAS Charter, with the Inter-American Convention Against Terrorism, and with full respect for the sovereignty of states, the rule of law, and international law, including international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and international refugee law. ^[11]

CICTE is composed of all Member States of the OAS and holds one regular session each year as a forum for discussion and decision-making on counter terrorism issues, measures, and cooperation. Member States designate a competent national authority, a principal representative, alternate representatives, and advisors, Member States also appoint one or more National Points of Contact with competence in the field of prevention and elimination of terrorism to serve as the principal liaison among governments of the Member States and with the CICTE Secretariat for developing cooperation programs between them and the CICTE Secretariat. ^[12]

CICTE Executive Secretary Neil Klopfenstein

Defense and Hemispheric Security Department

Created in 2013 to address “traditional threats to security” as described by the Declaration on Security in the Americas

To fulfill its obligations the Secretariat and its Departments work closely with other Political Organs, National Authorities, OAS entities, Technical Groups, Working Groups and Evaluation Teams.

Included:

• Inter-American Committee against Terrorism
• The Inter-American Defense Board
• The Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking of Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and Other Related Materials
• The Hemispheric Plan Against Transnational Organized Crime
• Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism of the Inter-American Commission on Drug Abuse Control
• The Working Group to Prepare a Regional Strategy to Promote Inter-American Cooperation in Dealing with Criminal Gangs
• The Technical Group on Transnational Organized Crime
• The Meeting of National Authorities on Trafficking of Persons
• The Meeting of Officials Responsible for Penitentiary and Prison Policies
• The Meeting of Forensic Specialists
• The Meetings of Expert Groups in Reducing Drug Demand
• The Meetings of Expert Groups on Money Laundering
• The Meetings of Expert Groups on Maritime Traffic
• The Meetings of Expert Groups on Precursor Chemicals
• The Meetings with Attorney Generals
• The Meetings with Ministers of Justice
• The Meetings with Ministers of Security

Finally, the Secretariat maintains relationships with other agencies and international agencies such as UNODC and SICA to carry out its mission.

References