Photo by Paula Uribe, © RET International

Article by Paula Uribe, Regional Technical Manager of RET in Latin America and the Caribbean

PANAMA CITY, PANAMA – On June 23, 2026, and within the framework of the 56th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), RET International participated in the spaces for dialogue that bring together governments, international organizations, academia and civil society organizations to discuss the main challenges facing the region.

As part of the activities carried out during the Assembly, RET participated in the side event “From exile to advocacy: civil society as a hemispheric force”, organized by the Coalition for Venezuela, a space that highlighted the contribution of civil society to the promotion of human rights, democracy, human mobility and integral development in the Americas.

During the opening of the meeting, Magnolia Santamaría, Director of Programs for Latin America and the Caribbean at RET International, highlighted the importance of strengthening the participation of civil society in multilateral spaces and recognizing the value provided by organizations that work directly with communities.

Photo by Paula Uribe, © RET International

“Civil society plays a fundamental role in bringing public policies closer to people’s realities, generating evidence from the territories and building sustainable solutions to complex challenges such as human mobility, protection and social inclusion,” she said.

The event brought together representatives of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), civil society organizations, academia, and regional experts to reflect on strengthening democracy, the protection of human rights, and the role of civil society as a strategic actor in building people-centered hemispheric responses.

RET’s participation in the OAS General Assembly reaffirms the organization’s commitment to promoting the rights of vulnerable populations, strengthening local capacities, and generating alliances that contribute to a more inclusive, resilient, and supportive region.

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