OAS Summits of the Americas - Equality of Opportunity in Education

Organisation of American States (OAS) - Summits of the Americas

Plan of Action 1994 (1st summit) - parts on Education and Training

Part 18 is entitled "Strengthening the Role of Women in Society". It includes requirements on Governments to:

Include a gender focus in development planning and cooperation projects and promote the fulfilment of women's potential, enhancing their productivity through education, training, skill development and employment.

Part 16 refers to "Universal Access to Education”:

"Universal literacy and access to education at all levels, without distinction by race, national origin or gender, are an indispensable basis for sustainable social and cultural development, economic growth and democratic stability."

Plan of Action 2001 (3rd summit)

Contains the following provisions relevant to education and training:

Part 11 - "Labor and Employment" recognizes that true prosperity can only be achieved if it includes protecting and respecting basic rights of workers as well as promoting equal employment opportunities and improving working conditions for people in all countries in the region, with special attention to those in the informal sector and vulnerable persons including women../..governments are to:

develop new mechanisms to increase the effectiveness of projects and other technical assistance designed to build the capacity of smaller economies and their institutions to effectively implement labour laws and standards and to foster equality of opportunity with respect to gender, among others, in strategies to promote employment, training, life-long learning and human resource development programs with the objective of promoting access to more and better employment in the new economy;

Chapter 15, under the heading of "Gender Equality" recognises that women's empowerment, their full and equal participation in the development of our societies, and their equal opportunities to exercise leadership are all central to the reduction of poverty, the promotion of economic and social prosperity, people-centred sustainable development, consolidation of democracy and conflict resolution and the development of equal partnerships between women and men. It calls on governments to: