Patricia Figueroa
Curator, Iberian and Latin American Collections
Brown University
Amnesty International (AI)
AI is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights. AI’s vision is of a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards.
Brazilian Studies Association (BRASA)
BRASA is an international, interdisciplinary professional organization of scholars who support and promote Brazilian studies in all fields, especially in the humanities and social sciences. BRASA is dedicated to the promotion of Brazilian studies around the world in general, and in the United States in particular. BRASA organizes an international congress on Brazilian studies every other year. The 2014 Congress will be held in King’s College, London, and the 2016 Congress will be held at Brown University. BRASA currently has more than 600 members in the United States, Brazil, Europe, and other countries in Latin America.
Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM)
The objectives of the Community are to improve standards of living and work; the full employment of labor and other factors of production; accelerated, coordinated, and sustained economic development and convergence; expansion of trade and economic relations with third States; enhanced levels of international competitiveness; organization for increased production and productivity; achievement of a greater measure of economic leverage and effectiveness of Member States in dealing with third States, groups of States, and entities of any description; and the enhanced coordination of Member States’ foreign and foreign economic policies and enhanced functional cooperation.
Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA)
Founded in 1975, COHA, a nonprofit, tax-exempt independent research and information organization, was established to promote the common interests of the hemisphere, raise the visibility of regional affairs, and increase the importance of the inter-American relationship, as well as encourage the formulation of rational and constructive U.S. policies toward Latin America.
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) [Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL)]
ECLAC, which is headquartered in Santiago, Chile, is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations. It was founded for the purposes of contributing to the economic development of Latin America, coordinating actions directed towards this end, and reinforcing economic relationships among the countries and with the other nations of the world. The promotion of the region’s social development was later included among its primary objectives.
Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO)
FLACSO is an international organization that was established in 1957 by UNESCO (a unit of the United Nations) and several governments of Latin America. Its principal objective is to promote the social sciences throughout the region.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
FAO leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and debate policy. FAO is also a source of knowledge and information. It helps developing countries and countries in transition to modernize and improve agriculture, forestry, and fisheries practices and ensure good nutrition for all. Since its founding in 1945, it has focused special attention on developing rural areas, home to 70 percent of the world’s poor and hungry people.
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an independent, nongovernmental organization, supported by contributions from private individuals and foundations worldwide, dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world.
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR)
The IACHR is one of two bodies in the inter-American system for the promotion and protection of human rights. The Commission has its headquarters in Washington, D.C. The other human rights body is the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, which is located in San José, Costa Rica. The IACHR is an autonomous organ of the Organization of American States (OAS). Its mandate is found in the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The IACHR represents all of the member States of the OAS. It has seven members who act independently, without representing any particular country. The members of the IACHR are elected by the General Assembly of the OAS.
Inter-American Court of Human Rights
Based in San José, Costa Rica, the Inter-American Court of Human rights is an autonomous entity created by the Organization of American States (OAS) in 1979. Its central mission is to interpret and apply legal components of the American Convention on Human Rights and related agreements throughout the hemisphere.
Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
The IADB helps foster sustainable economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean through its lending operations, leadership in regional initiatives, research and knowledge-dissemination activities, institutes, and programs.
Inter-American Dialogue
The Inter-American Dialogue is a leading U.S. center for policy analysis, exchange, and communication on issues in Western Hemisphere affairs. The Dialogue brings together public and private leaders from across the Americas to address hemispheric problems and opportunities. Together they seek to build cooperation among Western Hemisphere nations and advance a regional agenda of democratic governance, social equity, and economic growth.
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
The IMF is an international organization consisting of 184 member countries. It was established to promote international monetary cooperation, exchange stability, and orderly exchange arrangements; to foster economic growth and high levels of employment; and to provide temporary financial assistance to countries to help ease balance of payments adjustment.
Latin American Network Information Center (LANIC)
A gateway sponsored by the University of Texas at Austin, LANIC provides useful and current information on many aspects of Latin America, including economics, literature, politics, and media. It includes a section of information arranged by country.
Latin American Studies Association (LASA)
LASA is the largest professional Association in the world for individuals and institutions engaged in the study of Latin America. With over 6000 members, 45 percent of whom reside outside the United States, LASA is the one association that brings together experts on Latin America from all disciplines and diverse occupational endeavors across the globe. LASA’s mission is to foster intellectual discussion, research, and teaching on Latin America, the Caribbean, and its people throughout the Americas, promote the interests of its diverse membership, and encourage civic engagement through network building and public debate.
National Security Archive (NSA)
An independent nongovernmental research institute and library located at The George Washington University, the Archive collects and publishes declassified documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. The Archive also serves as a repository of government records on a wide range of topics pertaining to the national security, foreign, intelligence, and economic policies of the United States.
North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA)
NACLA is an independent, nonprofit organization founded in 1966 that works toward a world in which the nations and peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean are free from oppression and injustice and enjoy a relationship with the United States based on mutual respect, free from economic and political subordination. “To that end, our mission is to provide information and analysis on the region, and on its complex and changing relationship with the United States, as tools for education and advocacy—to foster knowledge beyond borders.”
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Secretariat
The NAFTA Secretariat is a unique organization established pursuant to Article 2002 of the North American Free Trade Agreement. It administers the mechanisms specified under NAFTA to resolve trade disputes between national industries and/or governments in a timely and impartial manner.
Organization of American States (OAS)
OAS brings together the countries of the Western Hemisphere to strengthen cooperation and advance common interests. It is the region’s premier forum for multilateral dialogue and concerted action.
Oxfam
Oxfam GB is a development, relief, and campaigning organization that works with others to find lasting solutions to poverty and suffering around the world.
Political Database of the Americas
Compiled by the Georgetown University Center for Latin American Studies and the Organization of American States, this site provides country summaries, constitutions, election data, and much more information (including many primary documents) on Latin American governments and politics.
Secretaría Administrativa del MERCOSUR (MERCOSUR Secretariat)
The Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) is a process of integration involving Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. It was established by the Treaty of Asuncion signed on March 26, 1991. It is now a Customs Union, and its ultimate objective is to evolve into a Common Market.
Summits of the Americas Secretariat Information Network The Summits of the Americas Secretariat forms part of the institutional mechanisms of the Summit Process of the Americas and provides support in the areas of implementation, outreach, and follow-up of the mandates.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
UNICEF is a United Nations agency devoted to the welfare of children and cooperates with the World Health Organization in immunization programs. UNICEF was established in 1946 and currently has over 200 offices in 115 developing countries.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
UNESCO was founded on 16 November 1945. Today, UNESCO functions as a laboratory of ideas and a standard-setter to forge universal agreements on emerging ethical issues. The Organization also serves as a clearinghouse for the dissemination and sharing of information and knowledge while helping Member States to build their human and institutional capacities in diverse fields. In short, UNESCO promotes international cooperation among its 191 Member States and six Associate Members in the fields of education, science, culture, and communications.
United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
UNAIDS’ mission is to lead, strengthen, and support an expanded response to HIV and AIDS that includes preventing transmission of HIV, providing care and support to those already living with the virus, reducing the vulnerability of individuals and communities to HIV, and alleviating the impact of the epidemic.
Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA)
WOLA is a U.S. human rights organization that promotes democracy and socioeconomic justice in Latin America and the Caribbean through analysis and foreign policy proposals informed by strong partnerships with civil society counterparts in the region.
The World Bank
The World Bank is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world. “We are not a bank in the common sense. We are made up of two unique development institutions owned by 184 member countries—the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). Each institution plays a different but supportive role in our mission of global poverty reduction and the improvement of living standards. The IBRD focuses on middle income and creditworthy poor countries, while IDA focuses on the poorest countries in the world. Together we provide low-interest loans, interest-free credit and grants to developing countries for education, health, infrastructure, communications and many other purposes.”
World Health Organization (WHO)
WHO is the United Nations specialized agency for health. It was established on 7 April 1948. Its objective, as set out in its charter, is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. Health is defined in WHO’s Constitution as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
World Trade Organization (WTO)
The WTO is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world’s trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. The goal is to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers conduct their business.