Laura Gil elected as OAS Deputy Secretary General

WASHINGTON ⁣(AP) — Colombian diplomat and political scientist Laura Gil was elected Deputy Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) on⁤ Monday, marking the first time a woman has held the position in the organization’s 70-year history. The election took place during an Unusual General Assembly at OAS⁣ headquarters in Washington.

Gil secured the position after a secret ballot that included⁣ Peruvian candidate ana María Sánchez and Guatemalan candidate Claudia‍ Escobar. An initial round of voting failed to produce a majority winner, leading to a second round between Gil and Sánchez. Gil ultimately prevailed with 19 votes, compared to Sánchez’s 13. Applause erupted in the OAS hall upon the declaration‍ of gil’s 17th vote, confirming her victory.

Gil’s candidacy received support from countries including Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and parts of the⁢ Caribbean bloc. Sánchez’s support included Argentina and Paraguay.

Until recently, Gil served as ⁢Colombia’s ambassador to austria and permanent ⁢representative to the United Nations in Vienna. She will succeed nestor Méndez of Belize, who is set to leave the Deputy Secretary General post on June 16.⁢ Gil’s ⁢term will extend until 2030, serving under Secretary General Albert Ramdin of Trinidad and ‍Tobago.Ramdin was elected in March to a five-year term, replacing Luis Almagro of Uruguay.

Gil’s election comes at a critical juncture for the OAS. The organization faces ⁢potential funding cuts from the United States, its largest financial contributor,⁢ amid broader reductions in U.S. federal spending and ⁢foreign aid. The ramdin-Gil leadership will also ⁣grapple with challenges such as migration flows, the situation in Venezuela, and the ongoing crisis in Haiti.

Colombian Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia hailed Gil’s⁢ appointment as a “historic milestone” during the Extraordinary Assembly. Sarabia, who ⁣traveled to Washington to support Gil,‍ described the newly elected Deputy Secretary General as a “freind” and “mentor.” Sarabia stated ⁣that Gil’s “invitation is to dialog and seek exits to an increasingly ⁢uncertain global political context,” expressing her pride in Gil’s achievement.

According to the Colombian Foreign Ministry, the vote ⁢”recognizes an exemplary trajectory ⁤to the service of democracy, human ‍rights and regional integration.” The ministry added that Gil’s selection⁣ reflects her ability to foster dialogue, her integrative vision,⁣ and her commitment to an efficient, clear, and inclusive OAS. The Foreign ‍Ministry‍ anticipates that Gil will collaborate with Ramdin to strengthen‍ the OAS’s core pillars:⁤ democracy,human rights,multidimensional security,and integral development,with a focus on results-oriented management,accountability,and institutional strengthening.

Born in⁤ Montevideo, gil previously served as Vice Chancellor for Multilateral Affairs for the Colombian government.‍ She has also worked as ⁣a consultant for multilateral organizations and as an electoral observer in numerous international missions. A respected academic and international relations‍ expert ⁤in Colombia, Gil was a⁣ vocal ⁣advocate⁢ for the peace agreement with the former ⁤FARC guerrillas.

As Deputy secretary General, Gil’s responsibilities will include assuming the functions⁣ of the Secretary General in Ramdin’s absence. She will also moderate internal debates within the organization.

During her candidacy presentation ⁣before the OAS Permanent Council,⁣ Gil emphasized the importance of democracy, stating, “Democracy is one of the pillars of this organization ⁢and our democratic Charter begins ⁢to⁢ point it out as a ‍right of our peoples, establishing the obligation of our states to promote it, defend it, respect it. And the essence of democracies is alternation. And with alternations come changes, and national external policies⁣ change emphasis.”