Political women analyse challenges in the matter of legislation in order to eradicate Gender violence

Within the scope of the 10th regional meeting of women of political parties “Woman and regional integration, opposite to Gender violence”, organized by the Central American Parliament, the participants analysed the challenges in the matter of legislation in order to stop the Gender violence in the region. The panel was formed by the MPs Sonia Segura, from the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala; Gracia María Larrave, from the Central American Parliament; and Doctor Mirta Larios, President of the Forum of Women of Political Parties of Nicaragua; the moderador was the member of the PARLACEN Hena Ligia Madrid.

In turn, the member of the PARLACEN, Xanthis Suárez moderated the panel about “Woman and regional integration, opposite to Gender violence, progresses and perspectives”, in which participated as exponents, Alejandrina Germán, Minister of Women of the Dominican Republic and President for a set time of the COMMCA; Miriam Maldonado, coordinator in Guatemala of the Forum of Women for the Central American integration (FMICA) and the member of the PARLACEN Albertina Urbina Zelaya.

President of El Salvador opens political parties conference

The 19th Central American and Caribbean Conference of political parties “From the intergovernmental cooperation to the communitarian integration”, organized by the political and party subjects of the Central American Parliament treating commission, was opened on Tuesday, the 24th of August, by the President of the Republic of El Salvador, Mauricio Funes.

The ceremony counted as well with the presence of the vice president of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador, Sigfrido Reyes; the President of the Central American Parliament, Jacinto Suárez; the vice president of the PARLACEN, Nidia Díaz and the mayor of San Salvador, Norman Quijano.

At this conference, which delegates from approximately 54 political parties of Central America and the Dominican Republic attended, themes were discussed such as “Analysis of the Central American integration, progresses, obstacles and challenges”, which was treated by Doctor Juan Daniel Alemán, Secretary-General of the SICA; or “Towards the communitarian and Caribbean integration. The European Union as reference”.

Other themes were “The Central American Parliament’s vision on the integration process”, which was in the charge of the Central American MP, Rudolfo Dougherty; and “The responsability of the political parties in the integration process”, in the charge of the MP Sigfrido Reyes, First vice president of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador.

VICEPRESIDENT OF PARLACEN PARTICIPATED IN CONFERENCE ABOUT HAITI IN SPAIN

From July 16 to 18, 2010, the European Conference for the Reconstruction and Stabilization of Haiti took place in the city of Lugo, Spain. The agenda focused on analyzing the current situation in the Republic of Haiti after the tragic earthquake on January, 12 and on debating the progress and perspectives of the reconstruction process. Additionally, the exchange of information about actions and projects executed by the European Union and its member states, the national agencies for cooperation and development, and the different international and European bodies was instigated.

Governments and international institutions presented the projects and actions currently carried out in the Republic of Haiti and analyzed jointly the possible mechanisms and initiatives to enhance the effectiveness of the actions and how to speed up the reconstruction process.

The Vicepresident of the Central American Parliament, deputy Sebastino Brito from the Dominican Republic, attended this conference and delivered a speech at the opening of this event, in which ministers and officials from Haiti, several American and European governments and representatives of international organizations like the World Bank, the Organization of American States, the United Nations, the Organization of Ibero-American States, and others participated. Also Dr. Ricardo Lagos Andino, PARLACEN representative in Europe, attended this event. The conference was sponsored by the Government of Spain, the City of Lugo, the European Parliament, the Central American Parliament and others.

European Parliament delegation visits the PARLACEN

A delegation of Members of the European Parliament, formed by Emine Bozkurt - the chairwoman - as well as Inés Ayala Sender and Boguslaw Sonik, visited the Central American Parliament in Guatemala City on Thursday, May 27. During their participation in the plenary meeting they presented, inter alia, a status report of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Central America.

As a result of their visit to the PARLACEN, they signed the following declaration:

The delegation of the European Parliament for Central America and the Board of the Central American Parliament

Assembled in the seat of the PARLACEN, in Guatemala City, on the 27th of  May 2010, with the objective of continuing the strengthening of the strategic bi-regional relations, before the European and the Central American people:

We declare:

1. Our profound satisfaction for the completion of the Association Agreement between Central America and the European Union which marks a milestone of the relations between our regions, being the first agreement worldwide which is embedded in an inter- regional context.

2. Our commitment, as political organisms of both integration processes, to advance, to develop and to inspect the faithfull fulfillment of the fundamental principles and values anchored in the Agreement, such as: the democratic institutionalization, the sovereignty of the states, the respect for the culture and the development of the people, the promotion of the human and social rights, the solidarity; the integrative participation of all social sectors; the development cooperation fitting with the national and regional plans; and a trade directed towards the full and sustainable development of our people, with a high commitment to the respect for the biodiversity and the natural resources.

3. Our high expectation on the Political Dialogue which was created within the scope of this new bi-regional society between Central America and the European Union, and must be aimed at the strengthening of our regional integration processes and its institutionalization of the community. After the ratification of the Agreement by both sides, we agree to advance the early appointment of our representatives before the Parliamentarian Committee of the Association, for its early establishment and functioning.

4. The creation of the Latin America Investment Facility (LAIF) meets with our approval.

5. We take note of the aforementioned Agreement so that the European Union establishes this investment facility in order to support the productive transformation of the Latin American region in view of the existing asymmetries.

6. Our commitment, out of our parliamentary function, is to keep track of the high level dialogue on migration issues, which insists on the fact that the migration policies and practices of both regions ensure the respect of the fundamental rights of all migrants as much as an orderly, informed and safe management of the migration flows based on the principle of shared responsability; it points out that the existence of efficient norms in the matter of irregular immigration prevention - including the return of immigrants in irregular situation under dignified conditions and norms against the illegal employment – is closely linked to the promotion of the regular immigration which is again connected with the necessities of the labour markets and the integration.

JACINTO SUAREZ ELECTED AS CO-VICEPRESIDENT OF EUROLAT

Jacinto Suárez, President of the Central American Parliament and member of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), has been elected as Co-Vicepresident of the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly (EUROLAT) during the IV plenary session of this Bi-regional institution on 15th of Mai in Sevilla, Spain.

The Spanish euro-deputy, Ignacio Salafranca, member of the European People's Party and Luis Fernando Duque, president of the Andean Parliament and member of the liberal party of Colombia preside   the Executive Bureau of EUROLAT.

They also integrate other leaders from Europe and Latin America as for example the christian democratic co-vicepresident Jorge Pizarro, President of the Senate of the Republic of Chile, and Willy Meyer, member of the left group of the European Parliament.

The Executive Bureau of EUROLAT meets three times a year and the plenary sessions take place once a year. The Standing Committee which meets every six month alternates between Europe and Latin America.

EUROLAT is a joint multilateral Parliamentary Assembly composed of 150 members coming from 60 European and Latin American countries. Among these members, 14 deputies come from the six member states of the PARLACEN.

Between 2006 and 2009 the Latin American Parliament carried out the co-presidency of EUROLAT. Currently the Andean Parliament holds this position and between 2011 and 2013 the PARLACEN will hold the co-presidency.

For more information, see:

www.europarl.europa.eu/intcoop/eurolat/presidency_and_bureau/members_en.htm

EuroLat support for PARLACEN and Central American integration

The Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly, meeting in Seville from 13 to May 15, 2010, met a proposed resolution supporting PARLACEN submitted by 20 representatives from several Latin American and European countries, by which it supports the process of ratification of the protocol of amendments to PARLACEN which involve new functions for PARLACEN.

Also the co-president of EuroLat, the Euro-MP Ignacio Salafranca agreed to this proposal at the last plenary meeting of EUROLAT in Seville on May 15, 2010. The text of the proposal asks the President of Panama to reconsider his position in regard to the Central American Parliament.

EuroLat consists of 150 European and Latin American members from 60 countries in both regions and its members are representatives of the European Parliament, the Latin American Parliament, PARLACEN, the Andean Parliament, the Parliament of Mercosur and others.

EuroLat adopted an address to the 6th summit of heads of state and government of 60 countries of the European Union and Latin America in Madrid, Spain, on May 18, 2010, which contains among others the following proposals and recommendations:

Support the various Latin American regional integration processes that form the basis of the strategic Bi-regional Partnership; support the process leading to the conclusion of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Central America and the re-opening of negotiations on an Association Agreement with Mercosur;

Support the process leading to the signing of the Multipartite Agreement between the European Union and the countries of the Andean Community and the updating and upgrading of the EU-CAN Political and Cooperation Agreement of 2003;

Support the creation of the Europe – Latin America and Caribbean Foundation, whose primary purpose would be to help prepare for the summits, follow-up on the decisions and political courses of action adopted at the summits, and act as a forum for dialogue and coordination in the periods between summits for all the political, institutional, academic and civil society bodies working to strengthen Euro-Latin American relations;

Create, under the supervision and coordination of that Foundation, a Migration Observatory for the Euro-Latin American area, responsible for permanently and closely monitoring all issues connected with migratory flows in this area;

Stress that the migration policies and practices of both regions should ensure that the fundamental rights of all migrants are upheld and that the management of migration flows is orderly, informed and safe and based on the principle of shared responsibility.

Central American Parliamentarians participate at the Fourth Ordinary Plenary Session of EuroLat

A delegation of representatives of the Central American Parliament is participating at the Fourth Ordinary Plenary Session of the Euro-Latin America Parliamentary Assembly (EuroLat), which takes place from May 13 till 15, 2010 at the conference and exhibition centre of Seville, Spain.

Within the framework of the regular plenary session of EuroLat, the committees of political affairs, security and human rights; social affairs, human interaction, the environment, education and culture; the economic, financial and commercial affairs; as well as the working group on “European Union- Latin America and the Caribbean (EU-LAC) Migration Issues” will also be meeting.

The delegation of PARLACEN is formed by the female representatives Gloria Oquelí, Xanthis Suárez, as well as by the male representatives Rodolfo Dougherty, Francisco Campbell, Eliseo Núñez, Roberto Argueta, José Huerta and José Leonel Búcaro.

EuroLat is a joint multilateral Parliamentarian Assembly composed of members of the European Parliament, the Latin American Parliament, the Andean Parliament, the Central American Parliament and the Parliament of Mercosur. Its importance is that it provides a parliamentary dimension to relations between the European Union and Latin America, represents a level of democratic legitimacy and parliamentary control of the political dialogue, the cooperation and the bi-regional economic relations in favour of transparency.

Presentation of the ‘PAIRCA II’ Program to the President of PARLACEN

During a Meeting, held in Guatemala city from 19th to 20th April, the executive director of the Central American System of Integration (SICA), Edgar Chamorro Marín, presented the Second Program to Support the Central American Integration (PAIRCA II) to the president of the Central American Parliament, Jacinto Suárez Espinoza. This program is funded by the European Union.

At the meeting, the guidelines of the management of PAIRCA II, the formulation of the projects as well as their working plans were presented.

The program was also presented to PARLACEN, represented by Vice President Nidia Díaz; the secretary of the Board of Parliament Carlos Morales Estupinián; the Nicaraguan Member of Parliament, Albertina Urbina; the secretary for Parliamentary Affairs Héctor Ruano and the adviser Patricia Marmol. The SICA was represented by the administrator of PAIRCA II, Ricardo Cáceres; the accountant, Oscar Romero; as well as the consultants Héctor Dada, Rony Abiú, Fernando Cortes and Diego Ruiz.

Inauguration of the Esquipulas Regional Forum

With the President of the Republic of Guatemala, Álvaro Colom, as well as the Vice-President Rafael Espada being present on Wednesday, 21st April, the inauguration of the Esquipulas regional forum “Post-conflict Social and Economic Challenges in Central America” was carried out.

At this event one could count on the participation of Licenciado Vinicio Cerezo Arévalo, former president of the Republic of Guatemala and founding president of the Esquipulas foundation for the Central American integratio the former president of Guatemala and metropolitan mayor Álvaro Arzú; the former President of Peru, Alejandro Toledo; the former President of Panama, Martín Torrijos; and the former President of Colombia, Ernesto Samper; the Secretary General of the Central American Integration System, Juan Daniel Alemán and the Secretary General of the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO), Francisco Rojas Aravena.

The program consists of five panels, including firstly: the post conflict, secondly: social development vs. economic growth, thirdly: economic recovery, fourthly: democratic governability and finally: urban security and regional defense.

On Thursday 22nd (April), in the panel on democratic governability, the President of the Central American Parliament, Jacinto Suárez Espinoza referred to the function of PARLACEN and the System of regional Integration for the governability and institutional strengthening of Central America and the Caribbean.

EUROLAT: realization of the important meeting of the Board and the Working Group on Migration issues

In the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina on 30th and 31st March 2010 the meeting of the Board of the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly – EUROLAT- and the working group on Migration issues on the relations between the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean was materialized. Both meetings took place at the National Congress.

At these activities, the Central American Parliament was represented by its President, Jacinto Suárez and the Member of Parliament Rodolfo Dougherty, Vice-President of the political commission and the Parliamentary affairs of PARLACEN and Member of EUROLAT.

Likewise, one could count on the participation of the representatives of the Mercosur Parliament, the Andean Parliament, the Latin American Parliament, the Parliaments of the United Mexican States and Chile, as well as the European Parliament.

At those meetings the participating parliamentarians talked - among other subjects- about the aftermaths of the tragedies of Haiti and Chile after the occurred earthquakes. In regard to that the necessity of bringing natural disasters prevention mechanisms to perfection, was agreed upon. An increased cooperation in this subject matter between both regions was brought about, and even the possibility of creating a supranational body of Latin America for the prevention of natural disasters was observed. More rigorous standards for the construction of buildings in the seismic regions were also encouraged. Moreover the creation of a Latin America – European Union forum for the prevention of natural disasters and humanitarian aid was promoted.

Resolution AP/12-217/2010, "On the Decision of the Central American States and the European Union Regarding the Negotiation of an Association Agreement"

During the plenary assembly the deputies of the Central American Parliament adopted the Resolution AP/12-217/2010, „On the Decision of the Central American States and the European Union Regarding the Negotiation of an Association Agreement Region to Region“.
The operative part of the document states:

1. Demonstrate before the Governments of the Member States the need to effectively assume the commitments made in the legal system of Central American integration and to participate in negotiating the European Union - Central America Association Agreement jointly, in terms not only of tactics but resources and negotiating strategies.
2. Manifest to the same meeting of Heads of State and Government the importance of honoring the commitments made in the negotiations mentioned, including the bargaining AND Coordination structure agreed,in the EU - Central America Association Agreement, addressed to strengthening the political and economic relations and the bi-regional cooperation.
3. Request to continue, based on the points indicated by the Central American Court of Justice, the negotiation process on the EU-Central America Association Agreement as agreed and not to allow that any state takes part individually as proposed by the state of Panama and the state of Costa Rica
4. Emphasize to the Heads of State and Government that the participation of all member states of the Integration System, particularly the State of Panama, in the negotiations for the EU-Central America Association Agreement is contingent upon effective participation in the parliamentary body of the integration, the Central American Parliament, and that therefore barriers that violate the rights of the legitimately elected Central American deputies, certified and sworn in by the body, should be eliminated.

 

Press release

The President of PARLACEN, Jacinto Suárez, expresses his solidarity with the people of Haiti

The President of the Central American Parliament, Deputy Jacinto Suárez, conveys his solidarity and expresses his condolences to the people of Haiti in these moments of pain, erased by the irreparable human and substantial sacrifices left behind by the grave earthquake which has devastated the territory of Haiti on the past 12th of January of this year.

Likewise we express our condolences to the United Nations and to all the countries which are participating in the stabilization of Haiti (MINUSTAH) for the tragic death of the members of their team and for the destruction of the domicile of MINUSTAH.

Moreover, there is an appeal not to lose sight of the fact that Haiti is one of the most impoverished countries, and has a very high vulnerability referring to natural disasters, the victim of which it has been over the past years.  That is the reason why there is a return to the application of the people of Haiti and an appeal to the community international, especially to the Association of the States of the Caribbean, to the Organization of the United States, to the Organization of the American States and to the national and regional parliaments to unite in this matter and to take urgent and concrete measures to mitigate the great damage caused by the earthquake and offer prompt humanitarian assistance to the government and the people of Haiti.

The Central American Parliament, which participates in the Euro-Central-American Conference as well as in Haiti, appeals to the European governments and the European Union to promote mechanisms of aid, support and cooperation as immediate, mid-term and long-term aid for Haiti.

The support and assistance to the sister nation must extend beyond these moments of emergency – it must extend to rebuilding the state and supporting the people of Haiti, who have suffered under centuries of colonialism and exploitation. The international community must exert their power and guarantee humanitarian aid to the Haitians for this disaster in particular; but they must also direct their efforts and resources towards the long-term reconstruction and development of Haitian society.

President Suarez participated as principal speaker in the Europe-Central American Conference

The 12 and 13 of  December 2009, was held the 4th Europe-Central American Conference, in the city of Saragossa, in which president Jacinto Suárez participated as principal orator. The conference was support by the council of Saragossa, the European Parliament, PARLACEN, the Spanish government as well as other institutions. The previous conferences took place in the period of 2003 until 2007 in Sevilla, Tenerifa and Palencia and were also attended by the presidents or vice-presidents of the PARLACEN .

Among the topics addressed they discussed notably the relation between the European Union (EU), Spain and Central America, within the Spanish presidency of the EU in the first 6 months of 2010. In may is going to be held the plenary session of the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly of EU in Sevilla and also the Summit of Heads of States from the EU and Latin America in Madrid.

President Suárez expressed his appreciation regarding the cooperation of the EU and Spain with Central America, indicating that the central-american integration it is in a state of crisis due to the coup of state in Honduras, the position of the government of Panama to go out of PARLACEN , the lack of initiatives during the presidency of Costa Rica in the System of Central American Integration ( SICA) among other reasons. In this conference the coup of state in Honduras has been condemned and as a principal goal the participants outlined the negotiations between both regions looking for an agreement of association and free trade which is expected to be reached in 2010.

In the context of this conference the Vice- President of the European Parliament,  Miguel Angel Martínez, and the President of the PARLACEN also had the occasion to meet.

President of PARLACEN on his official visit in Zaragoza

The President of PARLACEN, Jacinto Suárez, made an official visit as a special guest in Zaragoza, Spain, on the 11th of December 2009. During his visit he held a meeting with the mayor of this city, Juan Alberto Belloch. Zaragoza is the fourth most important city in Spain with 700 mil inhabitants. It is situated on the river Ebro. It is a beautiful city, founded by the emperor Caesar Augusto during the Roman epoch 2000 years ago.

President Suárez thanked Zaragoza for its generous cooperation with Central American cities. Among these are cities such as León, Nicaragua and Ciudad Delgado, El Salvador. The cooperation between Zaragoza and Central America sums up to about four million dollars.
Among the other guests at this visit in the city house of Zaragoza were the Minister for Planning of Costa Rica, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Belize, the Tourism Minister of Haiti, the Vice Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala and the Dominican Republic, the mayor of Mangua and the mayor of Ciudad Delgado. The visitors signed the golden book of the city, and together with Mayor Belloch, gave a press conference. 

The President of PARLACEN calls for everyone to promote the process of integration

Jacinto Suárez Espinoza, president of the Central American Parliament, urged the members of the Consultive Council of the Central American Integration System, CC- SICA, to join the process of assertively promoting the process of integration of the isthmus region.

“The process of integration is currently at a standstill during the presidency pro tempore of the SICA being held by Costa Rica´s president Oscar Arias Sanchez and additionally given the position of Panama” stated President Suárez Espinoza.

Facing the current inactivity caused by the lack of interest shown by President Arias Sanchez who, during his lead, has not yet called for one single meeting of the region´s representatives the bodies of CC- SICA, civil society in general as well as PARLACEN need to combine efforts in order to promote integration.

“Under the Presidency pro tempore of Costa Rica, Panama and Belize, the process of integration is going to experience 18 months of stagnation” reiterates Suárez Espinoza.

The rounds of CC- SICA in each country are going to hold a meeting similar to the one held in Managua this Monday in order to achieve a Central American meeting during which the regional integration is to be encouraged.

President Suárez added that the only integration, both Costa Rica and Panama, are interested in is economy- related. In order to accomplish economic integration, however, political integration through the PARLACEN is of prevailing importance.

In an analogous manner he denounced the perpetrated coup d´état against the legitimate government of Honduras. Furthermore he expressed the willingness of PARLACEN to contribute to the solution of the political crisis whenever requested by the conflict parties.

“Neither the OAS nor the UNO were able to revert the coup d´ état in Honduras which was perpetrated against the Constitutional President Manuel Zelaya Rosales. The PARLACEN therefore cannot do much either without the political commitment of the officials in favor of the coup.” Stated President Suárez.

9th of november 2009

New Board of Central American Parliament for 2009-2010 Period Jacinto Suárez elected as the new President of PARLACEN

The election process of the Board of the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN) took place on the 22nd and the assumption of office on the 28th of October 2009. The presidency for the period 2009-2010 is held by the state of Nicaragua, whose Member of Parliament Jacinto Suárez was elected with 53 votes by an electoral register of 97 Members of Parliament, out of which 88 were present.

The Vicepresidents remain as follows: for Honduras Víctor Manuel Galdámez; for Guatemala Jorge Mario Búcaro; for El Salvador Nidia Díaz and for Panamá Gilberto Succari. The secretaries of the Board of Parliament will be: Jorge Gallardo for Guatemala, Carlos Morales Estupinián for El Salvador, Ramiro Colindres for Honduras; María Haydee Osuna for Nicaragua and Sandra Noriega for Panamá. The following two Members of Parliament were named for the Dominican Republic: Sebastian Brito as Vicepresident and Rafael Gamundi as Secretary.

Dominican Republic : President Leonel Fernández inaugurates 18th Conference of the Political Parties

On August, the 26th until the 27th the 18th Conference of the Political Parties of Central America and the Carribean „Political Parties and the Integration facing the Global Crisis, Perspectives and Challenges“ was held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic initiated by the Political Commision of the Central American Parliament in collaboration with the secretary's office of Foreign Affairs . The opening ceremony of the event was headed by the Member of Parliament (MP) Radhamés Camacho, President of the Political Comission of PARLACEN, who thankfully acknowlegded the participation of the delegates of political parties from the Central Amerrican and the Dominican Republic in that important event. During the inauguration ceremony, the President of the Central American Parliament, Gloria Oquelí de Macotto, stated :“ These conferences are an enriching element for everyone of us, as political actors of our respective states, beyond our respective positions and with the yet gained experiences we shall gather our willingness to make the effort to adopt a commonly shared stance regarding the Central American Unity and the issues it is confronted with.“ The President of the PARLACEN went on to stress that „ its time to make an effort and support our government in the quest and elaboration of solutions to face the Crisis; and, if its inevitable to form oppositions we should pursue the aim of resisting to deploy unjust policies which entail great harm to the necessities of the poor, those in need and expropriated of our populations.“ The inauguration ceremony which went by the name of „Political Parties and the Integration facing the Global Crisis“ was in charge of honoured Mr. President Dr. Leonel Fernández who offered the opportunity to those attending the conference to exchange with him opinions and inquiries in terms of the introduced topic. Finally the conference „ Democracy and Integration“ was launched by the former President of Guatemala, Vinicio Cerezo Arévalo. „ The financial Crisis, Perspectives for our Countries“ was chaired by the former President of Panama, Martín Torrijos. Dr. Eduardo Fernadez went on to participate actively in introducing the topic „ The European Union: United in the face of the Crisis“. As a result of the 18th Conference of the Political Parties, the coup d’état in Honduras on the 28th of June 2009 was condemned; the government of Panamá was called on not to remove their country from PARLACEN; possible alternatives to overcome the global crisis were analized; and the following three declarations were aproved: Declaration of the 18th Conference of Central America and the Carribean 's Political Parties :„ The Political Parites and the Integration, in the face of the Global Crisis : Challenges and Perspectives“. 1 Declaration of the 18th Conference of Central America and the Carribean 's Political Parties on the coup d'état in Honduras. 2 Declaration of the 18th Conference of Central America and the Carribean 's Political Parties on the announcement of Panama on the Constitutional reaty of the Central American Parliament and other political institutions.

Female Politicians urge states to maintain their participation in those institutions in favor of the Central American Integration

Fourth regional meeting of the female member of the regional political parties: The project Esquipulas III of Women, facing the Crisis, took place on the 25th of August 2009 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and was attended by El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and the Domincan Republic . During the meeting important topics within the domain of Integration and Development were presented, such as “The Challenges of Women in the Region“, chaired by Maya Díaz Méndez, interim President of the Council of Ministers from Central America -COMMCA. Employment and Nutrition Security, was led by Mauricio Ramírez Villegas, representative of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO, in the Dominican Republic. Maritza Espinales, Coordinator of the Institut for Studies of Labour Unions of Central America and the Carribean , broached the issue of Sexual Abuse. Sexual Trade and Commercial Exploitation of Humans was being adressed by Rosa María Sánchez, regional civil servant of Save The Children and finally Roxana Roa, Sub-secretary of the state for the Youth of the Dominican Republic, emphasised the impact of the Crisis on young women. Following the presentation of the outcomes of the conference, the participants of the Regional Council endorsed a Declaration in which the member states of the SICA are urged to implement its incorporation as well as in the case of Panama to maintain its comprehensive participation concerning the organs and institutions of regional integration in order to – among other things – work together in a complementary manner.