Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard R. Verma will lead the U.S. delegation to the 54th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Asunción, Paraguay. He will join U.S. Ambassador to the OAS Francisco O. Mora, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian A. Nichols, and Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for the Western Hemisphere at the National Security Council Daniel P. Erikson. Deputy Secretary Verma will engage regional partners to discuss strengthening the rule of law, advancing respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and defending democratic institutions.
The United States will support key resolutions related to strengthening regional democracy; the situation in Nicaragua; freedom of religion or belief; the human rights of LGBTI+ persons; disaster response; legislative engagement; as well as security, human rights, and democracy in Haiti.
Deputy Secretary Verma will chair a side event organized by the Voluntary Group for the Follow-Up of the Inter-American Democratic Charter and join a session of the Summit of the Americas Summit Implementation Review Group. U.S. delegation members will also lead meetings on the situation in Venezuela and chair a dialogue of the OAS LGBTI Core Group of member states. Deputy Secretary Verma will also meet with Paraguayan President Peña to discuss bilateral economic cooperation and joint efforts to protect democratic institutions, strengthen cybersecurity, and combat corruption.
