Resolutions 2017

In Buenos Aires, Argentina, on August 15, 2017, the Board of Directors held a meeting attended by Board Members Santiago Pereira (President), Manuel Montecino (Vice President), Pedro Dallari, Douglass Cassel, George Thomson and Daniel Petrone. By virtue of Article 13 of its Statutes and Articles 18 and 19 of its Regulations, this body hereby:
  1. Extends its congratulations through the Executive Director to the new board members elected during the XLVII OAS General Assembly held in Cancún, Mexico, who will join this body on January 1, 2018: Margarita de Hegedus of Uruguay and Alexis Mera of Ecuador. The Board Members personally extend their congratulations to George Thomson of Canada, who renews his term on the Board.
  2. Extends its thanks through the Executive Director to the Minister of Justice and Human Rights of Argentina, Germán Garavano, for the support provided for the organization of this Board Meeting and Board Member Daniel Petrone of Argentina for the work that he has done to ensure the success of this regular session.
  3. Approves the Activities and Financial Reports for the first half of 2017 presented by Executive Director Jaime Arellano and congratulates the Executive Director and JSCA’s staff on the results achieved. The fact that the Center has maintained a balanced budget so far this year while continuing to engage in a very high level of quality activities and develop its presence is especially worthy of note.
  4. The Board ratifies its decision to continue to move forward with efforts to reach an agreement with the OAS to regulate JSCA’s work in MACCIH. The Board notes that it is particularly concerned about this project and asks the Executive Director to keep this body informed of the progress made in regard to this matter. The Board reiterates the need for such work to reflect the guidelines established by this body in regard to maintaining JSCA’s political independence and the technical profile of its work.
  5. Grants the Executive Director broad powers to include the recommendation that the member states advance female candidates for openings on the JSCA Board of Directors in the next report to the OAS Commission on Juridical and Political Affairs (CAJP) in accordance with REMJA recommendations to JSCA offered in 2002 in the context of the Inter-American Program on the Promotion of the Human Rights of Women and Gender Equity and Equality (PIA). This also represents the continuation of the line agreed to by this body through Resolution No. 7 of its XXIX Regular Session held on November 21, 2014 in Toronto, Canada.
  6. Charges with Executive Director with continuing to develop contacts with English-speaking Caribbean nations through the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and the Caribbean Association of Judicial Officers (CAJO). JSCA has agreed to implement two activities with these entities: the First Caribbean Meeting on Judicial Reform (with the CCJ) and participation in and support for the V Biennial Conference of CAJO. Additionally, this body charges the Executive Director with continuing the efforts deployed in Haiti and Puerto Rico with the objective of cooperating on the development of their justice systems and learning from their experiences.
  7. Invites Board Members-Elect Margarita de Hegedus and Alexis Mera to attend the XXXIV Session of the Board of Directors in December as observers.
  8. Ratifies the agreements signed by the Executive Director during the first half of 2017 (see “Agreements” annex).
  9. Approves the External Audit for 2016 conducted by Crowe Howarth Auditores Consultores Ltda. following the review of the financial statements by the Executive Director.
  10. Unanimously renews the mandate of the Executive Director, Jaime Arellano Quintana, for a new four-year period (2018-2021) in accordance with Article 14 Number 4 of the Statutes.
  11. The Board agrees to hold its next meeting on Friday, December 15, 2017 at JSCA’s offices in Santiago de Chile. The Executive Director is, however, asked to explore the possibility of holding the meeting on December 8 of this year in Panama City, Panama. The Executive Director will coordinate with the Board President and will report on the final date and location in a timely manner.

The Board of Directors of the Justice Studies Center of the Americas met on December 15, 2017 in Santiago de Chile. The meeting was attended by Board members Santiago Pereira (President), Manuel Montecino (Vice President), Pedro Dallari, Douglass Cassel, George Thomson (via videoconference) and Daniel Petrone. By virtue of Article 13 of its Statutes and Articles 18 and 19 of its Regulations, the Board hereby resolves:

  1. To welcome new members-elect Margarita de Hegedus of Uruguay and Alexis Mera of Ecuador, who are attending this meeting of the Board of Directors as observers;
  2. To approve the 2017 Annual and Financial Reports presented by JSCA Executive Director Jaime Arellano, extending special recognition to and congratulating the Executive Director and JSCA’s staff for the results obtained;
  3. To grant special recognition for and highlight the achievements of the first term of Executive Director Jaime Arellano (2014-2017), which ends on December 31. When he was elected by this Board, Arellano was charged with increasing JSCA’s activities, making the Center more visible in the region, procuring funding to sustain this activity and visibility, and balancing the budget. He has done all of this and more.
  4. To approve the 2018 JSCA Plan of Action and Budget presented  by the Executive Director;
  5. To approve the JSCA Gender Equality Policy, which is designed to include the gender perspective in JSCA’s mission, vision, objectives and activities and to promote it in the region’s justice systems.
  6. To ratify the agreements signed by the Executive Director during 2017 (“Agreements” Annex).
  7. To unanimously elect Manuel Montecino Board President and Daniel Petrone Board Vice President under Articles 11 and 12 of the Regulations for the period beginning January 1, 2018.
  8. To thank outgoing Board President Santiago Pereira and Board Vice President Manuel Montecino for their work in 2017. During this period, they have been very active and played a key role in increasing JSCA’s presence in the region and strengthening its institutional structure;
  9. To thank Board Members Santiago Pereira and Pedro Dallari, who are completing their terms as JSCA Board Members, for their contributions. Santiago Pereira served as a Board Member from 2012 to 2017, as Board Vice President (2015-2016) and as Board President (2017). Pedro Dallari served as a Board Member from 2012 to 2017;
  10. To charge all Board Members with making their best efforts to obtain voluntary contributions from their countries and offers of financing for future Board Meetings, which could potentially be held in their respective countries; and
  11. To charge the Executive Director with taking the steps necessary to hold a mid-term Board Meeting during the first half of 2018 on a date and in a location to be agreed upon with the Board President.