Organization of American States

The Organization of American States (OAS) is an intergovernmental organization comprised of 34 independent nations in North, Central, and South America, as well as island nations in the Caribbean. In 2004, the OAS member states adopted the Inter-American Comprehensive Strategy for Cybersecurity. The strategy identifies cybersecurity as an emerging threat to OAS member states and requires three OAS entities to take action to address different aspects of cybersecurity. Specifically, the strategy directs the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE) to develop plans for the creation of a hemisphere-wide, 24-hours-per-day, 7-days-per-week network of Computer Security Incident Response Teams. In addition, the strategy directs the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) to evaluate existing technical cybersecurity standards, recommend the adoption of particularly important cybersecurity standards, and identify obstacles to implementing those cybersecurity standards within the Americas.

Finally, the strategy directs the Meetings of Ministers of Justice or Other Ministers or Attorneys General of the Americas (REMJA), through the Group of Government Experts on Cyber-Crime, to provide technical assistance to member states in drafting and enacting effective computer crime laws to protect information systems and facilitate investigations and prosecutions.