Christian Democrat Organization of America

The Christian Democrat Organization of America (ODCA, Spanish: Organización Demócrata Cristiana de América; Portuguese: Organização Democrata Cristã da América) is an international organization made up of political parties, groups, and associations in North America and South America that promote the principles of Christian humanism. Affiliated with the Center Democratic International, it is a regional partner of the European People's Party and regional organizations of Christian Democratic parties in Asia and Africa.^[1]

Each of the member parties is different, sometimes having differing views of Christian democracy itself. Some of the member parties are in government in their country, others are in the coalition government, and others are not in government. Currently, there are 30 member political parties in 21 different countries with a constituency representing 30% of all registered voters in Latin America and 10% of the entire population of the region.

History

On April 23, 1947, during a meeting in Montevideo (Uruguay), a group of politicians from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay agreed on the need to create an international organization of Christian Democrats in Latin America. Later they were joined by representatives of the Christian Democrats of Bolivia and Peru. At the Montevideo meeting, an “International Section” was created, which included Manuel Vicente Ordonez (Argentina), Trisao de Ataide (Brazil), Eduardo Frei Montalva (Chile), and Dardo Regules (Uruguay). The declaration adopted by the participants in the Montevideo meeting on April 23, 1947, proclaimed the goal of the new organization to create a movement on a supranational basis that would contribute to the achievement of real political, economic, and cultural democracy based on the principles of Christian humanism, respect for the human person and the spirit of community development, opposing totalitarianism.^[2]

On July 25-31, 1949, a second meeting was held at the Catholic Club of Montevideo with the participation of representatives from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay, which were joined by politicians from Ecuador and Bolivia.^[2]

On July 29, 1961, the World Christian Democratic Union (now the Centrist Democratic International) was founded in Santiago, Chile. Since the founding of the Christian Democratic International, the Christian Democratic Organization of America has been a part of it and a regional organization.^[1]

At the XVI Congress on October 8, 2000, in Santiago, Chile, the organization's current strategy was formulated, aimed at increasing the participation in its work of humanist and centrist parties, whose views are close to Christian democracy.^[2]

At an extraordinary congress in Panama City (Panama) on May 7, 2011, the Charter was approved, which currently regulates the activities of the organization.^[2]

Congresses

I Congress — April 23, 1947, Montevideo (Uruguay)

II Congress — July 25-31, 1949, Montevideo (Uruguay)

III Congress — December 1955, Santiago (Chile)

IV Congress — September 1957, Sao Paulo (Brazil)

V Congress — October 1959, Lima (Peru)

VI Congress — 1964, Caracas (Venezuela)

VII Congress — December 1969, Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic)

VIII Congress — August 29 - September 1, 1974, Willemstad (Curacao)

IX Congress — November 1977, Caracas (Venezuela)

X Congress — December 3-5, 1981, Caracas (Venezuela)

XI Congress — 1985

XII Congress — 1990

XIII Congress — November 28-30, 1991, Caracas (Venezuela)

XIV Congress — July 1-2, 1995, San Jose (Costa Rica)

XV Congress — April 2-4, 1998, San Jose (Costa Rica)

XVI Congress — October 8, 2000, Santiago (Chile)

XVII Congress — October 25, 2003, Caracas (Venezuela)

XVIII Congress — November 11, 2006, Santiago (Chile)

XIX Congress — July 30-31, 2010, San Salvador (El Salvador)

XX Congress — 23-24 August 2013, Mexico City (Mexico)

Structure

The highest organ of the Christian Democratic Organization of America is the Congress, which elects the Council and the Steering Committee, as well as the Presidium, which, together with the Executive Secretariat, exercises the operational leadership of the organization.