The movement towards regional integration in the Americas has a long history driven by aspirations for greater economic, political, and military strength.  In 1947, after witnessing the magnitude and devastation of the World Wars, the American states forged a military alliance by signing the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (Rio Treaty), Rio de Janeiro.  Shortly thereafter, during the Ninth International Conference of American States and in the context of heightening Cold War tensions, the U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall led American nations in a pledge to fight communism in the Americas (March - May 1948).  It was in this same meeting, on April 30, 1948, that 21 American states signed the Charter of the Organization of American States and created the OAS, in effect since December 1951.  This meeting also witnessed the adoption of the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man by the majority of member states as the OAS's first general human rights instrument.

Within the framework of the Organization of American States, the elaboration of new international standards regarding the rights of indigenous peoples and the promotion and protection of these rights through the OAS regional system of human rights are especially significant.  All such endeavors to articulate and promote indigenous rights must incorporate, reinforce, and reflect indigenous peoples' own perspective, especially as regards their collective rights.  Towards these ends, the following aspects of OAS activities are of particular importance:

1. The Draft American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

2. The Inter-American System of Human Rights (under construction)