Caribbean Region
In the Caribbean, DPA works primarily at the regional level in support of the efforts of the Caribbean Community ( CARICOM ) to address issues of concern to governments and peoples of the region. DPA has a collaborative working relationship with the political arm of CARICOM – the Directorate for Foreign and Community Relations. An important focus of this relationship is UN-CARICOM cooperation and the bi-annual high-level meetings between the two organizations. These meetings have most recently addressed key regional issues such as the lingering impact of the global economic crisis, the rise in violent crime linked to the transnational illicit trade in drugs and small arms, as well as climate change and the capacity of Caribbean islands to adequately respond to natural disasters and environmental crises. The latest meeting, the Sixth General Meeting between the United Nations system and the Caribbean Community and its associated institutions, was held at the CARICOM headquarters in Georgetown, Guyana, on 28 and 29 July 2011.
As part of the follow-up to this meeting, DPA has strengthened its partnership with CARICOM's Directorate for Foreign and Community Relations (FCR) on strategic and policy-related matters of importance to both organizations. In July 2012, DPA organized for the first time a "desk-to-desk" dialogue, whereby an FCR delegation travelled to UN Headquarters in New York and held working sessions with counterparts from 12 different UN offices that are relevant to CARICOM’s work.
The Department of Political Affairs also provides country-specific assistance in a number of instances:
In Guyana, DPA works with UNDP and other UN partners since 2003 in support of political stability and social cohesion in Guyana .
In Haiti, DPA provides support to the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti ( MINUSTAH ) on political matters, including the organization of elections. This support increased considerably following the devastating earthquake of 12 January 2010.
On Cuba, DPA prepares the Secretary-General’s report on the implementation of the resolution entitled “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba” [ see last report ] A/66/114. The report, which has been issued since 1992, compiles information offered by Governments, as well as agencies of the United Nations system, on the implementation of the resolution.