Official Document. Conferencia Interamericana de Seguridad Social Inter-American Conference on Social Security

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1 CISS/GA/O/01/13 Official Document Conferencia Interamericana de Seguridad Social Inter-American Conference on Social Security July 25, 2013 English Version Minutes of the 27th General Assembly of the Inter-American Conference on Social Security San Salvador, El Salvador

2 Minutes of the 27th General Assembly of the Inter-American Conference on Social Security San Salvador, El Salvador The 27th General Assembly of the Inter-American Conference on Social Security was held starting at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday July 25, 2013 at the Hall of Honor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador. It was hosted by the Salvadoran Institute of Social Security and attended by full member representatives with voting rights from 24 of the 35 countries currently registered. The countries represented were the following. Anguilla Argentina Bahamas Barbados Belize Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Costa Rica Dominica Ecuador El Salvador United States of America Guatemala Honduras British Virgin Islands Mexico Panama Paraguay Peru Dominican Republic Saint Christopher and Nevis Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Turks and Caicos Islands Uruguay The General Assembly was attended by Mr. José Antonio González Anaya, President of the CISS; Mr. Reginald Thomas, Vice President 2013; Mr. Guillermo Sáez-Llorens, Vice President 2012; Mr. Leonardo José Rolim Guimarães, Vice President 2011; Mr. Juan Carlos Cortés González, Representative, Sub-region I, Andean; Mr. Leonel Flores Sosa, Representative, Sub-region II, Central American; Mr. Raúl Mongelós Schneider, Representative, Sub-region III, South Cone; Ms. Sephlin Lawrence, Representative, Sub-region IV, North America and the Englishspeaking Caribbean; Mr. Néstor Ricardo Rodríguez Ardila, Associated Member Representative; Mr. Nicolás Starck, in representation of Adherent and Related Members; Mr. Gilberto Quinche Toro, Comptroller; Mr. José Gabriel Martínez González, Secretary General and Mr. Miguel Ángel Fernández Pastor, Director of the Inter-American Center for Social Security Studies (CIESS). The meeting was attended by the following full members: Mr. Aikins Rogers, Social Security Board of Anguilla; Mr. Juan José Laxagueborde, National Social Security Administration of Argentina; Ms. Cecile Bethel, National Insurance Board of Bahamas; Ms. Jennifer Hunte, National Insurance Office of Barbados; Mr. Richard Flowers, Belize Social Security Board; Mr. René Mena Coca, National Health Insurance Institute of Bolivia; Mr. Pedro Contador Abraham, Ministry of Labor and Social Security of Chile; Mr. Luis Fernando Campos Montes, Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social; Ms. Janice Jean-Jacques Thomas, Dominica Social Security; Mr. Edmundo Rodrigo Cáceres Sánchez, Ecuadorian Social Security Institute; Mr. Vance Teel, Social Security Administration of the United States of America; Mr. Jim Byron Jui Baechli, Guatemalan Social Security Institute; Mr. Carlos Montes, 2

3 Honduran Social Security Institute; Ms. Antoinette Skelton, Social Security Board of the British Virgin Islands; Ms. Zaneta Burton, National Insurance Board of Turks and Caicos; and Mr. Roberto Baz, Ministry of Labor and Social Security of Uruguay. 1. Quorum Verification The Secretary General verified that a quorum was present to hold the Ordinary Meeting of the 27th General Assembly in accordance with Articles 53 and 54 of the Bylaws and Article 22 of the Rules of the General Assembly. The list including the signatures of the 24 full member representatives present is attached to these minutes as APPENDIX 1. Mr. José Antonio González Anaya, President of the CISS, presided over the meeting. The President presented the following agenda: 1. Approval of the Minutes of the 26th General Assembly held in Panama on September 21, Reading of the draft Statement prepared by the Permanent Committee. 3. Presentation of the Triennial Activity Report and Work Program for the period of the Secretariat General. 4. Triennial financial and budget report of the CISS. 5. Presentation of the report and work program of the Director of the CIESS for the period Report of the Comptroller. 7. Presentation of the Triennial Activity Report and Work Program of the American Social Security Commissions for the period Presentation of the Triennial Activity Report and Work Program of the Subregions for the period Election of Authorities and related report. 10. Formal presentation of CISS Authorities for the period Reforms to the Bylaws and Regulations of the CISS. 12. General Matters: a) Affiliation requests b) Proposal, venue and date for the 28th General Assembly The members unanimously approved the agenda. 1. Minutes of the 26th General Assembly held in Panama The President asked for approval of the Minutes of the 26th General Assembly held on September 21, 2010 in Panama, which are attached to these Minutes as APPENDIX 2 and had been previously distributed to CISS members as Document 3

4 CISS/SG/A/10/01/B; he asked if there were any changes needed to be made to the minutes. Ms. Antoinette Skelton, representative from the Social Security Board of the British Virgin Islands, pointed out that the Minutes did not properly reflect the number of people that had participated in the 26th General Assembly, so the Minutes should be corrected. The President replied that note had been taken of her comment and that, where appropriate, the document would be modified. The President submitted the following resolution to the General Assembly: First Resolution: The General Assembly, as provided by Article 9 of the Rules of the General Assembly, approves the Minutes of its ordinary meeting held on September 21, Reading of the draft Statement drawn up by the Permanent Committee Moving on to the next item on the agenda, the President asked Dr. Gabriel Martinez, Secretary General, to read the Statement prepared by the Permanent Committee at the ordinary meeting held on July 25, which is to be presented for consideration of the General Assembly and is attached to the Minutes as APPENDIX The President asked the General Assembly whether they were in favor or against this Statement, and it was unanimously approved as follows: Second Resolution: The General Assembly, as provided by Article 12, Paragraph a) of the Bylaws, approves the following statement: The Inter-American Conference on Social Security, at its 27th General Assembly held in San Salvador, El Salvador, as provided by Article 12, Paragraph b) of its Bylaws, and considering: That the principle of respect of autonomy that guides the relationship among the different bodies that constitute the Conference is fundamental for these bodies to function properly for the sake of social security activities promoted among its members; That the Inter-American Center for Social Security Studies is a body of the Conference that is accountable to the General Assembly and the Permanent Committee; That at the 3rd Extraordinary General Assembly held on November 7, 2003 in Barbados, CISS members said that it would be advisable to define the 4

5 responsibilities of the Secretary General and the Director of the Inter-American Conference on Social Security more clearly, and That the CIESS, as the teaching, training and research body of the Conference, enjoys full administrative, financial, academic and management autonomy to carry out its statutory responsibilities, subject to the provisions of the Bylaws and its internal Regulations, approves the following STATEMENT In keeping with the reasons for the Bylaws Reform approved at the 3rd Extraordinary General Assembly, the administrative, financial, academic and management autonomy enjoyed by the Inter-American Center for Social Security Studies to carry out its statutory responsibilities is ratified, subject to the provisions of the Bylaws and its Internal Regulations, without prejudice to its obligation to be accountable for its performance. In addition, to formalize these principles in the Bylaws of the Conference, it instructs the Permanent Committee to create a Revisory Commission responsible for analyzing and issuing an opinion on, should it be necessary, a proposal to amend the Bylaws, which should be presented at the Extraordinary Meeting of the General Assembly scheduled for This Statement is made in San Salvador, El Salvador on July 25, Triennial Activity Report and Work Program of the Secretariat General, and Triennial Financial and Budget Report of the CISS The Secretary General talked about the most significant items on the Activity Report for and the Work Program for of the Secretariat General of the CISS. This document had been previously forwarded to members and distributed at the General Assembly Meeting. The Secretary General also presented financial projections for ; the document is attached to these Minutes as APPENDIX 4. The President asked the General Assembly to approve the following resolution: Third Resolution: The General Assembly, as provided in Articles 12, Paragraphs c), d),and i) and 22, Paragraphs e), g) h) and n) of the Bylaws; Articles 3, Paragraphs 14, 15, and 22 of the Rules of the Secretariat General; and Articles 14 and 15 of the Financial Regulations, approves the Activity Report and Financial and Budget Report for , as well as the Activity Program and Financial Projections for presented by the Secretariat General. It also approves the fee scheme suggested by the CISS, anticipated in the Report presented by the Secretariat General. 5

6 4. Report and Work Program for of the Office of the Director of the CIESS. Taking up the next item on the agenda, Mr. Miguel Ángel Fernández Pastor, Director of the CIESS, mentioned the timely distribution of the report, attached to these minutes as APPENDIX 5, to CISS members. He thanked the Salvadoran Social Security Institute and the Government of El Salvador, the President of the Conference and international organizations such as ISSO, ISSA and PAHO. He talked about the future of the CISS, and bid an emotional farewell, expressing that he hoped the CIESS would continue to be a social transformation tool at the service of people. He expressed his appreciation to CIESS staff members and asked the new authorities to make use of the program he had presented and continue fostering training and education for member institution officials. He bid farewell to the Assembly and asked to be remembered as the one who tried to make changes for the benefit of the CIESS. He expressed that his greatest desire was that whoever replaced him work as hard and have the same will to transform society. He ended by pointing out that the CIESS was a wonderful tool to transform society and should be at the service of the people. The President thanked him and recognized his work as head of the CIESS. Mr. Luis Fernando Campos Montes, representative from Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social, a full member, requested that the report be forwarded as early as possible from now on. The President asked the General Assembly to approve the following resolution: Fourth Resolution: The General Assembly, as provided by Articles 12, Paragraph c) and 27, Paragraph j) of the Bylaws of the CISS, takes note of the Report and Activity Program of the CIESS for the period Report of the Comptroller of the CISS As the next item on the agenda, and in accordance with Article 25, Paragraph b) of the Bylaws of the CISS, Mr. Gilberto Quinche Toro, Comptroller, presented his report, mentioning that the financial performance of the CISS had been satisfactory and complied with Mexican financial reporting standards. He indicated that his report was based on the audit performed by PricewaterhouseCoopers, S.C. in accordance with international and national accounting standards. He mentioned KPMG s Assessment of Internal Controls, which he had implemented as a corporate governance mechanism in the Conference. The report and 6

7 recommendations of the Comptroller are attached to these Minutes as APPENDIX 6. The President asked the General Assembly to approve the following resolution: Fifth Resolution: The General Assembly, as provided in Articles 23 and 25, Paragraph b) of the Bylaws, and Article 9 of The Rules of the General Assembly, takes note of the report on the financial results of the CISS for fiscal 2012 presented by the Comptroller. It also takes note of his comments on good corporate governance and the Internal Control System and Administrative Dispute Resolution. 6. Triennial Activity Report for and Work Program for of the American Social Security Commissions The Presidents of the six American Social Security Commissions presented, both verbally and in writing, their Triennial Report and Work Program for the period The reports presented by the following Commissions are attached to these Minutes as APPENDICES 7 through 12. American Medical Social Commission American Commission on Organization and Administrative Systems American Legal Social Commission American Actuarial and Finance Commission American Commission for the Prevention of Workplace Risks American Older Adult Commission The President asked the General Assembly to approve the following resolution: Sixth Resolution: The General Assembly, as provided by Articles 12, Paragraph c), and 38, Paragraph h) of the Bylaws, and Article 6, Paragraph e) of the Internal Regulations of the American Social Security Commissions, approves the Triennial Activity Reports for and Work Programs for presented by the American Social Security Commissions. In addition, as provided by Article 12, Paragraph g) of the Bylaws and Article 2 of the Internal Regulations of the American Social Security Commissions, the General Assembly approves the name change of the American Medical Social Commission, which from now on will be called the American Commission on Health, Safety and Social Well-Being. 7

8 7. Triennial Activity Reports and Work Programs for of the Sub-regions Next, in accordance with Article 46, Paragraph b) of the Bylaws of the CISS, the President of the General Assembly indicated that Sub-region Coordinators had presented their reports before the Permanent Committee at a previous meeting, as well as to the members of the Sub-regions on July 24, in San Salvador, El Salvador. The reports had been presented by: Sub-region I, Andean: Juan Carlos Cortés (Colombia) Sub-region II, Central American: Leonel Flores Sosa ( El Salvador) Sub-region III, South Cone: Raúl Mongelós Schneider (Paraguay) Sub-region IV, North America and the English-speaking Caribbean: Sephlin Lawrence (Saint Christopher and Nevis) Sub-region V, Mexico and the Latin Caribbean: The Secretary General presented the report in representation of the Sub-region. The reports presented by the Sub-regions are attached to these Minutes as APPENDICES 13 through 17. Mr. Raúl Mongelós Schneider, Representative, Sub-region III, South Cone, and President of the Social Security Institute, full member, pointed out that he had never witnessed so many debates and discussions in a meeting. He said this had been one of the most controversial meetings he had ever attended; a meeting where discussions had been held in hallways and criticism had been heavy. He also mentioned that a society that does not argue does not advance, but that in this meeting, this had not been the case; on the contrary, debates had been held, issues had been discussed, and agreements had been reached. He bid farewell to fellow CISS members and thanked them for their participation. The President asked the General Assembly to approve the following resolution: Seventh Resolution: The General Assembly, as provided by Articles 12, Paragraph c) and 43, Paragraph b) of the Bylaws, and Article 7 of the Internal Regulations of the Sub-regions, approves the Triennial Activity Reports for and the Work Programs for presented by the Sub-regions. 8. Election of CISS Authorities and related report The President of the CISS asked Mr. Gabriel Martínez, Secretary General, to present the report on Election of CISS Authorities for the period This document is attached to these Minutes as APPENDIX 18. The Secretary General pointed out that the report had been duly forwarded to full members with voting rights. 8

9 The Secretary General informed the General Assembly of a number of occurrences since the Meeting of the Permanent Committee held July 5, In the first place, the representative from the United States of America had declined nomination as candidate to the position of Vice President, so there were only three candidates to the position of Vice President, each representing a different Subregion, in accordance with the Bylaw. In the second place, as regards nomination of candidates to the position of Director of the CIESS, Ms. Elibeth Venegas Villalobos, from Costa Rica, and Mr. Juan Carlos Cortés González, from Colombia, had expressed that they shared a common vision of the future of the CIESS. Consequently, they had advised the Secretariat General that they were declining their nominations as candidates to the position of Director of the CIESS. In the third place, as regards nominations for the position of Vice President, the Secretariat General informed them that a candidate change had been received from the full member from Colombia and the new candidate was Mr. Juan Carlos Cortés González. With respect to this situation, the Secretariat General indicated that positions of authority were institutional and not personal; in other words, full members may change the person who represents them whenever they deem convenient, so their request was acceptable. Finally, the Secretary General informed them that the Office of the President of the CISS had nominated Mr. Juan Alfredo Lozano Tovar for the position of Secretary General. The Secretary General then read the nominations list: President: Mr. José Antonio González Anaya (Mexico) Vice President 2014: Mr. Reginald Thomas (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) Vice President 2015: Mr. Juan Carlos Cortés (Colombia) Vice President 2016: Mr. Leonardo Rolim Guimarães (Brazil) Comptroller: Mr. Nicolás Starck Aguilera (Chile) Secretary General: Mr. Juan Alfredo Lozano Tovar (Mexico) Director of the CIESS: Mr. Leonel Antonio Flores Sosa (El Salvador) In addition, the Secretary General pointed out that as there was only one candidate to each position, the vote could be taken by voice or show of hands if the General Assembly agreed. The President asked if the General Assembly agreed to using a voice vote for all positions and the General Assembly authorized it. The President asked the General Assembly to approve the following resolution: Eighth Resolution: The General Assembly, as provided by Articles 12, Paragraph e) and 22, Paragraph o) of the Bylaws, takes note of the report presented by the Secretariat General on nominations for Election of CISS Authorities for the period

10 In addition, as provided by Articles 12, Paragraph e), 18, 21, 23,34, 53, 54, 55 and 59 of the Bylaws, and Articles 1, 16, 17 and 18 of the Rules for Election of CISS Authorities, once the election process has been concluded, the General Assembly approves the election as CISS Authorities, whose terms shall begin on October 1, 2013 and end September 30, 2016, inclusive, of the following persons: President: Mr. José Antonio González Anaya (Mexico). Vice President 2014: Mr. Reginald Thomas (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines). Vice President 2015: Mr. Juan Carlos Cortés González (Colombia). Vice President 2016: Mr. Leonardo José Rolim Guimarães (Brazil). Comptroller: Mr. Nicolás Starck Aguilera (Chile). Secretary General: Mr. Juan Alfredo Lozano Tovar (Mexico). Director of the CIESS: Mr. Leonel Antonio Flores Sosa (El Salvador). After deliberation, the General Assembly approved these nominations for the period by voice vote The President thanked and recognized two important pillars of Social Security in America. He mentioned the outstanding work performed by Dr. Gabriel Martínez as Secretary General, who had contributed to strengthening Social Security in America. He also recognized Dr. Miguel Ángel Fernández Pastor s performance as Director of the Inter-American Center for Social Security Studies. Mr. Juan José Laxagueborde, Representative from the National Social Security Administration (ANSES), full member from Argentina, expressed his appreciation to the Mexican Government for hosting the CISS. On behalf of the Argentinean government, he recognized the work of the Mexican Government, which was admired in America, and said he was certain that Mexico, the country responsible for the Presidency of the CISS, would continue strengthening Social Security. 9. Formal presentation of CISS Authorities for the period Moving on to the next item on the agenda, the Secretary General presented a list of the heads and members of the American Social Security Commissions; Subregion Coordinators and representatives before the Permanent Committee and the Board of Directors of the CIESS. This document is attached to these Minutes as APPENDIX 19. Below is a list of those who were elected Presidents of the American Commissions; Sub-region Coordinators and representatives before the Permanent Committee; Sub-region representatives before the Board of Directors of the CIESS; and Associated Member Representatives before the Permanent Committee and the Board of Directors of the CIESS. American commission President Institution Country Organization and Administrative United Vance Teel Social Security Administration Systems (CAOSA) States 10

11 Actuarial Science and Financing (CAAF) Legal Social (CAJS) Older Adults (CADAM) Health, Safety and Social Well- Being (CASSBS) Prevention of Workplace Risks (CAPRT) José Elías Pacheco Jaimes Salvador Mikel Rivera Estela Atalef Juan Horacio González Gaviola Superintendencia de Salud y Riesgos Laborales Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado Asociación Mutual de los Agentes de los Organismos para la Tercera Edad Superintendencia de Riesgos de Trabajo Dominican Republic Mexico Argentina Argentina Rafael Rodríguez Cabrera Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social Mexico Sub-region Coordinator and Representative before the Permanent Committee Institution Country I Andean II Central American Rosa María Herbozo Álvaro Dubón González Superintendencia de Bancos y Seguros Instituto Guatemalteco de Seguridad Social Ecuador Guatemala III South Cone Raúl Mongelós Schneider Instituto de Previsión Social Paraguay IV North America and the Englishspeaking Caribbean V Mexico and the Latin Caribbean Janice Jean-Jacques Thomas Dominica Social Security Dominica Bárbara Mercedes López Casanova Instituto Nacional de Seguridad Social Cuba Sub-region I Andean Representative before the Board of Directors of the CIESS Rosa María Herbozo Institution Superintendencia de Bancos y Seguros Country Ecuador II Central American Ileana Balmaceda Arias Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social Costa Rica III South Cone Emanuel de Araujo Dantas Ministerio de Previdencia Social Brazil IV North America and the Englishspeaking Caribbean Sephlin Lawrence Social Security Board V Mexico and the Latin Caribbean Maritza Liriano Hernández Consejo Nacional de Seguridad Social Saint Christopher and Nevis Dominican Republic Associated Members Representative before the Permanent Committee Néstor Ricardo Rodríguez Ardila Institution Caja de Compensación Familiar Country Colombia Associated Members Representative before the Board of Directors of the Institution Country 11

12 CIESS Jorge D'Angelo Asociación Mutual de los Agentes de los Organismos para la Tercera Edad Argentina The General Assembly, as provided by Articles 12, Paragraph e) and 22, Paragraph o) of the Bylaws, takes note of American Social Security Commission authorities and Sub-region Coordinators, as well as of Associated Member Representatives before the Permanent Committee and the Board of Directors of the CIESS for the period Reforms to the Bylaws and Regulations of the CISS Moving forward, the President asked Dr. Gabriel Martínez, Secretary General, to present the Report of the Revisory Commission on projected reforms to the Bylaws of the CISS. The Secretary General presented the Report of the Bylaws Revisory Commission referring to the document distributed to members and attached to these Minutes as APPENDIX 20. The President submitted the following resolution to the General Assembly: Ninth Resolution: The General Assembly, as provided by Articles 12, Paragraph j), and 57 of the Bylaws, and Articles 39 and 40 of the Rules of the General Assembly, takes note of the report presented by the Bylaws Revisory Commission suggesting that this issue be revisited at the Permanent s Committee first meeting following the 27 th General Assembly. 11. General Matters Taking up the last item on the agenda, the President gave the floor to Dr. Gabriel Martínez, Secretary General, who provided information on affiliation and disaffiliation requests, as well as on the proposal regarding the venue and date of the 28th General Assembly. With respect to new affiliation requests, as well as to member disaffiliations in accordance with the Bylaws, the Secretary General referred to his report, approved in the third resolution of the General Assembly. In connection to the proposal regarding the venue for the next Ordinary Meeting, the Secretary General informed the General Assembly that to date, no proposals had been received. 12

13 The General Assembly, as provided in Article 12, Paragraph h) of the Bylaws, took note that until now, none of the members had presented a proposal to host the 28th General Assembly of the CISS. The President thanked to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador for their hospitality. With no further issues to discuss, the Ordinary Meeting of the 27 th General Assembly, held in San Salvador, El Salvador, was adjourned at 5:50 p.m. These Minutes were taken by Dr. Gabriel Martínez, General Assembly Secretary. 13