BOGOTA, June 2 (Xinhua) -- The Organization of American States (OAS) is holding its 38th general assembly on June 1-3 in Medellin, Colombia, with the participation of 94 government officials, representatives from 34 member states and some international communities.

    This year's assembly will focus on youth and the consciousness of democracy.

    The OAS, an organization in the American region, traces its origins to the First International Conference of American States convened in Washington on April 14, 1890, when delegates from the United States and 17 Latin American countries created the International Union of American Republics and its secretariat, the Commercial Bureau of the American Republics.

    In 1948, the OAS charter was adopted at the Ninth International Conference of American States in Bogota and took effect in December 1951.

    The OAS brings together the nations of the Western Hemisphere to strengthen cooperation in democratic values, defend common interests and debate major issues facing the region and the world.

    The OAS is the region's principal multilateral forum for strengthening democracy, promoting human rights, and confronting shared problems such as poverty, terrorism, illegal drugs and corruption.

    The regional bloc bases its headquarters in Washington and its European office in Geneva. It also has offices in each member state.

    The OAS is made up of 35 member states: the independent nations of North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. The government of Cuba, a member state, has been suspended from participation since 1962. Thus only 34 countries participate actively.

    Sixty nations from other parts of the world participate as permanent observers, which allows them to closely follow the issues that are critical to the American countries.

    The top power organ of the OAS is the general assembly which is held annually.

    The general secretary is elected by the assembly with a term of five years. The current secretary is Jose Miguel Insulza of Chile.