Magdalena Talamas is the Director for the Department for the Promotion of Peace of the Organization of American States and has served as the Special Representative of the Secretary General in the peace talks between Belize and Guatemala.
The Organization of American States (OAS) is the premier forum for political dialogue in the region and has played an essential role in peace building and conflict resolution in its member States. On this occasion Magdalena Talamas, OAS Director for the Department for the Promotion of Peace, has shared unique insights into a successful peace process that was facilitated under OAS auspices. Prior to her current position, Ms. Talamas served as the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the OAS for Belize-Guatemala Affairs, the first of few females to receive this distinction at the OAS. She also oversaw for more than a decade the Belize-Guatemala Civilian Peace-Keeping Mission on the ground and managed the OAS Peace Fund, the latter still under her purview. The 2021 annual John Burton Lecture is part of High Level Mediation Training of diplomatic missions in the Americas in partnership with OAS and the Forum of Federations.