From responding to prevent, the transformation of the Inter-American system for the peaceful settlement of territorial disputes. Case study: territorial dispute between Guatemala and Belize

Abstract

Conflicts between States are not alien to the international reality, it might even seem that there are more and more conflicts of interest at a global level, the American hemisphere is not far from this type of phenomena, events that are reflected in the diversity of focus of attention by the States. Therefore, in this academic article we intend to make a general introspection of the functioning of the Organization of American States (OAS), its objectives and positions in the face of controversies that arise in the continent, as well as the Pact of Bogotá, which expresses the will and highlights the need for useful mechanisms for international negotiations without hostile intent and also the instruments that provide a legal framework for the peaceful settlement of disputes to member states, recognizing that conflicts are a latent problem and that the institution intends to provide international treaties that identify them and in turn, provide a peaceful response to them. This in view of analyzing the future steps of the organization, focusing on prevention as an action against the consequences of territorial conflicts, taking as a reference the work of the OAS Peace Mission in the case of the territorial dispute of Belize against Guatemala.