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TheChristian Democrat Organization of America (ODCA, Spanish:Organización Demócrata Cristiana de América; Portuguese:Organização Democrata Cristã da América) is an international organization made up of political parties, groups, and associations inNorth America andSouth America that promote the principles ofChristian humanism. Affiliated with theCentrist Democrat International, it is a regional partner of theEuropean People's Party and regional organizations of Christian Democratic parties inAsia andAfrica.[1]
Each of the member parties is different, sometimes having differing views ofChristian democracy itself. Some of the member parties are in government in their country, others are in the coalition government, and others are not in government. Currently, there are 30 member political parties in 21 countries with a constituency representing 30% of all registered voters in Latin America and 10% of the entire population of the region.
On April 23, 1947, during a meeting inMontevideo (Uruguay), a group of politicians fromArgentina,Brazil,Chile, and Uruguay agreed on the need to create an international organization ofChristian Democrats inLatin America. Later they were joined by representatives of the Christian Democrats ofBolivia andPeru. At the Montevideo meeting, an "International Section" was created, which included Manuel Vicente Ordonez (Argentina), Trisao de Ataide (Brazil), Eduardo Frei Montalva (Chile), and Dardo Regules (Uruguay). The declaration adopted by the participants in the Montevideo meeting on April 23, 1947, proclaimed the goal of the new organization to create a movement on a supranational basis that would contribute to the achievement of real political, economic, and cultural democracy based on the principles ofChristian humanism, respect for the human person and the spirit of community development, opposingtotalitarianism.[2]
On July 25–31, 1949, a second meeting was held at theCatholic Club of Montevideo with the participation of representatives from Argentina, Brazil,Colombia, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay, which were joined by politicians fromEcuador and Bolivia.[2]
On July 29, 1961, the World Christian Democratic Union (now the Centrist Democratic International) was founded inSantiago, Chile. Since the founding of the Christian Democratic International, the Christian Democratic Organization of America has been a part of it and a regional organization.[1]
At the XVI Congress on October 8, 2000, in Santiago, Chile, the organization's current strategy was formulated, aimed at increasing the participation in its work of humanist and centrist parties, whose views are close to Christian democracy.[2]
At an extraordinary congress inPanama City (Panama) on May 7, 2011, the Charter was approved, which currently regulates the activities of the organization.[2]
On August 9, 2025, the organization suspended the ChileanChristian Democratic Party for its support ofJeannette Jara, candidate of theCommunist Party of Chile in the2025 Chilean general elections. The organization argued that the "Communist Party of Chile has ideological affinities with authoritarian regimes responsible for human rights violations, such as those ofVenezuela,Cuba, andNicaragua. This support not only contradicts the historical legacy of Christian Humanism in Chile, but also undermines the international credibility of the ODCA as a defender of democracy and republican values."[3]
I Congress — April 23, 1947, Montevideo (Uruguay)
II Congress — July 25–31, 1949, Montevideo (Uruguay)
III Congress — December 1955, Santiago (Chile)
IV Congress — September 1957,Sao Paulo (Brazil)
V Congress — October 1959,Lima (Peru)
VI Congress — 1964,Caracas (Venezuela)
VII Congress — December 1969,Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic)
VIII Congress — August 29 - September 1, 1974,Willemstad (Curacao)
IX Congress — November 1977, Caracas (Venezuela)
X Congress — December 3–5, 1981, Caracas (Venezuela)
XI Congress — 1985
XII Congress — 1990
XIII Congress — November 28–30, 1991, Caracas (Venezuela)
XIV Congress — July 1–2, 1995,San Jose (Costa Rica)
XV Congress — April 2–4, 1998, San Jose (Costa Rica)
XVI Congress — October 8, 2000, Santiago (Chile)
XVII Congress — October 25, 2003, Caracas (Venezuela)
XVIII Congress — November 11, 2006, Santiago (Chile)
XIX Congress — July 30–31, 2010,San Salvador (El Salvador)
XX Congress — 23–24 August 2013,Mexico City (Mexico)
The highest organ of the Christian Democratic Organization of America is the Congress, which elects the Council and the Steering Committee, as well as the Presidium, which, together with the Executive Secretariat, exercises the operational leadership of the organization.
Argentina –Christian Democratic Party Argentina –Justicialist Party
Aruba –Aruban People's Party
Bolivia –Christian Democratic Party Bolivia –Democrat Social Movement
Brazil –Brazil Union
Caribbean Netherlands –Bonaire Patriotic Union Caribbean Netherlands –Windward Islands People's Movement
Chile –Christian Democratic Party (suspended as of 2025)[4]
Colombia –Colombian Conservative Party
Costa Rica –Social Christian Unity Party
Cuba –Cuban Democratic Directorate Cuba –Christian Democratic Party of Cuba Cuba –Christian Liberation Movement Cuba –Cuban Democratic Project
Curaçao –National People's Party
Dominican Republic –Social Christian Reformist Party
Ecuador –Christian Democratic Union
El Salvador –Christian Democratic Party
Haiti –Rally of Progressive National Democrats
Honduras –Christian Democratic Party of Honduras Honduras –National Party of Honduras
Mexico –National Action Party
Panama –People's Party
Paraguay –Christian Democratic Party
Peru –Christian People's Party
Trinidad and Tobago –United National Congress
Uruguay –Christian Democratic Party of Uruguay
Venezuela –COPEI Brazil –Brazilian Social Democracy Party Brazil –Christian Democracy
Guatemala –Guatemalan Christian Democracy Peru –Christian Democrat Party Venezuela –National Convergence
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