Tegucigalpa, April 9, 2025 — In light of the region’s current challenges, the Heads of State and high-level representatives of CELAC reached consensus on the so-called Tegucigalpa Declaration, the main document arising from these forums.

The eleven leaders present in Honduras, including the host President Xiomara Castro, underscored the continued relevance of the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, eleven years after its signing during the Second Summit held in Havana, Cuba.

A zone of peace grounded in the promotion and respect for the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and International Law, international cooperation, democracy, the rule of law, and multilateralism.

The document states that it is also based on the protection and promotion of all human rights, respect for self-determination, non-intervention in internal affairs, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

Likewise, representatives from 30 of the 33 CELAC member countries rejected the imposition of unilateral coercive measures contrary to International Law, including those that restrict international trade.

They affirmed their shared conviction that it is timely and appropriate for a national from a Latin American or Caribbean state to hold the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations.

They recalled that out of the nine individuals who have served as UN Secretary-General to date, only one hailed from a Latin American nation, and moreover, the position has never been held by a woman, they emphasized.

The high-level meeting highlighted the importance of coordinating joint CELAC interventions in multilateral forums on matters of common interest.

Members of the intergovernmental organization commended Honduras for its work during its term as Pro Tempore Presidency (PPT in Spanish) since 2024.

They highlighted, under the leadership of this Central American state, the convening of high-level meetings to share efforts and experiences in areas such as food security, women’s issues, education, coffee, energy, financial cooperation, climate change, and human mobility.

Additionally, they reaffirmed their willingness to continue political dialogue to deepen CELAC’s cooperation ties with other countries and regional blocs.

In this regard, they praised the progress achieved during meetings convened by the Honduran PPT on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

They welcomed Colombia as CELAC’s Pro Tempore Presidency (2025–2026) and endorsed its identified priorities for the mechanism’s work, including energy (energy transition and interconnection); human mobility; health and healthcare self-sufficiency; food security; environment and climate change.

Colombia’s pro tempore presidency will also focus on the situation of Indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples; science, technology, and innovation; connectivity and infrastructure; strengthening trade and investment; transnational organized crime; education; gender equality, among other areas.

The leaders expressed strong support for the stability of Haiti and committed to decisively contribute, in accordance with each country’s capacities, to support its efforts, alongside the international community, to restore a human security environment for the normalization of the political, economic, and social situation, with a comprehensive development approach.

Prensa Latina