From the editor.

• Position: Editorial

It has been an unthinkably difficult year for Haiti. On top of the devastation of the January 2010 earthquake, the country has had to face the destructive force of hurricanes, landslides, and floods. Now, the hemisphere's poorest nation is also facing a cholera epidemic. It is with no small amount of admiration that we see Haitians keeping hope alive and continuing to fight for survival with dignity. They are relying on their own dally strength and initiative and on international humanitarian assistance.

For the OAS and the entire inter-American system, the commitment to Haiti is still top priority. This issue of Américas provides a glimpse into some of the work being carried out by these organizations alongside the Haitian people. In many ways the work is still one of emergency response. It is not easy and it is far from being completed, but as the OAS Deputy Secretary General says: "The goal is to facilitate political stability in the long term ... and in the short term, to make sure those simmering pots have enough food to feed Haiti's families."

In 2011, the Inter-American Democratic Charter will complete its first decade. This issue of Américas opens a space to discuss the progress made since the 34 foreign ministers of the hemisphere signed the...