The Organization of American States convenes its 56th General Assembly in Panama this June 22–24 at a defining moment for our hemisphere. We are living through a period of profound complexity: Democratic institutions are under strain, elections are being contested, organised crime threatens our societies, economic and social inequalities persist, and international cooperation is being put to the test. No one disputes that this juncture is testing our capacity to sustain the hope and optimism necessary to confront and overcome these challenges.