Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

IACHR

What is the IACHR?

The IACHR is the principal organ of the OAS mandated to protect and

promote human rights in the Americas

Article 106

There shall be an Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, whose principal function shall be to promote the observance and protection of human rights and to serve as a consultative organ of the Organization in these matters.

An inter-American convention on human rights shall determine the structure, competence, and procedure of this Commission, as well as those of other organs responsible for these matters.

Pursues its mandate in conjunction with that of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, established by the American Convention

The IACHRThe IACHR is composed of 7 membersThe members are elected by the member States and serve in an individual capacity for 4 years

Luz Patricia Mejía Guerrero Venezuela President

Víctor E. Abramovich Argentina First Vice Chair

Felipe González Chile Second Vice Chair

Sir Clare K. Roberts Antigua & Barbuda Commissioner

Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro Brazil Commissioner

Florentín Meléndez El Salvador Commissioner

  Paolo G. Carozza United States Commissioner

The members serve as country and thematic rapporteurs

Represents all the member States of the OAS

Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela.

INTER-AMERICAN HUMAN RIGHTS INSTRUMENTS CHARTER OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES

AMERICAN DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF MAN

AMERICAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE AMERICAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE AREA OF ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS "PROTOCOL OF SAN SALVADOR"

PROTOCOL TO THE AMERICAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY

INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION TO PREVENT AND PUNISH TORTURE

INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION ON FORCED DISAPPEARANCE OF PERSONS

INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION ON THE PREVENTION, PUNISHMENT AND ERADICATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN "CONVENTION OF BELÉM DO PARÁ"

INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

INTER-AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC CHARTER

FUNCTIONS OF THE IACHR raises public consciousness regarding human

rights in the Americas

organizes and carries out conferences and seminars

recommends the adoption of measures to contribute to human rights protection to the Member States of the OAS

observes the general human rights situation in the member States

carries out on-site visits to countries to engage in-depth analysis of the human rights situation

ON SITE VISITS

prepares and publishes reports on the situation of human rights in specific Member States

COUNTRY REPORTSHaiti 2007Bolivia 2007Haiti 2005Colombia 2004Guatemala 2003Venezuela 2003Guatemala 2001 Paraguay 2001 Peru 2000 Canada 2000 Dominican Republic 1999 Colombia 1999 Mexico 1998 Brazil 1997 Bolivia 1996 Ecuador 1997 Haiti 1995 El Salvador 1994 Haiti 1994 Communities of Peoples in Resistance in Guatemala 1994 Colombia 1993 Guatemala 1993 Haiti 1993

Peru 1993 CAYARA Haiti 1990 Panama 1989 Haiti 1988 Paraguay 1987 Chile 1985 Guatemala 1985Suriname 1985 Guatemala 1983 Cuba 1983 (Seventh) Nicaraguan population of  Miskito origin 1983 Suriname 1983 Colombia 1981 Guatemala 1981 Bolivia 1981 Nicaragua 1981 Argentina 1980

Cuba 1979 (Sixth) Haiti 1979 El Salvador 1978 Nicaragua 1978 Panama 1978 Paraguay 1978 Uruguay 1978 Chile 1977 Chile 1976 Cuba 1976 (Fifth) Chile 1974 El Salvador and Honduras 1970Cuba 1970Haiti 1969Cuba 1967Dominican Republic 1966 Dominican Republic 1965 Cuba 1963Cuba 1962

receives, analyzes and investigates individual petitions which allege human rights violations

prepares and publishes reports on individual cases, including recommendations to member States

PETITIONS RECEIVED PER YEAR

435

571520

658

885

979

1050

1319 1330 1325

1456

1323

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002* 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

PETITIONS RECEIVED BY COUNTRY IN 2008

TOTAL 1323

236 230

168

151

76 7664 58

50 45 44

19 16 15 13 13 10 9 9 6 5 3 3 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00

50

100

150

200

250

Perú

Colo

mbia

Mé

xico

Arg

entin

a

Chile

Est

ados

Unid

os

Bra

sil

Cost

a R

ica

Ecu

ador

Guate

mala

Venezu

ela

Boliv

ia

Panam

á

Hondura

s

Para

gu

ay

Rep. D

om

inic

ana

Uru

guay

Canadá

El S

alv

ador

Surinam

e

Nic

ara

gua

Cuba

Jam

aic

a

Haití

Antig

ua y

Barb

uda

Barb

ad

os

Baham

as

Belic

e

Dom

inic

a

Gre

nada

Guya

na

San K

itts

y N

evi

s

San V

icente

y la

s G

ran

adin

as

Santa

Luci

a

Trin

idad y

Tob

ago

PETITIONS TRANSMITTED TO STATES

147

116

161

110

96

83

115

160

150 147

126118

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

PETITIONS TRANSMITTED BY COUNTRY DURING 2008

TOTAL 118

21

15

1110 10

9 98

6

2 2 2 2 2 21

01 1

01

01 1 1

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00

5

10

15

20

25

Per

ú

Ecu

ador

Arg

entin

a

Col

ombi

a

Méx

ico

Bra

sil

Ven

ezue

la

Nic

arag

ua

Cos

ta R

ica

Bol

ivia

Est

ados

Uni

dos

Gua

tem

ala

Hon

dura

s

Pan

amá

Par

agua

y

Ant

igua

y B

arbu

da

Bar

bado

s

Cub

a

El S

alva

dor

Guy

ana

Hai

tí

Jam

aica

Rep

. Dom

inic

ana

Sur

inam

e

Uru

guay

Bah

amas

Bel

ice

Can

adá

Chi

le

Dom

inic

a

Gre

nada

San

Kitt

s y

Nev

is

San

Vin

cent

e y

las

Gra

nadi

nas

San

ta L

ucia

Trin

idad

y T

obag

o

CASES AND PETITIONS BEING PROCESSED BY YEAR

976 945 945 930 936 973 982 1021

11371237 1251

1376

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

TOTAL NUMBER OF ADMISSIBILITY/INADMISSIBILITY REPORTS PUBLISHED

22

34

26

35 36

18

37

45

5356

5149

5

10

5

21 22

6

10 9

1614 14

10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Admisible

Inadmisible

REPORTS PUBLISHED ON MERITS

23

25

30

23

4

11

6

4

78

4

7

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

requests States to adopt specific “precautionary measures” to avoid serious and irreparable harm to individuals in urgent cases

A. Threats against life and physical integrity

B. Threats against communities particularly indigenous, by affecting their environment

C. Threats against health

D. Execution of judicial or administrative orders

E. Incommunicado detention or uncertainty on legal status

CATEGORIES OF PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES GRANTED BY YEAR

54 52 52 50

91

56

3733

3740

28

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES GRANTED BY COUNTRY IN 2008

TOTAL 28

6

5

3 3 3

2

1 1 1 1 1

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Col

ombi

a

Méx

ico

Est

ados

Uni

dos

Gua

tem

ala

Hon

dura

s

Hai

tí

Par

agua

y

Rep

úblic

aD

omin

ican

a

Cub

a

Guy

ana

Nic

arag

ua

submits cases to the Inter-American Court and appears before the Court in the litigation of all matters before it

CASES PRESENTED BEFORE THE INTER-AMERICAN COURT

2

3

7

3

5

7

15

12

10

14 14

9

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

CASES SUBMITTED TO THE INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS PER COUNTRY

Perú, 2

Venezuela, 2

Barbados, 1

Colombia, 1

Guatemala, 1

Honduras, 1

México, 1

Request the adoption of provisional measures by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights

requests advisory opinions from the Inter-American Court regarding questions of interpretation of the American Convention and other human rights treaties

 

I/A Court H.R., “Other treaties” subject to the advisory jurisdiction of the Court (Art. 64 American Convention on Human Rights), Advisory Opinion OC-1/82 of September 24, 1982. Requested by Peru.

  I/A Court H.R., The Effect of Reservations on the Entry into Force of the American

Convention on Human Rights (Arts. 74 and 75), Advisory Opinion OC-2/82 of September 24, 1982. Requested by the IACHR.

  I/A Court H.R., Restrictions to the Death Penalty (Arts. 4(2) and 4(4) American

Convention on Human Rights), Advisory Opinion OC-3/83 of September 8, 1983. Requested by the IACHR.

  I/A Court H.R., Proposed Amendments of the Naturalization Provisions of the

Constitution of Costa Rica, Advisory Opinion OC-4/84 of January 19, 1984. Requested by Costa Rica.

I/A Court H.R., Compulsory Membership in an Association Prescribed by Law for the Practice of Journalism (Arts. 13 and 29 American Convention on Human Rights ), Advisory Opinion OC-5/85 of November 13, 1985. Requested by Costa Rica.

  I/A Court H.R., The Word “Laws” in Article 30 of the American Convention on Human

Rights, Advisory Opinion OC-6/86 of May 9, 1986. Requested by Uruguay.

I/A Court H.R., Enforceability of the Right to Reply or Correction (Arts. 14(1), 1(1) and 2 American Convention on Human Rights ), Advisory Opinion OC-7/86 of August 29, 1986.  Requested by Costa Rica.

I/A Court H.R., Habeas corpus in Emergency Situations (Arts. 27(2), 25(1) and 7(6) American Convention on Human Rights ), Advisory Opinion OC-8/87 of January 30, 1987. Requested by the IACHR.

  I/A Court H.R., Judicial Guarantees in States of Emergency (Arts. 27(2), 25 and

(8) American Convention on Human Right ), Advisory Opinion OC-9/87 of October 6, 1987. Requested by Uruguay.

I/A Court H.R., Interpretation of the American Declaration of the Rights and

Duties of Man within the Framework of Article 64 of the American Convention on Human Rights. Advisory Opinion OC-10/89 of July 14, 1989. Requested by Colombia.

I/A Court H.R., Exceptions to the Exhaustion of Domestic Remedies (Arts. 46(1), 46(2)(a) and 46(2)(b) American Convention on Human Rights ), Advisory Opinion OC-11/90 of August 10, 1990. Requested by the IACHR.

I/A Court H.R., Compatibility of Draft Legislation with Article 8(2)(h) of the American Convention on Human Rights, Advisory Opinion OC-12/91 of December 6, 1991. Requested by Costa Rica.

I/A Court H.R., Certain Attributes of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (Arts. 41, 42, 44, 46, 47, 50 and 51 of the American Convention on Human Rights), Advisory Opinion OC-13/93 of July 16, 1993. Requested by Uruguay.

I/A Court H.R., International Responsibility for the Promulgation and Enforcement of Laws in Violation of the Convention (Arts. 1 and 2 of the American Convention on Human Rights), Advisory Opinion OC-14/94 of December 9, 1994. Requested by the IACHR.

  I/A Court H.R., Reports of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (Art. 51

American Convention on Human Rights), Advisory Opinion OC-15/97 of November 14 1997. Requested by Chile.

I/A Court H.R., The right to information on consular assistance. In the framework of the Guarantees of the due process of law, Advisory Opinion OC-16/99 of October 1, 1999. Requested by Mexico.

I/A Court H.R., Legal Status and Human Rights of the Child. Advisory Opinion OC-17/02 of August 28, 2002. Requested by the IACHR.

I/A Court H.R., Legal Status and Rights of undocumented migrant workers. Advisory Opinion OC-18/03 of September 17, 2003. Requested by Mexico.

I/A Court H.R., Control of Legality in the Practice of Authorities of the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights. Advisory Opinion OC-19/05

The IACHR meets three or more times a year Holds hearings

90

110

94 92

102

116

103 10398

120

105

93

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

The IACHR has established special rapporteurships to better address the following issues:

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN

THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN

THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS OF AFRICAN DESCENT AND AGAINST RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

THE SITUATION OF MIGRANT WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

PERSONS DEPRIVED OF LIBERTY IN THE AMERICAS

THE RIGHTS OF DISPLACED PERSONS

UNIT OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS

For more comprehensive information on the mandate and activities of the IACHR, please visit our website www.cidh.org, or contact our headquarters at 202-458-6002