Conectas and organizations from Latin America express renewed concerns over the direction of the Inter-American Human Rights System

June 04, 2012
Updated on August 14, 2012

Twenty seven Latin American organizations, including Conectas, sent a letter (only in Spanish) to the Secretary General of the Organization of American States, José Miguel Insulza, to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the OAS member states and to Permanent Representatives of the OAS in response to the report issued by the Secretary General on May 21 this year on the process of strengthening the Inter-American Human Rights System.

The organizations have expressed concern over the proposals contained in the report, especially the proposal to reform the Statute of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and the requirement for the commission to review its regulation. Furthermore, the organizations find it particularly alarming that the report questions the authority of the IACHR to issue precautionary measures.

 

In the letter, the organizations point out that the effectiveness of the commission lies in its capacity to react adequately to different violations. The proposed changes could lead to a reduction in the capacity and vigor of the regional human rights system, thereby weakening the protection of human rights in the region. 

 

The organizations that signed the letter ask the States to reaffirm, during the 42nd session of the General Assembly (Cochabamba, Bolivia, June 3-5, 2012), that any initiative designed to strengthen the inter-American system must necessarily ensure its autonomy and independence.