On January 17, 2013, Guatemalan President Otto Pérez Molina announced the derogation of a resolution that would have attempted to limit the Inter-American Court of Human Right’s jurisdiction over alleged human rights violations that took place before 1987. [IACHR; Procuraduría de Derechos Humanos] In December 2012, the Guatemalan Congress passed Resolution 370-2012, the purpose of which was to restrict the Inter-American Court of
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Jamaica: Inter-American Commission Reports Human Rights Concerns, Recommends Policy Changes
Last week, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) published a report on the human rights situation in Jamaica. IACHR, Report on the Situation of Human Rights in Jamaica (2012). The report is the first of the IACHR’s country reports to focus on Jamaica, and is a result of monitoring activities carried out in recent years, including a country visit in 2008,
Read moreDevelopments in Sri Lanka, Honduras Cause Concern for Judicial Independence
Recent developments in Honduras and Sri Lanka have caused concern among civil society and human rights monitoring bodies for the judiciary’s independence in those countries. In Honduras, the National Congress removed four of the five justices who sit on the Constitutional Chamber of the nation’s Supreme Court. According to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), the Honduran Congress ousted the justices due to their
Read moreUnderstanding the IACHR Reform Process
Overview In March 2013, the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) plans to hold a special session in which it will consider and potentially adopt a series of controversial proposals for reforming the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (“Commission” or “IACHR”). The adoption of the proposals will mark the culmination of a nearly two-year process that began
Read moreNovember 19 Deadline for Civil Society Participation in OAS Dialogue on Reforms to Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
On December 7, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) will hold two Extraordinary Sessions with civil society and users of the Inter-American Human Rights System to discuss proposed, controversial reforms to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights‘ mandate and procedures. The sessions will be held at OAS headquarters in Washington, DC and will be preceded by a
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Venezuela Denounces American Convention on Human Rights as IACHR Faces Reform
Overview On September 10, 2012 the Government of Venezuela denounced the American Convention on Human Rights (the American Convention). Pursuant to Article 78 of the American Convention, the Government of Venezuela officially made its denunciation through a letter delivered to the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza. When the withdrawal takes effect in one year’s
Read moreNew Video Tutorial and Advocacy Manual on the Inter-American System
The International Justice Resource Center is pleased to announce the release of a five-part educational video on the Inter-American System for the protection of human rights, which monitors, promotes and enforces the human rights commitments of all 35 independent countries in the Americas. IJRC’s aim in producing the video and accompanying manual is to contribute to greater understanding and effective use
Read moreAlcemos nuestra voz en defensa del Sistema Interamericano de Protección de los Derechos Humanos
Daniel E. Rodríguez Infante, abogado argentino y defensor de los derechos humanos, contribuye la siguiente nota, la cual urge a la sociedad civil que actúe para defender el Sistema Interamericano de protección de los derechos humanos, el cual se encuentra en riesgo de que su independencia sea comprometida o que se disminuya su rol esencial en la promoción y protección
Read moreInter-American Commission on Human Rights Assigns Rapporteurships
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights assigned thematic and country rapporteurships to each of the seven Commissioners at the end of January. [Press Release] In addition to their responsibilities for deciding the admissibility and merits of petitions, granting precautionary measures, and referring cases to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the Commissioners individually lead the IACHR’s promotion and monitoring duties
Read moreIn Guatemala, Long-Awaited Step towards Accountability as Former Dictator Faces Genocide Charges
On January 14, 2012, Efraín Ríos Montt lost the immunity against prosecution that he had enjoyed as a member of the national legislature (diputado al Congreso) since 2008, and previously from 1994-95 and 1999-2004. [PrensaLibre] After taking office through a coup d’état, Rios Montt presided over what is considered the bloodiest period in Guatemala’s thirty-six year internal conflict. As the
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