Carlos Castresana, head of the United Nations-backed commission created to help strengthen law enforcement and judicial efforts to investigate and prosecute clandestine security groups in Guatemala, was in New York today for a discussion with UN and Guatemalan representatives on the problem of impunity in Guatemala and the future of the Comisión Internacional contra la Impunidad en Guatemala (CICIG). CICIG’s mandate
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New IACHR Report on Captive Indigenous Communities in Bolivia
Today, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights released a new publication, entitled Captive Communities: Situation of the Guaraní Indigenous People and Contemporary Forms of Slavery in the Bolivian Chaco, which focuses on the plight of Guaraní communities subjected to debt bondage and forced labor on private estates in the Chaco region of Bolivia. The findings are based in part on
Read moreIACHR Presents 2009 Annual Report
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on Thursday presented its 2009 Annual Report to the Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs of the Organization of American States. See the press release, IACHR President Felipe Gonzalez’ speech before the Committee, and a video of the presentation and discussion. The most controversial part of the report is its Chapter 4 which describes,
Read moreInter-American Court Announces Schedule for 61st Extraordinary Session
Last week, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights announced the schedule for its 61st extraordinary session, to be held from April 12 to 16 in Lima, Peru. The Court will hold hearings regarding three cases in order to emit the corresponding judgments on merits and reparations later this year. Ibsen Cardenas and Ibsen Pena v. Bolivia deals with the enforced
Read moreThis Week at the IACHR
Inter-American Commissioners Elected to New Posts The seven members of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights elected new officers last week. The new Chair, First Vice-Chair and Second Vice-Chair are Felipe González, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro and Dinah Shelton, respectively. Commissioner Shelton is one of four members who joined the Commission this year. Inter-American Commission Holds 138th Ordinary Session The 138th
Read moreDeaths and Harassment of Honduran Activists Lamented
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights today condemned the acts of violence and harassment in recent months against individuals involved in the resistance to the coup d’etat which took place in Honduras last June. Such acts included the deaths of three individuals and the torture and arbitrary detention of others. See the Commission’s statement here, and its report on human
Read moreIACHR Announces Hearing Schedule for 138th Session
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights published its schedule of hearings for its 138th Period of Session. The hearings will take place at the Commission’s headquarters in Washington, DC from March 19 to 23. The hearings are open to the public. Webcasts and/or audio will also be available for most hearings. As usual, the Commission will hold a mix of
Read moreIACHR Refers Two Cases to Inter-American Court
Today the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights announced that it filed two applications with the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. The first, against the State of Ecuador, has to do with an individual who died after failing to receive adequate medical treatment while in detention. The second, against the State of Peru, involves judicial protection against the retroactive elimination of
Read moreThe Week's News
Human Rights Conditions * President Bachelet declares state of catastrophe following powerful earthquake in Chile. [Washington Post] * Interim government organized following Niger coup. [BBC] * Ceasefire signed in Sudan. [Guardian] * Waterboarding defended by former speechwriter for President George W. Bush. [New York Times] * Russia pushed for details on investigation of Chechen human rights defender’s murder in July
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