IACtHR Holds Bolivia Responsible for Forced Sterilization in Landmark Judgment

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) examined for the first time the issue of informed consent to medical treatment and forced sterilization, in its judgment in I.V. v. Bolivia, released last week. [IACtHR Press Release (in Spanish)] The case involves a Peruvian refugee who was sterilized by a tubal ligation performed without her informed consent in a Bolivian public

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Experts Convene for Symposium on Torture Victims’ Right to Rehabilitation

The International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) held a symposium in Mexico City last week entitled Delivering on the Promise of the Right to Rehabilitation that brought together over 300 people, including clinical professionals, lawyers, researchers, and policymakers, from around the world to discuss rehabilitation of torture survivors. [IRCT Press Release] The IRCT is a membership-based organization consisting of

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ECtHR: Government Obligated to Impart Information Beneficial to Public

The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) held on November 8 that Hungary violated the right to receive and impart information as guaranteed under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) by refusing to provide requested information to an international human rights non-governmental organization (NGO). See ECtHR, Magyar Helsinki Bizottság v. Hungary [GC], no. 18030/11, ECHR

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Inter-American Commission: Funds Secured to Temporarily Mitigate Financial Crisis

After a severe financial crisis threatened to effectively shut down major operations at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) this year, the IACHR recently announced that the immediate crisis is now over. Many States and other entities have agreed to donate funds, allowing the IACHR to salvage its budget and continue operating. Because the IACHR has overcome the crisis,

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Colombians Reject Peace Deal Heralded by International Community, Negotiations Continue

On Sunday, October 2, 2016 Colombians headed to the polls to vote on a peace agreement to end the 52-year war with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerillas. [The Guardian: Voters] Contrary to what the polls had predicted, the peace deal referendum was rejected by a 0.4 percent margin. [The Guardian: Voters] The deal was the result of

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