Inter-American Court in Session through December 3

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights is in session in San Jose, Costa Rica through December 3.  [IACtHR] During this 93rd Regular Period of Sessions, the Court will hold public hearings on two contentious cases (Néstor José and Luis Uzcátegui et al. v. Venezuela, and Díaz Peña v. Venezuela) and on compliance with three previous judgments (Yakye Axa, Sawhoyamaxa and Xákmok Kásek Indigenous Communities v. Paraguay, and Mapiripán

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IACHR Hearings – Thursday, October 27

On Thursday, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights will hold hearings on a range of human rights topics and cases.  Hearings to be held in the Padilha Vidal Room (webcast here) will address: various topics concerning Colombia (violence against women, peasant land control, labor unions, and the general human rights situation), rights to territory and self-governance of the indigenous peoples in

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New Commissioners Elected to IACHR

During the 41st General Assembly of the Organization of American States, currently underway in El Salvador, the OAS Member States elected three new commissioners to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. [CEJIL] The three new members are Tracy Robinson of Jamaica, Rosa Maria Ortiz of Paraguay and Rosa-Mary Bella Antoine of Belize.  These new commissions will begin their four-year terms

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IACHR Takes Dominican Republic to the Inter-American Court in Guayabín Massacre Case

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights announced last week that it has filed an application with the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in the case of Nadege Dorzema et al. v. Dominican Republic (Case No. 12.688). The case centers around the June 17, 2000 deaths and detention of a group of Haitians and one Dominican citizen at the hands of

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Following Return from Exile, Jean-Claude 'Baby Doc' Duvalier Facing Criminal and Civil Liability for Fraud and Human Rights Abuses

Following the unexpected return of former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude (“Baby Doc”) Duvalier to Port-au-Prince earlier this month after 25 years in exile, the former President for Life is facing criminal prosecution on fraud charges and several civil suits alleging human rights abuses and crimes against humanity, committed during his 15-year rule. [Democracy Now!; Guardian]  Calls for Duvalier’s prosecution came as soon as

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News Clips – October 25, 2010

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights begins holding hearings today in its 140th Period of Sessions.  Issues to be discussed today include the Situation of Environmentalists in Mesoamerica, and Discrimination against the Transsexual, Transgender, and Transvestite Population in Brazil.  See the week’s schedule of hearings here.  Webcast of some hearings is available here. The role of humanitarian aid in contributing

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News Clips – October 15, 2010

The loss of leading international human rights scholar Louis Henkin is mourned, while the legal community remembers his long career dedicated to the development of international law and the protection of human rights. [Human Rights First] Moldova has ratified the Rome Statute to become the newest State Party to the International Criminal Court, bringing the total to 114. [UN] Canadian

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News Clips – July 18, 2010

Argentina legalizes same-sex marriage, becoming the second country in the Western Hemisphere to do so. [Washington Post] The Pre-Trial Chamber I of the ICC has issued a second arrest warrant for Sudan’s President Al Bashir, who is wanted to face charges of genocide against the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa ethnic groups.  The first warrant was based on charges of war

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IACHR 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,

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