IACHR Convenes Ex Officio Hearings on Human Rights Situation in the Region and Meetings with Civil Society to Be Held during the Commission's 180th Period of Sessions

May 21, 2021

Washington, D.C. – The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has convened on its own initiative three public hearings on the general human rights situation in the region (ex officio hearings) and extends an invitation to any civil society organizations interested in taking part in them. These hearings are set to be held during the IACHR's 180th Period of Sessions, which is to take place remotely from June 21 to July 2, 2021.

The public hearings on the general human rights situation convened ex officio are as follows:

• The general situation of human rights in Colombia – Tuesday, June 29, 9:00–10:30 am
• The general situation of human rights in El Salvador – Wednesday, June 30, 9:00–10:30 am
• The general situation of human rights in Brazil in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic – Thursday, July 1, 9:00–10:30 am

The Commission welcomes expressions of interest in taking part in these hearings. Any organizations who wish to be considered must register here and will need to fill out the form by June 3, 2021 at 11:59 pm (Washington, D.C. time). In keeping with Article 66 of the IACHR's Rules of Procedure, any interested organizations must properly identify themselves and explain why they would like to take part in the hearings.

The IACHR will announce later the list of organizations summoned to take part in the hearings. The IACHR invites any organizations who are not summoned to submit, in writing, any documentation or information they deem relevant to the topic of the hearing.

Meetings with civil society

The Inter-American Commission further invites civil society organizations to take part in meetings to address the situation of human rights in countries around the Americas. These meetings are set to take place on June 28, at 4:00–6:00 pm (EST), through secure virtual platforms that will be specified later. Any organizations interested in taking part in these meetings will need to register by filling out this form by June 7, 2021 at 11:59 pm (EST).

Once they register, organizations will receive connection details for their meeting at the email address they have provided. For technical reasons, a maximum of 100 participants can take part in each meeting. Once that number is attained, no more participants will be accepted into the meeting. Organizations who require interpretation services from English into Spanish or from Spanish into English will need to say so in the registration form. For various IACHR purposes, these meetings will be recorded.

A principal, autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), the IACHR derives its mandate from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has a mandate to promote respect for and to defend human rights in the region and acts as a consultative body to the OAS in this area. The Commission is composed of seven independent members who are elected in an individual capacity by the OAS General Assembly and who do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. 134/21