IACHR announces public ex officio hearings and a meeting with the Caribbean civil society for the 192 Period of Sessions

January 23, 2025

Washington, DC—The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) announces the opening of registration to participate in the public hearings and the meeting with Caribbean civil society, which will take place virtually during its 192nd Period of Sessions, from February 24 to March 7, 2025.

These hearings will address the following topics:

1. Suriname: Indigenous peoples' rights in the face of extractive projects.

The thematic hearing on Suriname will take place on Wednesday, March 5, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. (Washington, D.C. time). Its purpose is to analyze the differentiated impacts that extractive industries have on the country's Indigenous communities, directly affecting their rights to lands, territories, and natural resources. The hearing aims to delve deeper into this issue from the perspective of Indigenous rights and to better understand the effects and challenges they face.

2. Bolivia: Follow-up mechanism to the recommendations of the GIEI-Bolivia report.

The thematic hearing on the follow-up to the recommendations of the GIEI-Bolivia Report, within the framework of the Monitoring Mechanism (MESEG-Bolivia), will be held on Thursday, March 6, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time). Its objective is to analyze the progress, challenges, and impacts of the process of implementing the recommendations, three years after the Work Plan between the State and the IACHR for the functioning of MESEG-Bolivia was approved. The hearing will seek to deepen the dialogue between the State and civil society to advance the fulfillment of the recommendations provided by GIEI-Bolivia.

3. Regional: Artificial intelligence and human rights

The regional thematic hearing will take place on Friday, March 7, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time), with the purpose of analyzing the challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI) for the exercise and guarantee of human rights. The discussion will address the need to establish regulatory and institutional frameworks to protect human rights throughout all stages of these technologies' development. Additionally, it will explore the identification and prevention of differentiated impacts on vulnerable groups, the implementation of effective protection mechanisms, compliance with State obligations under Inter-American standards, and the promotion of new normative developments.

Those interested in participating in the public hearings must register through the electronic system (available in Spanish and English) until Sunday, February 2, 2025, at 23:59 (Washington, D.C. time). According to Article 66 of the IACHR's Rules of Procedure, interested parties must provide their identification data and justify their participation.

The Inter-American Commission will publish in due time the list of organizations, institutions, and individuals selected to participate in each hearing. Those not selected are invited to submit written documentation and relevant information on the topics addressed.

Meeting with Caribbean Civil Society

For the first week of the Period of Sessions, the IACHR invites Caribbean civil society to a virtual meeting on February 28, from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time). The objective of this meeting is to strengthen dialogue with the Caribbean civil society and receive information on priority human rights issues, including the impacts of climate change, citizen security, gender-based violence, and the rights of Indigenous peoples in the face of extractive projects.

The organizations that wish to participate must register through the form available in Spanish or English by February 2, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time). Those selected will receive connection and relevant details at the email address provided.

Both the public hearings and the meeting will be held virtually through the Zoom platform. Interpretation services will be provided in Spanish/English and English/Spanish, and sessions will be recorded in accordance with the purposes established in the Rules of Procedure.

The IACHR is a principal and autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), whose mandate stems from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has the mandate to promote the observance and defense of human rights in the region and acts as an advisory body to the OAS on the matter. The IACHR is made up of seven independent members who are elected by the OAS General Assembly in their personal capacity, and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. 020/25

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