IACHR convenes regional ex officio hearing and meetings with civil society for the 181st Period of Sessions

September 13, 2021

Washington, D.C.- The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has convened on its own initiative a regional thematic public (ex officio) hearing and extends an invitation to any civil society organizations that would like to participate in it. This hearing is set to be held during the IACHR's 181st Period of Sessions, which is to take place remotely from the 18th to the 29th of October 2021.

The ex officio public hearing "Protection of migrants, refugees and returnees in Central and North America", will be held on Tuesday, October 26, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Organizations with an interest to take part in this hearing need to complete an application form on the system until September 20 at 23:59 E.S.T. (Washington, D.C. time). In keeping with Article 66 of the IACHR's Rules of Procedure, applicants need to properly identify themselves and support why they would like to participate in the hearing.

The IACHR will announce later the list of organizations summoned to take part in the hearing. Any organizations not called on this occasion, are invited 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 October 25, 2021, between 3:45 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. (E.S.T.). (E.S.T.), through secure virtual platforms that will be specified later. Organizations with an interest to participate in these meetings will need to register by filling out this form until September 20, 2021 at 23:59 p.m. (E.S.T.).

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 institutional 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. 239/21

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