IACHR Completes Promotional Visit to Chile, Agrees to Create Joint Mechanism to Monitor Recommendations Held in 2022 Country Report

June 2, 2022

Washington, D.C. – The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) conducted a promotional visit to Chile over the period May 25–28, to present its report on the situation of human rights in the country that was published in January 2022. Following talks with national authorities, both parties agreed to create a joint mechanism to monitor compliance with the recommendations held in the report.

"This promotional visit to Chile allowed us to conduct broad, committed talks with the State and to agree to launch a mechanism to monitor the recommendations held in the report on Chile. Compliance with these recommendations will be monitored with State authorities. We found all the sectors we met with very open to press on with coordinated work that will enable us to take significant steps to protect rights," said Commissioner Joel Hernández, the IACHR's Rapporteur for Chile.

The decision to create a joint monitoring mechanism is an opportunity that will enable the adoption of platforms for dialogue and cooperation between the IACHR and State institutions, civil society, victims, and international organizations. This aims to support the implementation of the recommendations held in the report on the situation of human rights since the social protests of 2019–2020, so Chile may further pursue its process of national reconciliation, comprehensive reparation for victims, and guarantees of non-recurrence. This mechanism will enable a comprehensive, focused analysis of compliance with the Commission's recommendations around priority areas, with closer verification of results.

The delegation, led by Commissioner Joel Hernández and IACHR Executive Secretary Tania Reneaum Panszi, met with Chile's President Gabriel Boric, Foreign Minister Antonia Urrejola, Interior Minister Izkia Siches, and Justice and Human Rights Minister Marcela Ríos Tobar.

The delegation also met with Supreme Court President Sergio Muñoz, Attorney General Jorge Abbott, Senate Speaker Álvaro Elizalde, and Claudia Mix, Speaker of the lower house of the Chilean Congress. The IACHR delegation further met with the Public Criminal Defense Office, the Office of the Ombudsperson for Children, the National Institute for Human Rights, and the Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture. There was also a meeting with representatives of Chile's Constitutional Court.

During this visit, the IACHR delegation attended the event to acknowledge State responsibility for case 12,956 FS, concerning violations of the human rights of Francisca and her child. Francisca, who lives in a rural area, was a victim of non-consensual sterilization.

"The fact that the State acknowledged its responsibility and publicly apologized for the case of Francisca and her child is iconic because it is part of a comprehensive reparation process, because the State acknowledged its responsibility and provided reparation through talks mediated by the IACHR's friendly settlement mechanism, and because civil society managed to put on the public agenda aspects that are crucial for people's lives, using the Inter-American System," said IACHR Executive Secretary Tania Reneaum Panszi.

During this visit, the IACHR delegation had an opportunity to meet with the leadership and the expanded board of the Constitutional Convention and with Convention delegates representing indigenous peoples. High-level talks were also held on Afro-descendant persons, among other topics. The delegation further met with victims and their families and advocates.

The IACHR thanks State authorities, along with victims and their families and advocates and civil society organizations, for these important meetings and for their openness to continue to work with the Commission to promote, defend, and protect rights and to ensure reparation and justice for all victims.

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. 125/22

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