IACHR Concludes its 191st Period of Sessions with 35 Public Hearings on Human Rights in The Americas

November 21, 2024

Washington, D.C. - The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) concluded its 191st Period of Sessions with 35 public hearings. Of these, 25 focused on human rights issues in 19 countries, while 10 were dedicated to the regional human rights landscape. This Period of Sessions took place from November 4 to 15, 2024.

During this event, the IACHR received representatives from civil society organizations and States to evaluate the human rights situation in the Americas.

The generalized situation of human rights violations in Venezuela in the post-electoral context was discussed at a hearing and a press conference. The President of the Commission, Roberta Clarke, and the rapporteur for Venezuela, Gloria de Mees, with the IACHR plenary, emphatically called on the current regime to end repression and release political prisoners. "What happened and continues in Venezuela this year must not be accepted and must not be normalized. Democracy has been effectively dismantled in the country and we ask that the international community not relent in demanding accountability," revealed Clarke before more than fifty journalists from the region, who participated via Zoom.

The situation of judicial independence in several States in the region, and one for the whole region were extensively addressed, including specific hearings on the subject in El Salvador, Bolivia, Peru, and Mexico. The latter also held a second hearing to deal with the situation of women deprived of their freedom at the federal prison CEFERESO 16.

Other topics included protecting human rights defenders in Colombia and Ecuador, the living conditions of Haitian migrants in Jamaica, and the situation of people in movement in the Colombian-Panamanian jungle. The guarantee of the right to asylum in Chile was also discussed.

Moreover, there were hearings on the democratic institutions of El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Peru. In the latter case, the hearing dealt with the impact of the law on crimes against humanity and war crimes enacted in 2024. Concerning Argentina, details were presented on the state of memory, truth, and justice policies; measures to prevent, punish, and eradicate gender-based violence; and social initiatives for workers in the popular economy.

The Commissioners had the opportunity to hear about the situation of older people in Cuba and of African-descended populations in Panama; the consequences of cybercrime on freedom of expression and religion in Barbados; and reports of police abuse in the Dominican Republic. Additionally, gender-based violence against sex workers, migrant women, and transsexuals in Guyana was analyzed, whereas in the United States, the impact of gun violence on human rights was discussed.

As for the regional hearings, information was received on sexual and reproductive rights of people with disabilities, transmasculinities and the access to the right to health, attacks on university autonomy, the impact of mineral extraction and special economic zones on local communities and the environment, and the situation of defenders of people in movement. Also, the situation of the A'i Cofán, Andwas, Shuar, Siekopai, Siona, and Wampis Indigenous peoples of the Peruvian and Ecuadorian Amazon was addressed.

In the same way, the Commission held hearings in three ongoing cases: Carlos Pizarro Leongómez vs. Colombia, Martín Ezequiel Bustos Concone vs. Mexico, and PRM, IS and others vs. Brazil. The Commission appreciates the participation of the States and will continue studying the cases. Two hearings covered the follow-up on precautionary measures regarding Brazil, especially the Working Table for the implementation of measures to protect UNIVAJA members, as well as human rights defenders in Colombia.

The IACHR conducted 6 working meetings on precautionary measures related to Honduras, Colombia, Peru, and Argentina. The meetings emphasized the importance of participation and openness to dialogue in order to reach an agreement on protection measures. Furthermore, the Commission approved 13 merits reports. The topics included extrajudicial execution and forced disappearance, international restitution of children, forced feeding, the right to health, the right to collective property of Indigenous peoples, the death penalty, and gender-based violence.

Parallel events included a dialogue on protection mechanisms for migrants and good practices in compliance with the Inter-American standards on women's rights. The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression held an event to honor murdered journalists, as part of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists. Another event reflected on the recognition and protection of human rights defenders, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the UN Declaration and the presentation of the Declaration +25.

In addition, the third high-level dialogue took place between the plenary of the IACHR and the Caribbean Court of Justice, focusing on the situation of Indigenous and tribal peoples and persons with disabilities. The conversation also addressed the standards and work strategies in this regard.

The Commission thanks the States and civil society organizations for their participation during the 191st Period of Sessions. The Inter-American Commission stresses the importance of States' participation in all the hearings, in good faith and with adequate substantive information, in order to move constructively towards solutions to the human rights challenges facing the Americas.

The IACHR regrets that the State of El Salvador was absent from the hearing to which it was summoned. The absence of State delegations hinders the work of the IACHR. Conversely, the Inter-American System is strengthened through the active participation of States, victims of human rights violations, and their representatives and civil society organizations. However, the Commission recalls, according to article 63 of the Regulations, that States must guarantee the security of all people who participate in public hearings, as well as refrain from taking any reprisals against them for their statements or opinions expressed during the public hearings.

This press release is accompanied by an annex with summaries of all public hearings (available in Spanish). Videos of the hearings are available on YouTube, and photos can be found on Flickr.

The IACHR is a principal and autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), whose mandate arises from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has the mandate to promote the observance of human rights in the region and act as a consultative body to the OAS. 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. 290/24

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