IACHR elects new Board for 2025

February 26, 2025

Washington, DC—The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) announces the formation of its new Board for 2025, reaffirming its commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights in the region. The election took place on February 26, during the 192nd Period of Sessions, in accordance with Chapter 3 of its Rules of Procedure.

On this occasion, José Luis Caballero Ochoa from Mexico has been appointed as president, taking on the leadership role with a solid background and deep commitment to justice and equity. Andrea Pochak from Argentina was appointed as first vice president, and Commissioner Arif Bulkan from Guyana as second vice president.

President José Luis Caballero Ochoa has been part of the IACHR since 2023. He is a lawyer, holding a master's degree in law and a doctorate from the National University of Distance Education in Spain. He has been a member of the Mexican National System of Researchers and the International Commission of Jurists.

First Vice President Andrea Pochak has been part of the IACHR since 2024. She is a lawyer and human rights activist with extensive experience in the Inter-American Human Rights System. She has held various public offices in Argentina and worked at the Center for Legal and Social Studies and the Center for Justice and International Law.

Second Vice President Arif Bulkan has been part of the IACHR since 2024. He is a lawyer and academic, having served as an ad hoc judge at the Court of Appeal of Belize and worked in constitutional law, human rights, and criminal law. He was an expert member and vice president of the United Nations Human Rights Committee.

The election of the Board takes place each year on the first day of the first Period of Sessions. The IACHR consists of seven members, and in addition to the three mentioned above, it includes Commissioner Edgar Stuardo Ralón Orellana from Guatemala, Commissioner Roberta Clarke from Barbados, Commissioner Carlos Bernal Pulido from Colombia, and Commissioner Gloria Monique de Mees from Suriname.

On this ocassion the rapporteurship for human rights defenders and justice operators will be led by Commissioner Roberta Clarke, while the rapporteurship for LGBTI persons will be in charge of Commissioner and Second Vice President Arif Bulkan.

The distribution of all rapporteurships is available on the IACHR website.

The thematic and country-specific rapporteurships for the 35 OAS member States are distributed among the seven commissioners to provide a more strategic follow-up, in compliance with the IACHR's mandate.

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. 043/25

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