IACHR

Press Release

IACHR Announces Schedule of Public Hearings for its 167th Sessions and Calls for Participation in Hearings Convened at its own Initiative

Location: Tequendama Hotel, Carrera 10 No. 26-21, Bogota, Colombia.

January 30, 2018

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Washington, D.C. - The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) today publishes the schedule of public hearings that will take place during its 167th Period of Sessions, to be held February 22 to March 2, 2018. This session will be held in Colombia, and will mark the 70th anniversary of the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man, which was adopted in Bogotá in 1948. The IACHR expresses its gratitude to the Colombian State for the invitation to hold this session in the country. Sessions held outside headquarters provide an opportunity for the IACHR to get closer to the people for whom it works for.

During these sessions, the IACHR will hold public hearings and working meetings on every Member States, except Colombia. Pursuant to its Rules of Procedure, the IACHR elects its board of officers on the first day of the first session of the year, which means the election will be held on February 22.

The IACHR’s convened nine hearings on its own initiative (ex officio) 9 hearings. The Commission invites civil society organizations that may wish to participate in any of these to send expressions of interest. These are: “Gender and Diversity Policies in Paraguay;” “25 Years of the Truth Commission for El Salvador;” “Regulation of Gun Sales and Social Violence in the United States;” “Right to Food and to Health in Venezuela;” “Situation of Human Rights of Persons Affected by the Cancellation of the TPS (Temporary Protection Status) and DACA (Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals) in the United States;” “Situation of Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada;” “Situation of the Right to Protest in Argentina;” “Human Rights and the Pardon for Former President Fujimori in Peru;” “Business and Human Rights: Input for the Preparation of the Inter-American Guidelines.”

Beginning today, the Commission is accepting expressions of interest to participate in these hearings. Pursuant to Article 66 of the IACHR Rules of Procedure, those interested must submit information indicating the identity of the participants and the purpose of their appearance. Expressions of interest should be sent through this system, which will be available until midnight of February 6, 2018 (Eastern Standard Time (EST), in the United States).

At a later date, the IACHR will announce the list of organizations convened to participate in the hearings. The expense of participating in the hearings must be covered by the organization or persons interested in participating. In terms of organizations and persons that are not called on to participate, the IACHR invites them to present in writing any documentation and information they believe is relevant to the subject matter of the hearing.

Pursuant to Article 68 of the IACHR Rules of Procedure, the hearings will be public. Anyone interested may attend, subject only to space restrictions in the hearing room, and no prior registration is required.

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. 014/18