IACHR and UN Treaty Bodies conclude meeting on human rights cooperation

May 30, 2024

Washington, D.C. / Geneva - The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and the United Nations Treaty Bodies held a meeting on May 30. The main objective of this meeting was to share experiences of joint actions and explore new cooperation strategies for the promotion and protection of human rights in the region.

In addition to the IACHR and the management team of the Executive Secretariat and its Special Rapporteurships, the Chairs of the following treaty bodies were present: Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), Human Rights Committee (CCPR), Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), Committee against Torture (CAT), Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT), Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (CMW), Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), and Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED).

The Pesident of the IACHR, Roberta Clarke, stated that "this meeting represents a milestone in our joint efforts to promote and protect human rights. Collaboration between the IACHR and the UN treaty bodies is essential to address current challenges and move towards a more just and equitable future for all people in the region".

Claude Heller, Chair of the Chairpersons' Meeting of the Treaty Bodies, said that "the strengthening of human rights in the world requires close cooperation between the treaty bodies and regional mechanisms at this crucial stage of international relations".

On this occasion, both instances of regional and universal protection of human rights held interesting initiatives to continue cooperation, highlighting the realization of subsequent meetings of professional exchange.

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. 118/24

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