IACHR announces ex officio hearings for 195th Period of Sessions

February 3, 2026

Washington, DC—The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has opened registration to take part in the regional ex officio public hearings that are set to take place in person during its 195th Period of Sessions (March 9–13) in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Situation of judicial officers

March 9, 2026 | 11:15 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

The IACHR plans to gather up-to-date information about progress made and pending challenges concerning the job stability of judicial officers in the Americas, their working conditions, and the relevant safety guarantees. This ex officio hearing is set to follow up on one that took place in February 2024 which addressed, among other issues, procedures to select and appoint judicial officers, the duration of their mandates, and measures to promote gender parity among high authorities in the judiciary.

Situation of the human rights of Roma peoples and communities

March 9, 2026 | 11:15 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

The IACHR plans to gather information on a regional scale about the human rights situation of Roma peoples and communities, including the patterns of exclusion, discrimination, and structural violence they face in different countries in the Americas. This information is set to be used to identify the challenges faced by State responses and to draft the IACHR’s first thematic report on the human rights of Roma peoples in the region.

Effects of practices aimed at changing sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression

March 10, 2026 | 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

The IACHR plans to gather information about the effects of practices aimed at “changing” nonconforming sexual orientations, gender identities, or gender expressions, as well as the impact of those practices on the human rights of LGBTI persons in the Americas. Contributions made during the hearing will be taken into consideration to draft a new IACHR thematic report on the issue.

Impact of illegal mining on economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights

March 11, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

The IACHR plans to assess the regional impact of illegal mining on human rights and the environment, paying special attention to the situation of the Guiana Shield. The IACHR also plans to create a platform for dialogue among States, affected communities, and civil society organizations. The aim is to strengthen shared approaches based on human rights to this cross-border problem that poses challenges in terms of governance, environmental protection, and climate action.

All private individuals and representatives of States and civil society organizations interested in taking part in any of these hearings will need to register online (in Spanish or English) by 11:59 p.m. (EST) on February 13, 2026. In keeping with Article 66 of the IACHR’s Rules of Procedure, anyone interested will need to properly identify themselves and explain why they would like to take part in the relevant hearings.

The IACHR is set to publish in due course the list of States, organizations, and individuals selected to take part in hearings. The IACHR invites anyone who is not selected to submit, in writing, any documentation or information they deem relevant to the topics of the hearings.

The IACHR is an autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS) whose mandate is based on the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. Its mission is to promote and defend human rights throughout the Americas and to serve as an advisory body to the OAS in this area. The IACHR consists of seven independent members elected by the OAS General Assembly who serve in a personal capacity and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. 021/26

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