Inter-American Commission reports on progress and challenges of protecting human rights in the region

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Summary: Inter-American Commission on Human Rights/ CRIN

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) held its 126th session from 16 – 27 October 2006 at the Organisation of the American States (OAS) in Washington, D.C, United States. During this session, the Commission held four hearings about the situation of children’s rights in the Americas: Thematic hearing on the situation of teenagers in the context of violence in Guatemala, the situation of children in State care in Jamaica, the situation of children in prison in Uruguay, the case of the Contreras children who "disappeared" during the war in El Salvador.

The Commission held a total of 48 hearings on cases and individual complaints, and about the general human rights situation in various States in the hemisphere. In addition, the Secretary-General of the OEA, José Miguel Insulza, presented a report on the situation of human rights activists in the Americas.

On the final day of the session, the Commission gave a general report on the progress and challenges of guaranteeing human rights in the Americas. 

Progress:

  • The Commission welcomed the statement by the President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet in which she said that the State will comply with the ruling of the Inter-American Court on Human Rights that the law granting amnesty for human rights violations committed during the military dictatorship is not applicable.
  • The Commission welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court of Argentina that it will comply with the provisional measures of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, which recognised the unacceptable state of the prison system in the province of Mendoza.
  • Bolivia ratified the Optional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
  • Brazil reported significant progress in bringin its national legislation into line with international human rights laws by passing the Law on Domestic and Family Violence against Women, known as the “Lei Maria da Penha”, which has improved protection measures for victims, and was passed on the recommendation of the IACHR in a case of the same name.
  • The IACHR declared that the opening of new detention centres in the Dominican Republic has improved the situation for a large number of prisoners.

Risks and challenges:

  • The Commission stated that challenges remain in promoting respect for fundamental human rights in the hemisphere. One topic that the Commission is monitoring with interest is the relationship between citizens’ security and human rights. People in the Americas continue to face threats to their security because of terrorism, drugs, human trafficking, gang violence and street crime. In response to these threats, States must implement public policies in accordance with their duty to respect and guarantee human rights. The Commission reiterated its commitment to carry out a hemispheric study on the relationship between citizens’ security and human rights. This subject has been covered in a number of hearings in different sessions and the Commission has been monitoring it through petitions, cases, precautionary measures and country visits.
  • The lack of respect for human rights on the continent has a particular impact on the most vulnerable sectors of the population. The lack of effective monitoring of economic, social and cultural rights exacerbates high levels of malnutrition, limited and inadequate access to health, education, and a low quality of living. The Commission discussed a first draft on a proposal for indicators for progress on economic, social and cultural rights and charged Commissioner Victor Abramovich with revising this document and carrying out a follow-up to this process.

Next session
The IACHR has decided to change the format of its sessions. Instead of holding two three-week session a year, the IACHR has decided from now on that it will hold three two-week sessions every year. In addition, the IACHR will hold an extra session in one of its Member States. The next regular session will be held from 26 of February – 9 March 2007 in Washington, D.C.   

Further information

  •  Full list of hearings [English] [Español]
  • Website of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
  • CRIN's news page on the Inter-American System on Human Rights
  • CRIN's information page on the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights [English] [Español]

Country: 
Anguilla

Please note that these reports are hosted by CRIN as a resource for Child Rights campaigners, researchers and other interested parties. Unless otherwise stated, they are not the work of CRIN and their inclusion in our database does not necessarily signify endorsement or agreement with their content by CRIN.