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Press Advisory


INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS TO OPEN SESSIONS

  October 16, 2006

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, tomorrow will open the 126th regular period of sessions of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), during a meeting scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m.

The Inter-American Commission will hold 48 hearings and working meetings from October 16-27. Some have been requested by member states, with the majority sought by petitioners. During the session, the Commission will hold thematic hearings related to the general human rights situation in the region as well as others that address issues of admissibility, friendly settlements and follow-up of cases and petitions that are under consideration by the Commission.

The Chair of the OAS Permanent Council, Ambassador Marina Valere of Trinidad and Tobago, and the President of the Inter-American Commission, Evelio Fernández Arévalos, will also speak during the opening ceremony.

On Wednesday, October 18, within the framework of the IACHR sessions, Secretary General Insulza will officially present the Report on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders in the Americas, recently published by the Commission.

The opening ceremony will be Webcast live (www.oas.org).


WHAT: Opening of the 126th regular period of sessions of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

WHEN: Tuesday, October 17
3:00 p.m. (EDT)

WHERE: Simón Bolívar Room
OAS Headquarters
17th Street & Constitution Ave. NW
Washington, DC.

Reference: AVI-090/06