IACHR Announces 181th Period of Sessions in Online Format and Is Receiving Applications for public hearings

July 20, 2021

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Washington, D.C. - The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) will hold its 181st Period of Sessions online between October 18th to 29th of 2021. The adoption of the virtual format aims to fulfill the IACHR mandates and functions in the face of the seriousness of the situation currently affecting the health of thousands of people in the region and the world as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In accordance with its Rules of Procedure, the IACHR will receive requests for public hearings through the system that closes on August 5, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. local time at the IACHR headquarters in Washington, DC. Applications will be received related to all member states of the Organization of American States (OAS). The system is the only way to submit requests and is available in the four official OAS languages: SpanishEnglishPortuguese and French.

Up to one month before the hearings, the IACHR will send the decisions regarding the requests. The calendar of hearings will be posted on it IACHR Webpage approximately two weeks before the start of the sessions, until ten days before the beginning of the Period of Sessions.

Online meetings with the IACHR will be held using a secure, easy-to-access platform that will be announced in due course. The IACHR will notify the parties of joining details and security guidelines for the meetings.

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 the observance and defense of 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. 186/21

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