IACHR Renews Mandate of Special Rapporteur Pedro Vaca

September 8, 2023

Washington, D.C. - The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has decided to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression (RELE), Pedro Vaca Villarreal, for an additional term until October 31, 2026. His nomination has been forwarded to the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, who has expressed his agreement with the renewal.

The IACHR extends its gratitude to Pedro Vaca for his valuable contributions, which have further strengthened the mandate of the Special Rapporteurship. His willingness to accept a second term aligns with the procedures outlined in Article 15 of the Commission's Rules of Procedure and relevant OAS regulations.

Pedro Vaca initially assumed his mandate in October 2020 following his election through a public call. He is a seasoned lawyer with a master's degree in law and boasts over 15 years of professional experience in the realm of freedom of expression within civil society organizations and multilateral agencies. He has also served as a lecturer at Universidad de los Andes and Universidad del Rosario, in addition to working as a consultant specializing in freedom of expression, internet governance, and human rights.

RELE is tasked with supporting the IACHR in fulfilling its mandate to promote and safeguard the right to freedom of thought and expression across the Americas. The Rapporteurship operates in collaboration with the Executive Secretariat, based at the OAS headquarters in Washington, D.C.

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. 214/23

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