Freedom of Expression

Press Release R45/20

IACHR and its Special Rapporteurships present the "Guidelines on the activities and functions provided in the mandates of the Special Rapporteurships of the IACHR".

 

February 18 2020

Washington D.C., The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) presents the "Directive on the activities and functions of the mandates held by Special Rapporteurships", approved by the IACHR in compliance with its 2017-2021 Strategic Plan, in which Program No. 6 establishes the strengthening of the two Special Rapporteurships created to date.

The main guidelines of this Directive were discussed and adopted during the 173 Period of Sessions of the IACHR on October 2, 2019.

This first directive on the activities and functioning of the Special Rapporteurships was drafted based on the provisions of Article 15 of the IACHR's Rules of Procedure and the practices that have been developed since the IACHR created the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression in October 1997. Which were also incorporated into the creation and operation of the ESCER Special Rapporteurship since 2014.

The main purpose of the Directive is to ensure the proper coordination of the IACHR, the Executive Secretary, and its Special Rapporteurships in the fulfillment of their mandate and functions, as well as in the action protocols, coordination and financing efforts, with a view to mutual strengthening.

Those interested can consult the document here, which will also be permanently available on the websites of the IACHR and the Special Rapporteurships.

The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression is a permanent and functionally independent office created by the IACHR in October 1997, during its 97th Period of Session, with the purpose of strengthening the ability of the IACHR to promote and protect the full validity of freedom of expression in the Americas, and thus contribute to its development.

The Special Rapporteurship on Economic, Social, Cultural, and Environmental Rights is a permanent and functionally independent office created by the IACHR in April 2014, during its 159 Period of Sessions and started operating in August 2017. It was created to guide, develop, and deepen the work of promoting and protecting economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights in the Americas, taking into account the interdependent and indivisible nature of all human rights.

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 respect for and to defend 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.

 

R45/20