IACHR

Petition and Case System

By filing a petition before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, victims of human rights violations can obtain help. The Commission investigates the situation and can make recommendations to the State responsible to restore the enjoyment of rights whenever possible, to prevent a recurrence of similar events, to investigate the facts and to make reparations.

The purpose of this brochure is to inform persons seeking to file a petition before the Commission of some of the basice concepts they should know beforehand. It also sets forth, in clear and simple language, which human rights are protected, how and when a petition may be filed, the requirements that must be met and, in general, the procedures that have to be followed.

This brochure is divided into four sections:

1. Human Rights in the Inter-American System

2. Guide for Submitting a Petition

3. Serious and Urgent Situations

4. Form for submitting a petition to the IACHR

Please, click on one of the images below to open the brochure in the language of your preference:

                       

Contact Information

While the request may be made personally, it is not necessary to come to the Commission, as the request may be sent by any of the following means:

• E-mail: cidhdenuncias@oas.org

• Electronic form: https://www.cidh.oas.org/cidh_apps/instructions.asp?gc_language=S

• Fax: 1 (202) 458-3992 or 6215

• Mail:
  Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
  1889 F St. NW
  Washington, DC, 20006
  United States

If the documents are sent electronically, it is not necessary to resend them in hard copy

Every petition or communication sent should be addressed to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights