IACHR

Press Release

IACHR Carries Out Working Visit to Paraguay

July 13, 2017

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Washington, D.C.—The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) conducted a working visit to Paraguay on May 18-19, to encourage compliance with friendly settlement agreements signed between different petitioners and the Paraguayan State in the context of petitions and cases before the IACHR, as well as to carry out promotional activities. The delegation was led by Commissioner Paulo Vannuchi, in his role as Rapporteur for Paraguay.

On May 18, 2017, Commissioner Vannuchi chaired several meetings to work on friendly settlement proceedings. He facilitated working meetings between the petitioners and the Paraguayan State with regard to Case 12.358, Octavio González Acosta, to follow up on the agreement that was signed between the parties on August 5, 2011, and approved by the IACHR by means of its Report No. 24/13, dated March 20, 2013.

Commissioner Vannuchi also facilitated five working meetings on the following cases: 12.330, Cristina Aguayo Ortiz et al; 12.629, Kelyenmagategma Indigenous Community; 12.699, Pedro Antonio Centurión; 12.330, Marcelino Gómez Paredes; and on Petition 747-05, Yaka Marangatu Indigenous Community. In these meetings, the parties signed friendly settlement agreements that are in the process of being implemented.

In addition, on May 18 the Commission held a training workshop for civil society to promote the use of the friendly settlement mechanism and explain how it works. The various organizations that have filed petitions and cases through the IACHR were invited to attend. Another workshop on the friendly settlement mechanism was held on May 19 for Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff members who are in charge of negotiating friendly settlement agreements and handling the coordination between institutions involved in their implementation.

The IACHR values the Paraguayan State’s efforts to use the friendly settlement mechanism to try to resolve cases that are before the human rights system, and it also recognizes petitioners’ participation in efforts to move forward in this way. The Commission appreciates the State of Paraguay’s collaboration in organizing this visit and the support provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to carry out the working 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 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.

No. 099/17