IACHR
Press Release
IACHR Invites States to Take Part in the Periodic Portfolio Review Currently Being Planned
February 15, 2019
IACHR Press and Communication Office
Tel: +1 (202) 370-9000
[email protected]
Washington, D.C. - The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) wishes to inform member states that the schedule is now open for periodic reviews of the IACHR’s portfolio of petitions, cases, precautionary measures, friendly solutions, and follow-up on IACHR recommendations.
Periodic portfolio reviews are part of the Special Procedural Backlog Reduction Program established in the IACHR’s Strategic Plan 2017–2021, which seeks to increase transparency and strengthen dialogue and cooperation with member states for the benefit of victims.
The review entails intensive two- to three-day meetings held every six months or every year at the IACHR headquarters in Washington, DC. These meetings are either held in person, by videoconference, or a combination of the two and are attended by a delegation from the state and specialists from different areas of the IACHR Executive Secretariat. At the meetings, the state’s portfolio and the current status of petitions, cases, precautionary measures, and friendly solutions are reviewed in detail, and recommendations made in merit reports are followed up on to handle questions that may arise, gather information from states on any steps they may have taken and progress they have made, and provide support for them as they comply with recommendations. Portfolio review meetings are equivalent to the meetings that are also held on a permanent basis with petitioners and their representatives.
States are invited to schedule their reviews in advance. Requests should be sent by email to: [email protected]
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. 035/19