On May 11, 2018, the Republic of Uruguay deposited its instrument of ratification of the Inter-American Convention against All Forms of Discrimination and Intolerance, having been the first State to sign the treaty, which was adopted in June 2013 and requires two ratifications to go into force. To date, the Convention has been signed by 10 States: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay.

The Convention defines discrimination and intolerance and describes what constitutes them. States Parties assume a range of different commitments under the Convention, including “to prevent, eliminate, prohibit, and punish” all acts and manifestations of discrimination and intolerance. In the area of prevention, States Parties are required to ensure the rights of persons by conducting research on discrimination and intolerance, compile data on groups or individuals that are victims of discrimination and intolerance, and promote international cooperation to exchange experiences.

A unique feature of the Convention is that it establishes a forum for the exchange of ideas and experience for examining progress made by the states parties in its implementation. The forum will be under the supervision of a committee composed of one expert appointed by each State Party, which shall be convened once 10 ratifications have been received for the two conventions in this area: the Inter-American Convention against All Forms of Discrimination and Intolerance and the Inter-American Convention against Racism, Racial Discrimination, and Related Forms of Intolerance. At present there are three such ratifications.

The Convention also includes a protection mechanism by which petitions may be lodged with the inter-American system for promotion and protection of human rights. 

The Department of International Law of the OAS Secretariat for Legal Affairs was involved in the process for drafting the Convention from the outset and provided legal and technical advisory services to the Working Group entrusted with that task. As depositary of all inter-American treaties, the Department maintains an electronic database that contains the official text of the Convention, as well as the status of signatures and ratifications. The database may be consulted at the following links: