IACHR Press Office
Washington, D.C. – The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) visited the Plurinational State of Bolivia over the period January 24–26, 2023, and met with various stakeholders to discuss progress made to implement the recommendations of the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts for Bolivia, as well as pending challenges. The delegation—led by Commissioner Joel Hernández (the IACHR's Rapporteur for Bolivia) and IACHR Executive Secretary Tania Reneaum and which also featured members of the Commission's technical staff—held several meetings in La Paz and Sucre, with authorities at the Ministry of Justice, the Ombudsperson's Office, the Public Prosecutor's Office, and the Supreme Court of Justice. The IACHR delegation also met with victims' associations and other civil society organizations to gather relevant information.
Following a preliminary examination of all the information that has been collected, both progress and challenges have been identified in efforts to implement the recommendations made by the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts for Bolivia. In particular, the IACHR mission noted efforts to investigate the events of 2019 and the provision of comprehensive reparations to victims of human rights violations. The Commission further noted the importance of implementing all recommendations aimed at ensuring non-recurrence within Bolivian society.
The Inter-American Commission is set to publish soon—one year after launching its mechanism to monitor the implementation of recommendations made by the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts for Bolivia—a report to provide greater detail concerning progress made and pending challenges. This report is intended as a set of technical guidelines to enable the Plurinational State of Bolivia to comply with the recommendations of the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts for Bolivia.
The Commission appreciates the invitation and the support it received from the Plurinational State of Bolivia to conduct this mission. The IACHR commends State authorities on their openness to talk and provide information on how various recommendations had been implemented. The Commission also appreciates the valuable assistance of the victims and civil society organizations who contributed information and testimonies in the cities visited by the IACHR delegation.
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. 020/23
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