Freedom of Expression
Announcement
Presentation of the thematic Report of the Office of the
Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission
on Human Rights, on Protest and Human
Rights
December 10, 2019
Washington D.C., The exercise of rights linked to social protest in the Americas has contributed to the advancement of democracy and the conquest of rights by different social groups, but it has also been the object of disproportionate responses on the part of States, which have resulted in serious violations of human rights. Most commonly, the response to the protest is part of a conception rooted in the region that sees citizen mobilization as a form of public disorder or as a threat to the stability of democratic institutions.
In a context in which protests has become part of the regional scene the IACHR and the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression present the thematic report on Protest and Human Rights, with which we hope to contribute to a better understanding of the state obligations aimed at guaranteeing, protecting and facilitating peaceful protests and public demonstrations.
The presentation of the report will take place, on Friday, December 13, 2019 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Inter American Commission on Human Rights, 1889 F St. NW, Padilla Vidal Hall. The event will feature interventions of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Edison Lanza, and the Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association of the United Nations, Clement Voulé.
Of the event will participate civil society organizations, regional and international experts who have contributed to the development of this report, same wise it will offer an opportunity to reflect upon the regional situation for the protection of demonstrations and the patterns of human rights violations involved in this context. The principles and guidelines on protest and the right to information developed by the Open Society Justice Initiative and the Committee on the Administration of Justice will also be address.
The IACHR
is 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.
Please
check here the program of the event.
We look forward to see you all.