IACHR publishes follow-up report on recommendations on the rights of people deprived of their freedom in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador

September 27, 2024

Washington, D.C. —The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has published a follow-up report on its recommendations on the rights of people deprived of their freedom in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. The report assesses progress and challenges in the implementation of recommendations made to these three countries concerning this population's rights.

The publication notes that compliance has been achieved with seven recommendations from the 2017 Guatemala country report, four from the 2019 Honduras country report, and five from the 2019 El Salvador country report. It also lists the measures taken by each country since the year after the respective reports were released.

To compile the report, the IACHR requested information from the three States, civil society organizations, and national human rights institutions in each country. Based on the responses received, the IACHR evaluated the level of compliance achieved with each recommendation, using the guidelines and classifications set out in its General Guidelines on the Follow-up of Recommendations and Decisions of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The report also lists the information that still needs to be provided and measures that must be implemented to achieve full implementation of these recommendations.

The report underscores that Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala have long faced common challenges around fulfilling international obligations to respect and protect the rights of their incarcerated populations. These are largely rooted in the three States' long-standing neglect of their prison systems.

Many initiatives that the IACHR categorized as partial compliance with its recommendations were implemented in response to the heightened risk faced by prison inmates in these countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This report was written based on the understanding that full compliance with IACHR recommendations is critical to securing the full enjoyment of human rights across the OAS Member States and strengthening the Inter-American System of Human Rights. It is intended to serve as a valuable resource for the authorities tasked with achieving compliance with IACHR recommendations and for institutions and organizations working to uphold the rights of people who are deprived of their freedom.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) is an autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS) whose mandate is based on the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. Its mission is to promote and defend human rights throughout the Americas and to serve as an advisory body to the OAS in this area. The IACHR consists of seven independent members elected by the OAS General Assembly. They serve in a personal capacity and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. 228/24

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