IACHR

Press Release

IACHR Announces 178th Period of Sessions in Online Format and Is Receiving Applications for public hearings

September 1, 2020

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Washington, D.C. - The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) will hold its 178th Period of Sessions online between December 2 and 9, 2020. The adoption of the virtual format aims to fulfill the IACHR mandates and functions in the face of the seriousness of the situation currently affecting the health of thousands of people in the region and the world as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The IACHR will receive requests for public hearings through the system on the IACHR website starting today, June 30, 2020. The system closes on September 23, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. local time at the IACHR headquarters in Washington, DC. Applications will be received related to all member states of the Organization of American States (OAS). The system is the only way to submit requests and is available in the four official OAS languages: Spanish, English, Portuguese and Frances.

Up to one month before the hearings, the IACHR will send the decisions regarding the requests. The calendar of hearings will be posted on the IACHR Webpage approximately two weeks before the start of the sessions.

Online meetings with the IACHR will be held using a secure, easy-to-access platform that will be announced in due course. The IACHR will notify the parties of joining details and security guidelines for the meetings.

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. 210/20