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Background

IACHR CONCLUDES ITS 128TH PERIOD OF SESSIONS

Washington, D.C., August 1, 2007—The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) held its 128th period of sessions from July 16 to 27. During the sessions, the IACHR held 25 public hearings in which it received valuable information from the States, civil society organizations and petitioners. It also held 15 working meetings on pending petitions and cases, had a productive meeting with the Ambassadors from the Andean region, and discussed and approved 44 reports. The IACHR values and appreciates the active participation of the States and civil society in the sessions, which strengthens the inter-American system for the protection of human rights.

Similarly, the IACHR would like to underscore and express appreciation for the important financial support provided by the governments of the following OAS member countries: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, the United States and Venezuela. It also thanks the observer countries that support the Commission’s activities: Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Spain and Sweden. The Commission additionally values and appreciates contributions received from the Inter-American Development Bank, the European Commission, the Open Society Foundation and the Commonwealth Secretariat. These contributions make possible in a concrete way the strengthening of the inter-American human rights system in the Americas.

Following the conclusion of its 128th period of sessions, whose activities are detailed in an annex to this press release (available at http://www.cidh.org/Comunicados/English/2007/40.07eng.htm), the IACHR would like to make the following comments.

In several of the public hearings, the IACHR once again received troubling information about the critical problems of citizen insecurity that affect a majority of the countries of the hemisphere and about the responses by the States, which are characterized by the lack of prevention policies and by the implementation of largely repressive measures. The IACHR would like to call particular attention to the vulnerable situation faced by numerous victims of human rights violations, who tend not to receive the State protection to which they are entitled and who, furthermore, lack access to justice. These problems are some of the principal obstacles to the full enjoyment of human rights in the hemisphere, and they represent some of the central challenges faced by the majority of States in the region.

The IACHR additionally received information, in the hearing on Peru’s National Human Rights Plan, to the effect that despite the plan’s having been approved nearly two years ago, its implementation is in the early stages. The Inter-American Commission urges the State to undertake the necessary efforts to ensure its effective implementation. The IACHR also reiterates its willingness to assist the State in the measures it has adopted or may adopt in the future with a view toward the plan’s progressive implementation, in accordance with the agreement signed in 2005.

On another matter, based on information received in the hearing on the implementation of precautionary measures in Honduras, the Commission urges State officials and governmental authorities to abstain from making statements or public comments that could jeopardize the security of the beneficiaries of precautionary measures.

In the hearing on the general human rights situation in Guatemala, the representatives of the State informed the IACHR that the plan to establish the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) is pending approval in Congress and that obstacles have arisen in moving forward with a vote on this issue. The Inter-American Commission echoes the call made by the Secretary-General of the United Nations last July 3 and urges the Congress of Guatemala to approve the creation of the CICIG as soon as possible, as an important step in the struggle against impunity in the country.

During the sessions, a hearing was also held on the precautionary measures in place for persons detained in Guantánamo. The IACHR President formally petitioned the U.S. Department of State requesting consent for the IACHR to visit the installations at that detention center. Additionally, during the hearing the Commission President reiterated the call made in Resolution No. 1/06 of July 2006, in which the IACHR urged the government of the United States to close that detention center without delay.

The IACHR also held a hearing on the situation of freedom of expression in Mexico. In this regard, the Inter-American Commission wishes to recognize the recent progress in laws and jurisprudence on freedom of expression in Mexico. Nevertheless, it expresses its concern regarding the critical situation of insecurity experienced by journalists and the communications media in the country and regarding the alarming and growing number of murders, acts of aggression and threats against them registered in recent years. The IACHR urges the State to investigate and punish those responsible for these crimes and to urgently adopt measures to guarantee journalists’ security.

The IACHR will hold its 129th special period of sessions in Paraguay, from September 5 to 7, 2007, and its 130th regular period of sessions at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., from October 8 to 19, 2007. The deadline for presenting requests for hearings and working meetings for the 130th regular sessions is August 19, 2007, in keeping with Article 62.2 of the IACHR Rules of Procedure.





Press contact: María Isabel Rivero
Tel. (202) 458-3867
E-mail: [email protected]

Reference: CIDH-40