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HUMAN RIGHTS CRUCIAL TO BUILDING DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY IN AMERICAS,
OAS SECRETARY GENERAL REITERATES

Secretary General José Miguel Insulza, reiterating the building and strengthening of democratic society in the Americas as top priority for the Organization of American States—the main political forum of the inter-American system—has said the success of such an endeavor “depends on the protection of human rights.” He stressed that it also depends on an equitable distribution of opportunities and on social progress.

Opening the 124th regular session of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (José Miguel Insulza), the Secretary General told the member state ambassadors, human rights commissioners and other officials that “full democracy requires many different elements, among them an independent judiciary, a legislature that reflects plurality, party systems that allow for smooth communication between the people and their leaders,” and full respect for and guarantee of freedom of expression and of the rights of all.”
He said, “We believe the effective protection of human rights to be essential to the rule of law and democratic governance.” He noted as well that society as a whole should make an effort to guard against violations but also to “promote together a better human rights environment in our societies.” He added: “Human rights are fully in effect when citizens feel they live in a true democracy and are believe it can solve their problems.”
Praising the OAS human rights agencies, Insulza said that the organization is very proud of its institutions. “The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights have become the conscience of the hemisphere by supporting citizens and effectively protecting their human rights,” he said. Urging the member states’ maximum support in providing the commission with the necessary resources to fulfill its mandates, Insulza observed that over its more than forty years of operation, “the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has been demonstrably serious and effective in its work.”
Secretary General Insulza also touched on major issues facing the hemisphere’s citizens, including discrimination against racial and ethnic minorities, indigenous peoples as well as on the basis of gender.
Commission Chairman Evelio Fernández Arévalos of Paraguay, in his remarks, presented an overview of the IACHR’s work, noting the marked increase in its workload in recent decades. Petitions alone moved from 26 filed in 1970 to 1,330 in 2005, while complaints that were filed increased by 170% from 1997 to 2003. “In the last five years, the Commission received more than 7,500 new complaints,” he remarked, adding that “evidently, the observance and promotion of fundamental human rights in our hemisphere is still an enormous challenge.”
He stressed the need to tackle political, economic and social problems with due regard for the strict observance and protection of human rights, noting that governments and their citizens continue to face security threats from terrorism, drugs, human trafficking, gang violence and common crimes, besides from natural disasters and other problems.
Regarding the current three-week session, Commission Fernández Arévalos explained that the commissioners will be studying and discussing reports and petitions on individual cases from various countries, and will hold more than 60 hearings on these cases and petitions.
The Permanent Council’s Chair, Saint Lucia’s Ambassador Sonia Johnny, congratulated all recently elected members of the human rights agency, noting the special significance attached to their responsibility. She also challenged the commissioners to continue the serious work of protecting and promoting human rights, and specially commended the work of the Commission’s immediate past Chairman, Clare K. Roberts of Antigua and Barbuda.

Reference: E-046/06