Conclusion of the 6th IACHR and Inter-American Court Forum on Democracy, Rule Of Law, and Human Rights

April 12, 2024

Washington D.C / San José, Costa Rica - On Thursday, April 11, the Sixth Edition of the Inter-American System Forum took place, focusing on Democracy, Rule of Law, and Human Rights. This edition centered on the "Advancements and Challenges 75 Years after the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man, 45 Years after the American Convention on Human Rights, and 65 Years of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

The Inter-American Human Rights System Forum is a joint initiative of the IACHR and the I/A Court H.R., held annually since 2017. It aims to expand and deepen dialogue between the IACHR and the I/A Court H.R. and various stakeholders such as civil society, academia, states, and others on key issues related to the Inter-American System.

The event featured three thematic panels with the presence of Judges from the I/A Court H.R and Commissioners from the IACHR, who shared insights with experts.

The inaugural conference was led by the President of the IACHR, Commissioner Roberta Clarke, and the Vice President of the I/A Court H.R., Judge Rodrigo Mudrovitsch, moderated by Tania Reneaum Panszi, Executive Secretary of the IACHR.

The first panel focused on the "Contributions and Impact of the Inter-American System for the Protection of Human Rights in the Region," featuring Commissioner Andrea Pochak, Commissioner Arif Bulkan, former Judge Elizabeth Odio Benito, and the President of the OAS Permanent Council, Chet Donovan Neymour. The panel was moderated by Gabriela Pacheco Arias, Director of Monitoring Compliance with Judgments at the I/A Court H.R.

Subsequently, the panel "Democracy and Human Rights: Impact of the Inter-American System and Current Challenges" featured Judge Patricia Pérez Goldberg, the Second Vice President of the IACHR, Commissioner José Luis Caballero Ochoa, Commissioner Stuardo Ralón, and guest expert Helen Mack, President of the Myrna Mack Foundation. Pedro Vaca, Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the IACHR, moderated the panel.

The final panel "Emerging Topics" included Judge Verónica Gómez, the First Vice President of the IACtHR, Commissioner Carlos Bernal Pulido, Commissioner Gloria De Mees, along with guest experts Claudia Martin from American University and Patrycja Sasnal, rapporteur for the UN report on climate change. The panel was moderated by Javier Palummo, Special Rapporteur on Economic, Social, Cultural, and Environmental Rights of the IACHR.

Finally, the First Vice President of the IACHR, Commissioner Carlos Bernal Pulido, and Judge Verónica Gomez, concluded the event by emphasizing that the work of the Inter-American System has been essential in consolidating Inter-American standards for the protection of human dignity in the Americas and promoting concrete reparations for victims, as well as state measures with structural scope to guarantee human rights.

For the President of the I/A Court H.R., Judge Nancy Hernández López, this Forum represents a meeting point for different actors of the inter-American system to reflect on advances, challenges, and issues related to various human rights themes.

The President of the IACHR, Roberta Clarke, stated that in a region where challenges persist regarding democratic institutions and structural inequalities, events like today's underscore the importance of the IACHR in defending and promoting human rights to strengthen democracy and the crucial role of civil society in sustaining the system.

IACHR is a principal and autonomous organ of the Organization of American States (OAS), whose mandate arises from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has the mandate to promote the observance and defense of human rights in the region and acts as an advisory body to the OAS on the matter. The IACHR is composed of seven independent members who are elected by the General Assembly of the OAS on a personal basis and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (I/A Court H.R.) is an autonomous judicial institution whose objective is the application and interpretation of the American Convention on Human Rights. The I/A Court H.R. is composed of seven judges, elected by the General Assembly on a personal basis from among jurists of the highest moral authority and recognized competence in human rights. Its judgments are binding on the States.

No. 072/24

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