The OAS must protect the autonomy of the IACHR by renewing the contract of its Executive Secretary, in accordance with current institutional frameworks.

CELS unites with more than 180 human rights entities in the region in asking the Organization of American States to respect the independence and autonomy of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. In a letter (in Spanish) sent to the General Secretariat of the OAS, we requested the renewal of the contract of the current Executive Secretary of the IACHR, confirmed in the post unanimously by the Commissioners of the IACHR in January 2020.

The OAS Must Protect the Autonomy of the IACHR by Renewing the Contract of its Executive Secretary. August 28, 2020

To Mr. Secretary General Mr. Luis Almagro Lemes

DC. Messrs. Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the member states of the Organization of American States (OAS)

DC. Messrs. Permanent Representatives to the OAS

Re: The OAS must protect the autonomy of the IACHR by renewing the contract of its Executive Secretary.

The signatory organizations express our deep concern over the unilateral decision of the Organization of American States (OAS) General Secretariat that invalidates the renewal process of the mandate of the Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). Far from strengthening the institutional structure of the IACHR, it is an unprecedented intervention that ignores and voids the autonomy and independence of the Commission.

Read more: https://www.cels.org.ar/web/en/2020/08/the-autonomy-of-the-iachr-must-be-protected/