NGO Law Monitor: Organization of American States
Introduction | Key Facts | Members | At a Glance
Key Legal Texts | Overview | Reports | News and Additional Resources
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Last updated 6 February 2013
Update: On September 10, Venezuela informed the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) through an official letter that it is denouncing the American Convention on Human Rights. If the denunciation goes into force, Venezuela will not be liable to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights for human rights violations that it commits. However, complaints may still be heard against Venezuela for up to one year after denunciation. In addition, Venezuela, as a Member State of the OAS, will continue to be subject to the Commission's jurisdiction and be bound by the obligations established in the OAS Charter and the American Declaration, to which Venezuela has been a State Party since 1948. The OAS Secretary General said that he regrets the decision taken by Venezuela to denounce the Convention. He also expressed his hope that in the year that must elapse before the denunciation becomes effective, the government of Venezuela will reconsider its decision.
Introduction
The Organization of American States (OAS) brings together the nations of the Western Hemisphere to strengthen cooperation on democratic values, defend common interests, and debate the major issues facing this region and the world. The OAS is the region’s principal multilateral forum for strengthening democracy, promoting human rights, and confronting shared problems such as poverty, terrorism, illegal drugs and corruption. It plays a leading role in carrying out mandates established by the hemisphere’s leaders through the Summits of the Americas.
The member countries set major policies and goals through the General Assembly, which gathers the hemisphere’s ministers of foreign affairs once a year in regular session. Ongoing actions are guided by the Permanent Council, made up of ambassadors appointed by the member states.
Key Facts
| Headquarters | Washington, DC |
| Members | 35 |
| Established | 1948 |
| Founding Document | Charter of the Organization of American States |
| Head | Secretary General José Miguel Insulza |
| Governing Bodies | General Assembly Permanent Council |
| Key Human Rights Agreements | American Convention on Human Rights; American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man; Inter-American Democratic Charter |
| Key Judicial Bodies | Inter-American Court of Human Rights; Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (this is quasi-judicial body) |
Members
| Antigua and Barbuda | Dominica | Panama |
| Argentina | Dominican Republic | Paraguay |
| The Bahamas | Ecuador | Peru |
| Barbados | El Salvador | Saint Kitts and Nevis |
| Belize | Grenada | Saint Lucia |
| Bolivia | Guatemala | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
| Brazil | Guyana | Suriname |
| Canada | Haiti | Trinidad and Tobago |
| Chile | Honduras** | United States of America |
| Colombia | Jamaica | Uruguay |
| Costa Rica | Mexico | Venezuela |
| Cuba * | Nicaragua |
*By resolution of the Eighth Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs (1962) the current Government of Cuba was excluded from participation in the OAS. However, on June 3, 2009, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Americas adopted a resolution that terminates that decision, and provides that Cuba's participation in the OAS will be determined through a process of dialogue initiated at the request of the Government of Cuba, and in accordance with the practices, purposes, and principles of the OAS.
**On July 5, 2009, the Organization of American States (OAS) invoked Article 21 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, suspending Honduras from active participation in the hemispheric body. The unanimous decision was adopted following the June 28 coup d’état that expelled President José Manuel Zelaya from office. The OAS Secretary General, together with the duly designated representatives of various countries, have been instructed to intensify all diplomatic initiatives for the restoration of democracy and the rule of law, and the reinstatement of President Zelaya.
At a Glance
| Freedom of Association | Legal Protection | American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man, Article XXII American Convention on Human Rights: Article 16 Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights "Protocol of San Salvador": Article 8 |
| Judicial Bodies | Inter-American Court of Human Rights | |
| Civil Society Participation | Ability to Participate in OAS Activities | CSOs may participate in OAS meetings if they: 1) register with the OAS; 2) request to attend General Assembly and other specific conference meetings as a Special Guest; or 3) enter into a cooperative agreement. CSOs also participate through the Summit of the Americas. |
| Registration Process | CSOs must follow the procedures outlined in Permanent Council in Resolution CP/RES. 759. | |
| Registered CSOs | 266 | |
| Human Rights Defenders | Current Status | Report on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders in the Americas |
Key Legal Texts
Freedom of Association
| Inter-American Court of Human Rights Decisions | Year |
| Case of Kawas Fernández v. Honduras | 2009 |
| Case of Escher et al. v. Brazil | 2009 |
| Case of Cantoral-Huamaní and García-Santa Cruz v. Peru | 2007 |
| Case of Huilca-Tecse v. Peru | 2005 |
| Case of Baena-Ricardo et al. v. Panama | 2001 |
| Advisory Opinion OC-5/85: Compulsory Membership in an Association Prescribed by Law for the Practice of Journalism | 1985 |
| Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Cases | Year |
| Mexico: Case 11.610, Loren Laroye Riebe Star, Jorge Barón Guttlein, and Rodolfo Izal Elorz | 1999 |
| Guatemala: Case 10.518 :Hector Oqueli and Gilda Flores | 1992 |
| Argentina: Cases 9777 and 9718: Maximo Bomchil and Alejandro M. Ferrari | 1988 |
| Nicaragua: Case 7310: Nicaraguan Seamen's Union | 1982 |
Civil Society
| Permanent Council Resolutions | Year |
| CP/RES. 864, (1413/04), Organizations in OAS Activities and in the Summits of the American Process | 2004 |
| CP/RES. 840, (1361/03) Strategies for Increasing and Strengthening Participation by Civil Society Organizations in OAS Activities | 2003 |
| CP/RES.759 (1217/99), Guidelines for the Participation of Civil Society Organizations in OAS activities | 1999 |
| CP/RES.704 (1129/97), Status of Non-Governmental Organizations (CSOs) in the OAS | 1997 |
| General Assembly Resolutions | Year |
| AG/RES. 2680 (XLI-O/11) Promotion of the Rights to Freedom of Assembly and of Association in the Americas | 2011 |
| AG/RES. 2407/08, Strengthening of human rights systems pursuant to the mandates arising from the Summits of the Americas | 2008 |
| AG/RES. 2517 (XXXIX-O/09), Human rights Defenders: Support for the Work of Individuals, groups, and organizations of civil society to promote and protect human rights the Americas | 2009 |
| AG/RES. 2351/07, Civil Society Organizations and the Protection of Human Rights and Promotion of Democracy | 2007 |
Overview
The Organization of American States (OAS) is an international organization created by the American States[1] to achieve an order of peace and justice; promote their solidarity; and defend their sovereignty, their territorial integrity and their independence. The OAS has established the following as its essential purposes: democracy, human rights, security, and development. The OAS uses five main tools to advance these purposes: political dialogue, inclusiveness, cooperation, and the use of legal and follow up instruments.
The purposes, obligations and instruments of the OAS are set forth in its Charter, approved in 1948, and subsequently amended by various Protocols. In addition to its member states, the Organization has granted permanent observer status to 62 states, as well as to the European Union. The OAS accomplishes its purposes through two kinds of organs: political and human rights bodies.
The OAS Political Bodies
The General Assembly, the supreme political organ, decides the general action and policy of the Organization. The General Assembly holds a regular session once a year and may meet in special session. All member States have the right to be represented and to one vote in the General Assembly.
The OAS has other political organs such as the Permanent Council, which accomplishes assignments entrusted by the General Assembly; observes the maintenance of friendly relations among the member states; supervises the standards governing General Secretariat operations; and acts provisionally as Organ of Consultation under the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (Rio Treaty) on peace and security issues.
The OAS also has a number of committees, including: the General Secretariat; the Secretariat on Juridical and Political Affairs; the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development; the Secretariat on Hemispheric Security; and the Secretariat on Inter-American Summits Management. The latter provides coordination and support for the Summits of the Americas, as established in Executive Order Number 02-03 and Executive Order No. 05-13 Rev, in particular providing a forum for civil society contributions and operating the “Summits of the Americas Information Network”.
The main political bodies carry out the law-making process within the OAS. Over the years the American States have adopted numerous international instruments that have become the building blocks of a regional system for the promotion and protection of human rights.
The Inter-American system understands that the promotion and strengthening of democracy requires the full and effective exercise of freedom of association. The OAS Charter recognizes the importance of the contribution of organizations such as labor unions, cooperatives, and cultural, professional, business, neighborhood, and community associations to the life of the society and to the development process (Art. 45). The Charter also recognizes the right of employers and workers to associate themselves freely for the defense and promotion of their interests, and recognition of the juridical personality of associations and the protection of their freedom and independence (Art. 45). Similar language can be found in the Inter-American Democratic Charter, adopted in 2001 (Preamble and Art. 10).
The Human Rights Bodies
The OAS has a highly elaborated human rights system that recognizes and defines those rights, establishes binding rules of conduct to promote and protect them, and creates organs to monitor their observance.
Freedom of association is spelled out in the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man as the right of every person to associate with others to promote, exercise and protect the legitimate interests of a political, economic, religious, social, cultural, professional, labor union or other nature (Art. XXII).
Article 16 of the American Convention on Human Rights governs Freedom of Association. It provides:
- Everyone has the right to associate freely for ideological, religious, political, economic, labor, social, cultural, sports, or other purposes.
- The exercise of this right shall be subject only to such restrictions established by law as may be necessary in a democratic society, in the interest of national security, public safety or public order, or to protect public health or morals or the rights and freedoms of others.
- The provisions of this article do not bar the imposition of legal restrictions, including even deprivation of the exercise of the right of association, on members of the armed forces and the police.
The American Convention recognizes the right to associate freely and, at the same time, establishes that the exercise of this right may be subject to such restrictions established by law that have a legitimate purpose and that, ultimately, may be necessary in a democratic society. In this regard, the system established by the Convention seeks to balance and harmonize the right to associate with the need to prevent and investigate possible conduct that domestic law characterizes as criminal (Art. 16).
The agencies of the inter-American human rights system provide a venue for the denunciation and resolution of human rights violations in individual cases. They also monitor and report on the general human rights situation in the member states. Two organs have been charged with promoting and protecting human rights: The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
The IACHR is an autonomous organ of the OAS. Its mandate is found in the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The IACHR represents all of the member States of the OAS, but has seven members who act independently, without representing any particular country. The members of the IACHR are elected by the General Assembly of the OAS. Its headquarters are located in Washington, D.C., United States. The IACHR receives and analyzes individual petitions alleging that one of the member States of the OAS is responsible for a human rights violation. The Commission applies the Convention to process cases brought against those States which are parties to that instrument. For those States which are not parties, the Commission applies the American Declaration. The petitions presented to the IACHR must show that the victim has exhausted all means of remedying the situation domestically.
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights is an autonomous judicial body of the OAS whose purpose is to apply and interpret the American Convention on Human Rights. The Court, headquartered in San Jose, Costa Rica, has both contentious and advisory jurisdiction. The Court consists of seven judges from the Organization's Member States elected in an individual capacity from among jurists of the highest moral authority and of recognized competence in the field of human rights, who possess the qualifications required for the exercise of the highest judicial functions under the law of the State of which they are nationals or of the State that proposes them as candidates.
Through their case-law, the Commission and the Court have raised the inter-American standards for the protection of the right to freedom of association. The Commission has indicated that the right to freedom of association has been widely recognized as a substantive civil right that offers protection from the arbitrary interference of the state when persons decide to associate with others, and it is fundamental for the existence and functioning of a democratic society. In that regard, the protection of this right entails not only the obligation of the state not to interfere with the exercise of the right of assembly or association, but also requires, in certain circumstances, positive measures by the state to ensure the effective exercise of the liberty.
For its part, the Inter-American Court has established that the right to associate enshrined in Article 16 of the American Convention protects two dimensions. The first dimension encompasses the right and freedom of each individual to associate freely with other persons, without the intervention of the public authorities limiting or encumbering the exercise of this right. The second dimension recognizes and protects the right and the freedom to seek the common attainment of a lawful purpose, without pressures or meddling that could alter or thwart such a collective aim. Note the Court’s specific language:
those who are protected by the Convention not only have the right and freedom to associate freely with other persons, without the interference of the public authorities limiting or obstructing the exercise of the respective right, which thus represents a right of each individual; but they also enjoy the right and freedom to seek the common achievement of a licit goal, without pressure or interference that could alter or change their purpose. (Case of Huilca-Tecse v. Peru, p. 23).
The OAS has established a Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression. Although this Special Rapporteur does not focus on CSOs or Freedom of Association explicitly, some of the issues the Rapporteur covers are relevant to civil society. See Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression.
The General Assembly is the supreme organ of the Organization of American States. It is comprised of delegations of the member states, usually headed by the 34 ministers of foreign affairs of the nations of the Americas. The General Assembly convenes once a year in regular session, and in special sessions which are convoked by the Permanent Council of the Organization. The General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) adopted a Resolution on the "Promotion to the Rights to Freedom of Assembly and of Association in the Americas" in 2011 which reaffirms inter-American and universal standards on the rights of association and assembly.
Civil Society Participation in the OAS
According to the OAS, Civil society organizations (CSOs) are key participants in reaching the OAS goals. In fact, the participation of CSOs in the design of public policies reflects the new dynamic of consensus in the Americas that, following the Inter-American Democratic Charter, defines CSOs as agents of democracy.
CSOs have participated in dialogue and decision-making on a growing number of issues, from fighting corruption and terrorism to promoting democratic development and indigenous rights. Civil society has played an active role in contributing ideas and recommendations to the Summits of the Americas process, to hemisphere-wide ministerial meetings, and to the OAS General Assembly.
The OAS has also stated that in order to achieve participation, civil society must be given the opportunities to: have knowledge of and access to activities on the hemispheric agenda in the subject areas defined by the Member States; develop and execute projects with the OAS General Secretariat to formulate public policy promoting society’s economic, social, and cultural development in the Americas; form strategic alliances between civil society, the OAS, and private-sector enterprises for implementation of the various activities in the subject areas entrusted to the General Secretariat and its technical bodies, so as to provide technical assistance, training, and reciprocal services for better practices; devise proposals for the design and execution of public policy to benefit the community in the Americas; and participate in virtual consultations, through the Internet, with government agencies and CSOs, to identify challenges and initiatives in the various areas of endeavor of the OAS (CP/RES. 840 [1361/03]).
In this sense, the various OAS organs and conferences, especially the Summit Process, have created spaces for civil society to respond to critical issues in the inter-American agenda and contribute to the initiatives set forth by the OAS General Assembly and by the Heads of State and Government, Ministerial and other high-level meetings.
The OAS has drafted a “Manual for Civil Society Participation in the OAS and in the Summits of the Americas”. This manual comprises relevant information on the OAS system and its structure, the means for CSOs participation in the OAS, relevant legal materials, and a guide of registration procedures.
The Summits of the Americas Department coordinates periodic meetings of the heads of OAS member states. It also coordinates CSO participation in the OAS. Through the Summits of the Americas process, CSOs can provide recommendations or participate in forums and seminars organized by the Summits of the Americas Secretariat. (See generally http://www.civil-society.oas.org/.)
The Permanent Council has set forth guidelines for the Participation of CSO in OAS Activities. The Guidelines comprise: a standard procedure by which CSOs can apply to participate in OAS activities; procedures and criteria for CSO registration with the OAS; and responsibilities of CSOs once they are registered in the Organization’s system (CP/RES. 759).
Moreover, the OAS has established a Specific Fund to Support the Participation of Civil Society Organizations in OAS Activities and in the Summits of the Americas Process that aims to provide financial support to facilitate participation by registered civil society organizations in the activities of the Organization’s policymaking bodies, such as the General Assembly and the Permanent Council, the special meetings of the Committee on Inter-American Summits Management and Civil Society Participation in OAS Activities (CISC), the Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG), appropriate ministerial meetings, and other OAS activities.
Additionally, CSOs may participate in the OAS General Assembly and other meetings through three processes, detailed here:
Registered CSOs
May participate in any OAS conference after notifying the General Secretariat of the name(s) of the representative(s) who will attend the conference. Attendance at closed meetings is determined by the chair of the meeting in question.
Unregistered CSOs
May participate in the following classes of meetings by following specified procedures:
- General Assembly
- Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI)
- Other specific Conferences of the O
Cooperation Agreements
CSOs may participate by entering into Cooperation Agreements
Notably, CSO participation is subject to political, in addition to procedural, limitations. At the 2009 OAS General Assembly, controversy emerged regarding decisions carried out by the Permanent Council not to invite certain Venezuelan and Nicaraguan CSOs to the Assembly. CSO access to the General Assembly depends on an ad hoc accreditation procedure which confers observer status as a “special guest” without the right to participate in debates. The Governments of Venezuela and Nicaragua did not extent the invitation to a number of CSOs from their respective countries, denying those CSOs access to fully participate in official activities of the Assembly.
Reports
News and Upcoming Events
General News
Former US President Jimmy Carter speaks on reform process of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (December 2012) "Over the last year, some member states have raised concerns about the procedures and decisions of the Commission and a vigorous debate has ensued as to the most appropriate reforms to adopt. We must look for additional ways to strengthen the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and ensure its independence from political pressures."
OAS Permanent Council approves participation of 24 additional NGOs in dialogue on strengthening the Inter-American System of Human Rights (December 2012)
The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) today approved the participation of 24 new civil society organizations in the debate on the strengthening of the Inter-American Human Rights System, which will continue with a new meeting of the Council on December 7.
Human rights court visits Colombia for 'blacklist' revision (December 2012)
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) arrived in Colombia Monday to determine whether or not the country can be taken off the commission's human rights "blacklist." The IACHR is visiting Colombia on December 3-7 to determine the country's human rights status, which in April was concluded deplorable enough to remain on the organization's "blacklist," a compilation of countries which require "special attention" in regards to human rights abuses.
Venezuela writer defends Chavez government (November 2012)
Venezuela writer and intellectual Luis Britto defended the Chavez government against accusations of clamping down on press freedoms during a session held by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (Iachr) in Washington last Thursday. Britto called the continual claims of violations of freedom of expression in Venezuela as baseless and without merit, citing the fact that not a single proven case of repression has been brought before the commission.
OAS Permanent Council invites CSOs to submit proposals for Application of Recommendations for the Strengthening of the Inter American Human Rights System (October 2012)
In the document CP/doc.4787/12 rev.4 corr.1 add.2 Request for the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the OAS General Secretariat, Civil Society Organizations, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, and the Inter-American Juridical Committee to Forward their Proposals for Implementing the Recommendations of the Working Group, by October 31, 2012, the Secretariat of the Permanent Council transmitted the request of the Permanent Council to invite civil society organizations to submit their proposals for the application of the recommendations included in the “Report of the Special Working Group to Reflect on the Workings of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights with a View to Strengthening the Inter-American Human Rights System for Consideration by the Permanent Council”.
IACHR convenes hearings on strengthening of the Inter-American System on Human Rights (October 2012)
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) will convene hearings on the process to strengthen the Inter-American system on human rights on October 30, 2012, at the headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS), during the 146th ordinary Period of Sessions of the Commission. The organizations that would like to participate with presentations in this hearing must send a request so that the IACHR may distribute the time of the hearing equitably among all the participants.
IACHR regrets decision of Venezuela to denounce the American Convention on Human Rights (September 2012)
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has been informed that Venezuela presented to the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) a notice of denunciation of the American Convention on Human Rights.
IACHR launches consultation to actors of the Inter-American System for the Protection of Human Rights (September 2012)
The IACHR is reflecting upon how it might improve its methods, procedures and practices so that they achieve their objectives. To that end, it has prepared an agenda of reforms consisting of five different topics. Any one of them may draw comments from the actors, which can be forwarded directly to the IACHR by return e-mail or by attaching a separate document in either Word or PDF format.
OAS General Secretary communicates Venezuela´s decision to denounce the American Convention on Human Rights (September 2012)
According to an OAS press release, "The government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela today informed the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, through an official letter, that it is denouncing the American Convention on Human Rights.... The OAS Secretary General regrets the decision taken by the government of Venezuela to denounce this legal instrument, one of the pillars of the legal regulations that protect the defense of human rights in the hemisphere."
IACHR creates procedure for civil society participation in the IAHRS reform process (August 2012)
The IACHR published the methodology that will be implemented in the 2012 process of reform of its Rules of Procedure and of its institutional policies and practices. The period for comments ends on September 25 after which the IACHR will take into consideration all input received and will determine the steps to be followed.
IACHR makes choice of Emilio Álvarez Icaza for Executive Secretary (August 2012)
The IACHR made its choice of Emilio Álvarez Icaza for the post of Executive Secretary. Mr. Álvarez Icaza Longoria, a Mexican national, has a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), as well as a Master’s Degree in Social Sciences from the Latin American School of Social Sciences (FLACSO) from that country.
OAS rights body slammed by “ALBA bloc” at annual meeting (July 2012)
As the annual OAS General Assembly concluded in Cochabamba, Bolivia, the organization’s relevance took center stage in sometimes contentious debates. The General Assembly was expected to consider measures that could strip the Inter-American Human Rights Commission and the Inter-American Human Rights Court of some of their independence. The reforms would also give states the power to delay, for up to a year, the commission’s influential country reports, greatly reducing their impact. Opposition to the commission came from Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador and Nicaragua, among others. The countries — all part of the ALBA bloc of mostly left-leaning nations — accuse the OAS of being under the sway of the United States and using the commission as a foreign policy bludgeon.
OAS Human Rights System comes under attack (June 2012)
On June 4th and 5th, in Bolivia, the OAS held its annual meeting. Ecuador, Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua all threatened to pull out of the IACHR if it is not reformed. The OAS agreed to draft a new reform plan and to meet again within six months to confirm it. If approved, it will be the first change to the IACHR’s powers without the commission’s own consent since it was founded in 1959.
Resolution on human rights defenders Adopted by OAS (June 2012)
The OAS General Assembly approved a Resolution which condemned actions intended to prevent or hinder the work of human rights defenders in the Americas and urges member states to continue stepping up their efforts to adopt necessary measures to safeguard the lives, freedom, and personal safety of human rights defenders and their families.
OAS launches a compilation on legal norms in the Americas for Civil Society Participation (May 2012)
The report summarizes legislation and other legal tools for the participation of CSOs in OAS member States. The report identifies more than 450 legal instruments in OAS member States at the disposal of CSOs, including constitutional norms, legislation and presidential decrees that provide for citizen participation, access to information, promotion of coordinated work between CSOs and Governments in areas regarding social inclusion, environment, local governments, decentralization processes, children rights, health policies, among other.
Civil society organizations and the Summit of the Americas (April 2012)
The OAS hosted a broad program of activities to foster the contribution and participation of civil society organizations (CSOs) and other social actors during the Summit. As part of this participatory process, the OAS carried out a series of activities entitled “Policy Dialogues: The Road to Cartagena”, which were designed to include both virtual and face‐to‐face dialogues in order to provide ongoing, timely opportunities for social actors to consolidate and effectively channel inputs and recommendations for the consideration of member states during the negotiation of Sixth Summit mandates.
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights' first regional hearing on legal restrictions on freedom of association in Latin America (March 2012)
On March 28, 2012, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) held its first ever regional hearing devoted to "Legal Restrictions on Freedom of Association in Latin America." The petitioners, a coalition of civil society organizations (CSOs) from diverse countries, provided first-hand accounts of their experiences with legal barriers limiting the right to free association.
IACHR releases new publication on the situation of human rights defenders in the Americas (March 2012)
In March 2012, the IACHR released a new publication: Second Report on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders in the Americas (OEA/Ser.L/V/II. Doc. 66, December 31, 2011). This new report features a section devoted to restrictions on the exercise of freedom of association.
News Archive
IACHR Sessions and hearings (October 2010)
IACHR expresses concern over deaths and injuries during demonstrations in Panama (August 2010)
Regular sessions of the Inter-American Court on Human Rights
Fortieth Regular Session of the General Assembly (June 2010)
Inter-American Court publishes the “Rules for the Operation of the Victims' Legal Assistance Fund of the Inter-American Court Of Human Rights.”
Third Meeting of the Committee for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (April 2010)
Chávez furious as OAS rights watchdog accuses him of endangering democracy (February 2010)
IACHR publishes report on Venezuela (February 2010)
President Obama should press for change at the OAS (February 2010)
OAS expresses concern over closings of TV channels in Venezuela (January 2010)
The foregoing information was collected by the ICNL NGO Law Monitor partner organization.