AG/RES. 1894 (XXXII-O/02)

OBSERVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

(Adopted at the fourth plenary session held on June 4, 2002) 

            THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 

            HAVING SEEN the annual report of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), the presentation thereof by the President of the Commission (CP/CAJP-1948/02), and the observations and recommendations of the Permanent Council on the annual report of the IACHR (CP/doc.3612/02); and 

CONSIDERING: 

            That, in the Charter of the Organization of American States, the member states have proclaimed, as one of their principles, respect for the fundamental rights of the individual without distinction as to race, nationality, creed, or sex; 

            That, under the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights, the principal function of the IACHR is to promote the observance and protection of human rights; 

            That the Heads of State and Government expressed in the Declaration of the Second Summit of the Americas (Santiago, 1998) that “respect for and promotion of human rights and the fundamental freedoms of all individuals is a primary concern of our governments”; 

            That, in the Declaration of the Third Summit of the Americas (Quebec City, 2001), the Heads of State and Government stated that their “commitment to full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is based on shared principles and convictions” and that they supported “strengthening and enhancing the effectiveness of the inter American human rights system, which includes the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights”; and 

            That the member states have reaffirmed the inextricable link between human rights, democracy, the rule of law, and development; 

            RECOGNIZING that the universal protection and promotion of human rights are fundamental if democratic societies are to function properly and underscoring the importance of respect for the rule of law, equitable and effective access to justice, and participation by all sectors of society in public decision-making; and 

            RECALLING that unfailing respect for the provisions of international human rights law is the basis for the legitimate action of the organs for the promotion and protection of human rights and of those states that have undertaken, through international instruments, to respect such provisions, 

RESOLVES: 

            1.         To take note of the annual report of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and to thank the Commission for presenting it. 

            2.         To receive with satisfaction the report of the Permanent Council on the observations and recommendations of the member states on the annual report of the IACHR and to transmit that report to the Commission. 

            3.         To urge member states of the Organization to make their best efforts to follow-up on the recommendations of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. 

            4.         To recommend to the IACHR that it continue to take account of the concerns and observations of the member states on its annual reports. 

            5.         To urge member states of the Organization to take appropriate action in connection with the annual reports of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, in the context of the Permanent Council and the General Assembly of the Organization. 

            6.         To invite the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to consider the possibility of continuing to include in its annual reports information on the follow-up of its recommendations by the states; and to invite it to review, with a view to their improvement, the criteria and indicators on that subject in the report for this year. 

            7.         To urge member states to consider, as early as possible, the signature and ratification of, ratification of, or accession to, as appropriate, all instruments of the inter-American human rights system. 

            8.         To instruct the Permanent Council to present to the General Assembly at its thirty-third regular session a proposed budget for 2004 that includes an effective and adequate increase in the economic resources allocated to the Commission in light of the needs and goals set out in the presentation made by the Executive Secretary of the Commission to the joint meeting of the Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs and the Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Affairs, held on April 16, 2002 (CP/CAJP-1950/02). 

            9.         To instruct the Permanent Council to devote a regular meeting in 2002 to considering the topic “freedom of thought and expression,” in the framework of whichever body is considered appropriate, and to invite the IACHR to attend that meeting for an exchange of views. 

            10.        To urge the IACHR to continue to promote the observance and protection of human rights, in keeping with the provisions governing its competence and operations, in particular, the OAS Charter, the American Convention on Human Rights, and the Commission’s Statute and Rules of Procedure. 

            11.        To recognize the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and to encourage it regarding the important work which, with full autonomy, it has been carrying out to protect and promote human rights in the Hemisphere and, in that connection, to urge the member states to continue lend their cooperation and support. 

            12.        To request the Permanent Council to present a report to the General Assembly at its thirty-third regular session on the implementation of this resolution.