IACHR Launches Mechanism to Monitor Interdisciplinary Group Recommendations for Bolivia

March 22, 2022

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Washington, D.C. – The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) is launching a monitoring mechanism for Bolivia. The IACHR and the Plurinational State of Bolivia will sign the relevant agreement for joint work on March 22, 2022, in La Paz. This mechanism is being launched to monitor compliance with the recommendations made by the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts on Bolivia.

The IACHR and the Plurinational State of Bolivia decided to sign a Work Plan for the MESEG Bolivia, which contributes to the consolidation of dialogue with the various sectors of society around the process of implementing the recommendations made in the report of the GIEI Bolivia, regarding the acts of violence and human rights violations that occurred between September 1 and December 31, 2019.

This monitoring mechanism for Bolivia aims to provide expert technical assistance to State authorities involved in the process of investigating what happened, ensuring comprehensive reparations for victims of right violations, as well as institutional and cross-cutting aspects. In this context, the IACHR agreed with the State on a work plan that includes visits to Bolivia to obtain information on site, as well as the provision of technical support, among other elements.

Background

In December 2019, the IACHR and the Plurinational State of Bolivia signed an agreement to support investigations into the violence and human rights violations that have happened in Bolivia over the period September 1 – December 31, 2019. Later, on November 23, 2020, the following individuals were appointed as members of the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts for Bolivia: Juan Méndez, Julian Burger, Magdalena Correa, Marlon Weichert, and Patricia Tappatá, with Jaime Vidal acting as the Group's Executive Secretary.

On August 17, 2021, after eight months in action, the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts for Bolivia publicly released its and made 36 recommendations to the State of Bolivia, to Bolivian society, and to the IACHR. In particular, recommendations 35 and 36 urged the government to create and implement a national monitoring mechanism and a special monitoring mechanism—in the framework of the Inter-American Human Rights System—to foster and monitor compliance with the recommendations held in that report.

A principal, autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), the IACHR derives its mandate from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has a mandate to promote respect for and to defend human rights in the region and acts as a consultative body to the OAS in this area. The Commission is composed of seven independent members who are elected in an individual capacity by the OAS General Assembly and who do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. 058/22

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