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According to its Rules of Procedure, the IACHR is authorized to hold public hearings, which can be held on its own initiative or at the request of an interested party. The hearings may have the purpose of receiving information from the parties with respect to a petition, a case being processed before the Commission, follow-up to recommendations, precautionary measures, or general or particular information related to human rights in one or more Members States of the OAS. These hearings are part of the Commission's human rights monitoring function and are carried out within the framework of periods of sessions.
The Commission held its first session in 1960 and has held an average of four ordinary and extraordinary sessions per year since then. Sessions may be held in Washington, DC, or in one of the Member States, at the invitation of the host country. The first session of the IACHR in a CARICOM State was held in Jamaica in 2019 and the second in Haiti in 2020.
During the sessions, the Commission makes decisions on the admissibility of petitions, on the merits of cases, and on the referral of them to the Inter-American Court. The Commission also holds working meetings and public hearings on topics of interest.
Below you will find a list of public hearings held in CARICOM countries. Please refer to this page to search for specific hearings and to have access to its recordings.
Participants: Federación de Pueblos Indígenas Kechwa Chazuta Amazonía (FEPIKECHA)Consejo Étnico de los Pueblos Kichwa de la Amazonía (CEPKA)Federación de Pueblos Indígenas Kechwas del Bajo Huallaga San Martín (FEPIKBHSAM)Coordinadora de Desarrollo y Defensa de los Pueblos Indígenas de la región San Martín (CODEPISAM)Asociación Interétnica de Desarrollo de la Selva Peruana (AIDESEP)Instituto de Defensa Legal (IDL) de PerúCentro de Estudios de Derecho, Justicia y Sociedad (Dejusticia) de ColombiaAmerindian Peoples Association (APA) de GuyanaForest Peoples Programme (FPP) Due Process of Law Foundation (DPLF)
Topics: Rights of Indigenous PeoplesEconomic, Social, Cultural and Environmental Rights
Participants: Arnaud Royer, Human rights component in UN Integrated Office in Haiti Impunité pour les violences sexuelles contre les femmes et les fillesState of Haiti
Topics: Rights of ChildrenRights of Women
Participants: Danuta RadzikElizabeth Deane HughesKaren de SouzaRed ThreadVanda RadzikState of Guyana
Topics: Economic, Social, Cultural and Environmental Rights
Participants: Stand Up for JamaicaState of Jamaica
Topics: Rights of Persons Deprived of Liberty
Participants: The Association of Indoigenous Village Leaders in Suriname (KAMPOS) Collaboration of Tribal PeoplesIndigenous Peoples Rights International
Topics: Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Participants: United Belize Advocacy Movement (UniBam)Tikun OlamPETAL Promoting Empowerment through Awareness for Lesbian bi sexual womenState of Belize
Topics: Rights of ChildrenRights of Women
Participants: Bureau des Droits en Haïti (BDHH) - Biwo dwa mounState of Haiti
Participants: Maroon Indigenous Women’s CircleYamaye Council Of Indigenous LeadersState of Jamaica
Topics: Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Participants: Bureau des Avocats InternationauxCenter for Gender & Refugee StudiesCUNY School of Law Human Rights and Gender Justice Clinic, Haitian Women's CollectiveInstitute for Justice & Democracy in HaitiKomisyon Fanm Viktim Pou ViktimMADRENègès MawonRegional Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)Réseau National de Défense des Droits HumainsState of Haiti
Topics: Rights of ChildrenRights of Women
Participants: Transnational Legal Clinic University of Pennsylvania Carey Law SchoolInternational Human Rights Clinic and Immigration Clinic University of Miami School of LawHaitian Bridge AllianceRFK Human RightsAlternative ChanceInstitute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDJ)United States
Topics: Rights of Migrants and their Families
Participants: Afrikan Cultural and Educational AssociationAnbessa FoundationCalcutta Cultural GroupCentre de Reflexion et de Recherche Sur a Migration Et L’environnement (Cerremen)Freedom ImaginariesHaiti Support Group (Guyana)Haitian Bridge AllianceIsraelite Research InstituteKay FanmNation Of RastafariNègès MawonNou Pap DòmiRastafari Initiative For Social And Economic Empowerment (Risee)The International Decade For People Of African Descent AssemblyState of Haiti
Topics: Rights of Migrants and their Families
Participants: Service Jésuite aux Migrants-Haïti (SJM-Haïti)State of Haiti
Topics: Rights of Migrants and their Families
Participants: Caribbean Centre for Human Rights (CCHR)State of Trinidad and Tobago
Topics: Rights of Persons Deprived of LibertyRights of Migrants and their Families
Topics: Rule of Law, Independence of the JudiciaryAccess to Justice, Judicial Guarantees
Participants: Bureau des Avocats InternationauxState of HaitiInstitute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti
Topics: Right to Freedom of ExpressionCitizen Security
Participants: State of Trinidad and TobagoInternational Human Rights Clinic Faculty of Law, University of the West Indies (UWI)
Topics: Rule of Law, Independence of the Judiciary
Participants: Lof Campo Maripe, ArgentinaEnsemble des Citoyens Compétents à la Recherche l’Egalité des Droits de l’Homme (ECCREDH)State of HaitiLigue Culturelle Haitienne Pour Les Droits Humains (LCHDH)Samuel DarisSamuel Saint Preux
Topics: General Human Rights Situation
Participants: State of Trinidad and TobagoFamily Planning Association of Trinidad and Tobago (FPATT)International Human Rights Clinic Faculty of Law, University of the West Indies (UWI)
Topics: Rights of Migrants and their Families
Participants: Avocats sans frontières Canada (ASFC)State of HaitiKayfamn L'Office de la protection du citoyen
Topics: Rights of Women
Participants: Avocats sans frontières Canada (ASFC)Collectif contre l’impunitéState of Haiti
Topics: Access to Justice, Judicial Guarantees
Participants: State of HaitiHaitian Cultural League For Human Rights (LCHDH
Topics: Rights of Children
Participants: Ensemble des Citoyens Compétents à la Recherche l’Egalité des Droits de l’Homme (ECCREDH)State of Haiti
Topics: Human Rights Defenders
Participants: ChildLinKState of GuyanaGuyana National Youth Council (GNYC)Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD)
Topics: Rights of WomenRights of ChildrenRights of Afro-Descendents / Against Racial DiscriminationEconomic, Social, Cultural and Environmental RightsRights of Persons LGBTI
Participants: Défenseur des OpprimésState of HaitiGlobal Justice Clinic - New York University, School of LawKolektif Jistis MinLafontaine OrvildMouvement Démocratique PopulaireObservatoire Macro-ProjetsPlate-forme des Organisations Haïtiennes des Droits HumainsPlate-forme Haïtienne de Plaidoyer pour un Développement AlternatifRéseau National de Défense des Droits Humains (RNDDH)Tèt Kole Ti Peyizan Ayisyen
Topics: Right to Freedom of Expression
Participants: Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU)Deaf Association of Guyana (DAG)State of GuyanaGuyana Equality Forum (GEF)Guyanese Organization of Indigenous Peoples (GOIP)Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD)Stella's Sisterhood of Service and Support Foundation (S4)
Topics: Rights of WomenRights of Indigenous PeoplesEconomic, Social, Cultural and Environmental RightsRights of Persons LGBTIRights of Persons with Disabilities
Participants: Coalition Advocating Inclusion of Sexual OrientationState of Trinidad and TobagoWomen's Institute for Alternative Development (WINAD)
Topics: Labor and Workers' RightsEconomic, Social, Cultural and Environmental Rights
Participants: Caribbean Institute for Human Rights (ICADH)State of BahamasGrand Bahama Human Rights Association (GBHRA)Robert F. Kennedy, Center for Justice and Human Rights (RFK Center)
Topics: Rights of Migrants and their Families
Participants: Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC)State of JamaicaFamilies Against State TerrorismHuman Rights Law Clinic, George Washington UniversityIndependent Jamaica Council for Human Rights Jamaica Forum for Lesbians all-Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG)Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ)Quality of Citizenship Jamaica (QCJ))
Topics: General Human Rights SituationRights of Persons LGBTI
Participants: State of JamaicaCivil Society of the Americas
Topics: General Human Rights SituationRights of Persons LGBTI
Participants: Environmental Toxicology and HealthState of SurinameSuriname Indigenous Health Fund (SIHF)
Topics: Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Participants: State of BelizeUnited Belize Advocacy Movement
Topics: Rights of Persons LGBTI
Participants: Avocats sans frontières Canada (ASFC)Centre CEcuménique des Droits Humains (CEDH)Collectif contre l’impunitéState of HaitiMaison des femmesMouvement des femmes haïtiennes pour l´éducation et le développement (MOUFHED) Réseau National de Défense des Droits Humains (RNDDH)
Topics: Access to Justice, Judicial Guarantees
Participants: Centre Haitien de Recherches et de Developpement Humain (CHARDH) State of Haiti
Topics: Rights of ChildrenCitizen Security
Participants: Artistes In Direct Support (AIDS)Child AdvocateState of GuyanaFamily Awareness Conscious Together (FACT)Red Thread (RT) Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD)
Topics: Rights of ChildrenRights of Persons LGBTI
Participants: Association des journalites indépendants d'Haití (AJIH)State of Haiti
Topics: Right to Freedom of Expression
Participants: Citoyens Engagés pour le Respect et la Promotion Des Droits Humains (CERPRODH)State of HaitiOrganisation pour la Protection des Droits de L’enfance et de la Femme (OPDEF)
Topics: Rights of Children
Participants: Association des Cadres Pour la Protection des Droits Humains (ACAPRODH)Cellule de Défense des Droits de la Femme (CEDEDROFEMME) State of Haiti
Topics: Rights of Women
Participants: State of HaitiFédération Internationale des Ligues des Droits de l'Homme (FIDH)Rassemblements des Volontaires pour la Défense des Droits Humains (RAVODEDH) Réseau National de Défense des Droits Humains (RNDDH)
Topics: Citizen Security
Participants: Abogados y Abogadas para la Justicia y los Derechos HumanosState of JamaicaHuman Rights Law Clinic, George Washington UniversityJamaicans for Justice (JFJ)
Topics: General Human Rights Situation
Participants: State of HaitiInternational Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission
Topics: Rights of Persons LGBTI
Participants: Bureau des Avocats InternationauxCenter for Constitutional Rights (CCR)State of HaitiFAFILEKInstitute for Justice and Democracy in HaitiInternational Women's Human Rights Clinic at CUNYKOFAVIVMADREWomen's Link Worldwide
Topics: Precautionary MeasuresForced Displacement
Participants: State of HaitiRegroupement des Citoyens pour la Protection des Droits Humains (RECIPRODH)
Topics: Rights of WomenRights of Children
Participants: Centre CEcuménique des Droits Humains (CEDH)Comité des Avocats pour le Respect des Libertés Individuelles (CARLI)State of HaitiFédération Internationale des Ligues des Droits de l'Homme (FIDH)Réseau National de Défense des Droits Humains (RNDDH)
Topics: General Human Rights Situation
Participants: Bureau des Avocats InternationauxState of HaitiInstitute for Justice and Democracy in HaitiInternational Human Rights Law Clinic, American University-Washington College of Law
Topics: General Human Rights Situation
Participants: State of JamaicaInternational Human Rights Law Clinic, American University-Washington College of Law
Topics: Petitions and CasesCitizen SecurityAccess to Justice, Judicial Guarantees
Participants: Bureau des Avocats InternationauxCenter for Human Rights and Global Justice of the New York University Law SchoolState of HaitiInstitute for Justice and Democracy in HaitiRobert F. Kennedy, Center for Justice and Human Rights (RFK Center)
Topics: Economic, Social, Cultural and Environmental Rights
Participants: Collectif de Notables de Cité Soleil (Fondation CONOCS)State of Haiti
Topics: Economic, Social, Cultural and Environmental Rights
Participants: Action Citoyenne pour le Respect des Droits Humains (ACREDH)State of Haiti
Topics: General Human Rights Situation
Participants: State of HaitiGroupe d´Action pour la Defense des Droits Humains
Topics: Rule of Law, Independence of the Judiciary
Participants: State of JamaicaHuman Rights Law Clinic, George Washington University
Topics: Citizen Security
Participants: Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ)
Topics: Rights of Persons Deprived of LibertyRights of Children
Participants: State of JamaicaInternational Human Rights Law Clinic, American University-Washington College of Law
Topics: Petitions and Cases
Participants: Colectivo de Notables de Cité Soleil (CONOCS)
Participants: State of Trinidad and TobagoSimons Muirhead and Burton
Topics: Petitions and CasesPrecautionary Measures
Participants: Comité de Abogados por el Respeto a las Libertades Individuales (CARLI)
Topics: General Human Rights Situation
Participants: Bureau des Avocats InternationauxInstitute for Justice and Democracy in HaitiUniversity of Harvard - Law School
Topics: General Human Rights Situation
Participants: Comité des Avocats pour le Respect des Libertés Individuelles (CARLI)
Topics: General Human Rights Situation
Participants: Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ)
Topics: General Human Rights Situation
Participants: David PadillaState of SurinameFergus McKay
Topics: Rights of Afro-Descendents / Against Racial DiscriminationPetitions and Cases
Participants: State of HaitiRigaud Duplan
Topics: Precautionary Measures
Participants: State of JamaicaJamaicans for Justice (JFJ)
Topics: Petitions and Cases
Participants: State of HaitiFédération des Barreaux d'HaitiRigaud Duplan
Topics: General Human Rights Situation
Participants: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)State of Haiti
Topics: Right to Freedom of Expression
Participants: David PadillaFergus McKay
Topics: Rights of Afro-Descendents / Against Racial DiscriminationPetitions and Cases
Participants: State of Barbados
Topics: General Human Rights Situation
Participants: Simons Muirhead and Burton
Participants: Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Topics: General Human Rights Situation
Participants: Ashurst Morris Crisp SolicitorsState of Jamaica
Topics: Petitions and Cases
Participants: State of BelizeSimons Muirhead and Burton
Topics: General Human Rights Situation
Participants: State of BarbadosSimons Muirhead and Burton
Topics: General Human Rights Situation
Participants: Convergencia DemocráticaJosé NicholasPaul DenisVíctor Benoit
Topics: General Human Rights Situation
Participants: Amnesty InternationalSusan Lee
Topics: General Human Rights Situation
Participants: Kamau CushMovement for Economic Empowerment
Topics: General Human Rights Situation
Participants: Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL)State of Bahamas
Topics: Petitions and Cases
Participants: State of BelizeIndian Law Resource Center
Topics: Rights of Indigenous PeoplesPetitions and Cases
Participants: Mischon De Reya
Topics: Petitions and Cases
Participants: Barlow, Lyde and Gilbert
Topics: Petitions and Cases
Participants: Simons Muirhead and Burton
Topics: Petitions and Cases
Participants: Barlow, Lyde and GilbertCameron McKenna
Topics: Petitions and Cases
Participants: State of HaitiLawyer's Committee for Human Rights
Topics: Petitions and CasesHuman Rights Defenders
Participants: Connie Walker
Topics: General Human Rights Situation
Participants: Joanne CrossSlaughter & May
Topics: Petitions and Cases
Participants: James Oury
Topics: Petitions and Cases
Participants: Embajador Colin Granderson
Topics: General Human Rights Situation
Participants: Chenet Jean-BaptistePlataforma Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, Democracia y Desarrollo (PIDHDD)
Topics: General Human Rights Situation
Topics: General Human Rights Situation