IACHR

Press Release

IACHR Announces Schedule of Public Hearings for its 158th Extraordinary Period of Sessions

May 13, 2016

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Washington, D.C. - The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) is announcing today the schedule of public hearings that will take place during the 158th Extraordinary Period of Sessions, which will be held in Santiago, Chile, from June 6 to 10, 2016, at the invitation of the Chilean State.

The hearings will take place June 7, 8 and 9 in the morning, at the former headquarters of the Chilean National Congress in Santiago, located on the following address: Compañía de Jesús 1131, Santiago. Pursuant to Article 61 of its Rules of Procedure, the Commission received requests to hold thematic hearings on South America, with the exception of Chile, as well as hearings on cases on the merits stage.

Pursuant to Article 68 of the IACHR’s Rules of Procedure, the hearings will be public and people with an interest to attend can do so freely. There is no need for prior registration. Entry is free for all who wish to attend, only subject to the limitations of space within the building where hearings will be held.

In addition, the Commission is working with the Chilean Government in order to offer webcast of the hearings, so they can be watched online.

The Inter-American Commission holds several periods of sessions every year at its headquarters. Since the year 2006, three annual sessions are held, generally in March, July and October. In addition, the IACHR may hold extraordinary periods of sessions outside headquarters at the invitation of a Member State, such as those held in Paraguay in 2007 and in Mexico in 2014. The Commission thanks the State of Chile its invitation to hold sessions in that country. The IACHR expresses its willingness to conduct additional periods of sessions outside of its headquarters at the invitation of a country member of the Organization of American States (OAS).

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 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. 065/16