International Coalition of Human Rights Organizations of the Americas
WASHINGTON D.C. - Rights & Democracy and one hundred other members of the International Coalition of Human Rights Organizations of the Americas have issued a letter asking the candidates for Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) to publicly declare their plans regarding human rights should they be elected.
Among other topics, the Coalition has asked Ernesto Derbez, Francisco Flores and José Miguel Insulza to indicate what concrete actions they would take:
- to promote the universalization of regional human rights instruments
- to promote the strengthening of the independence and autonomy of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
- to promote compliance with recommendations from the Inter-American Commission and decisions of the Inter-American Court
- to encourage the drafting of a Social Charter
- to achieve recognition by States of the primacy of human rights over trade agreements
- to strengthen the participation of civil society in OAS activities
The Coalition works for a hemisphere with full respect for human rights, for the compliance of OAS Member States with international obligations; for the protection of all peoples and collectives in its jurisdiction; for the guarantee of non- impunity in all cases of human rights violations; and for an Inter-American human rights system that is solid, accessible, recognized and accepted by all OAS Member States.
For More Information
Please contact Steve Smith (ext 255) or Louis Moubarak (ext 261) at Rights & Democracy, 514-283-6073.
