12 former presidents give their support to the IACHR

Benjamin Fernandez Bogado

The position of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to be funded by other countries and organizations, has found support from various sectors, before the  reform proposed by Ecuador for the IACHR to be financed only  with regular funds from the OAS and voluntary contributions from Member States.

According to the Paraguayan journalist and professor Benjamin Fernandez Bogado, the proposed changes that are promoted by Ecuador “are detrimental to the system of protection of citizens’ rights in the continent.”

Twelve former presidents signed a letter of support to the IACHR:  Oscar Arias (Costa Rica), Alejandro Toledo (Peru), Vicente Fox(Mexico), Fernando de la Rua (Argentina), Carlos Mesa, Jaime Paz Zamora and Jorge Quiroga (Bolivia), César Gaviria, ErnestoSamper (Colombia), Nicolas Ardito (Panama), Vinicio Cerezo (Guatemala), Osvaldo Hurtado (Ecuador).

In earlier days the former Colombian President Cesar Gaviria expressed his unequivocal support to the IACHR, while the United Nations offices in Bolivia, asked the president, Evo Morales, not to abandon the IACHR.

Former presidents perceive that the Inter-American system of Human Rights is key to “one of the main collective achievements of the hemisphere countries.” That’s why they voted so that the autonomy and independence of the Commission is maintained and that “in the current democratic era, continues to fulfill its role.”