IACHR gathers more supporters to maintain its strengths

Catalina Botero

The discussion expected on the reforms to  the Inter-American System of Human Rights (ISHR) started today in the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington (United States), along with concerns from various organizations and former presidents of the region, who asked to safeguard the strength of the entity.

The ISHR faces possible changes in the reforms, mostly focused on the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR)  promoted  by countries such as Ecuador, Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua, nations that seek to change certain actions of the entity, among them that the funding of the IACHR  nourishes only from OAS regular funds and voluntary contributions.

Yesterday the head of the agency, Jose de Jesus Orozco, showed his concerns because he fears that the system is subjected to a “financial strangulation“. One of his main concerns is that the Commission has to accept outside help.

While the Colombian Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, Catalina Botero, explained that “if the Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression is not allowed today, the way things are, to access to these resources, we must close this office.”