Ecuador fails to gather agreements to reform ISHR

Evo Morales and Ricardo Patino during the Cochabamba conference

The meeting in Cochabamba (Bolivia) did not accept the agenda of the Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino, that seeks to change the IACHR. The discussion regarding possible reforms to the Inter-American System of Human Rights, was again coordinated by Ecuador and Bolivia, however, they failed yesterday to gain consensus among all countries in the region.

During the Second Conference of States Parties to the American Convention on Human Rights, held in Cochabamba, the Ecuadorian Foreign Minister and his counterpart and host, David Choquehuanca, insisted on the proposal to change the headquarters of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). Of the 23 foreign ministers invited, only 4 participated, the rest sent delegations.

At the opening of the conference, the president of Bolivia, Evo Morales accused the Commission of judging “only anti-imperialist governments and presidents,” it also insisted on a deep reform to the OAS.

Other topics discussed included the strengthening of the rapporteurs, the system for financing the system and commitment of all members of the Organization of American States (OAS), the American Convention on Human Rights, also known as the Pact of San Jose.

During his speech, Patino strongly criticized the Commission’s Annual Report, which in turn contains the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression.