Honduras: OAS’ Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Arrives Today

Hopefully, the IACHR has this incident on its radar.  Please double-click:

JULY 5, 2009 HONDURAN MILITARY MASACRE AT AIRPORT IN TEGUCIGALPA

Two people were killed on July 5 and many people were injured.  One of those who died, 19 year-old, Isis Obed Murillo, is the son of the man pictured at the top of this blog. Please see the ABOUT PAGE for more information.

IACHR ANNOUNCES DELEGATION THAT WILL VISIT HONDURAS

August 12, 2009

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) will begin its on-site visit in Honduras on August 17, 2009, in order to observe the human rights situation in the context of the coup d’état of June 28, 2009, and receive complaints. The delegation will be composed of the IACHR President, Luz Patricia Mejía; the First Vice President, Víctor Abramovich; the Second Vice President and Rapporteur for Honduras, Felipe González; Commissioner Paolo Carozza; the Executive Secretary, Santiago A. Canton, and members of the Executive Secretariat.

During the visit, which will take place from August 17 to August 21, the IACHR will establish its temporary headquarters in theIntercontinental Hotel of Tegucigalpa, located on Avenida Roble in front of the Multiplaza Mall, where the Commission will receivepetitions about human rights violations committed in the context of the coup d’état. The Inter-American Commission will also travel to different regions of Honduras to gather information. At the conclusion of its visit, the IACHR will inform the national and international community about its preliminary observations.

The suspension of Honduras’ right to participate in the Organization of American States (OAS), decided on July 4, 2009 by an extraordinary session of the OAS General Assembly, does not alter the country’s obligations as a signatory to the Convention and other inter-American Human Rights treaties ratified by the State. The IACHR continues to receive and process petitions, cases and requests for precautionary measures in Honduras.

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 the mandate to promote respect for human rights in the region and acts as a consultative body to the OAS in this matter. The Commission is composed of seven independent members who act in a personal capacity, without representing a particular country, and who are elected by the OAS General Assembly.

Useful links: Source: Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR)

Correspondence sent by the IACHR announcing its visit (available only in Spanish)

American Convention on Human Rights

IACHR Rules of Procedure

Press Release 56/09: IACHR to Visit Honduras after coup d’etat

Press Release 52/09: IACHR Condemns Murder in Honduras

Press Release R 50/09 – Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression Condemns Detention of Foreign Journalists in Honduras

Press Release 49/09 – IACHR Maintains Its Competence in Honduras Following Suspension.

Press Release R 48/09: Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression Condemns Murder of Journalist in Honduras

Press Release 47/09: IACHR Expresses Concern Over the Suspension of Guarantees in Honduras and Amplifies Precautionary Measures

Press Release 45/09: IACHR Requests to Visit Honduras, Grants Precautionary Measures and Asks for Information

Press Release R 44/09: Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression Condemns Limitations to Freedom of Expression in Honduras

Press Release 42/09: IACHR Strongly Condemns Coup d’état in Honduras

Precautionary Measures Granted by the IACHR in 2009

Letter sent by the de facto authorities in Honduras to the IACHR in response to PM 196-09

IACHR Press Office

IACHR Web site