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PRESS RELEASE
Nº 1/02
THE
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE IACHR VISITS
THE
BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA
The
Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the
Organization of American States (OAS), Ambassador Santiago A. Canton, will
visit the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on February 5, 6, 7, and 8 at the
invitation of the Venezuelan Government. The visit by Ambassador Canton, who
also serves as Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression at the IACHR, is
also in response to requests from various sectors of civil society concerned
over recent events in that country in the area of freedom of expression. The
aim of the visit is to gather information on the status of freedom of
expression in Venezuela and also to conduct a preliminary evaluation for the
on-site visit the Commission will carry out in the coming months. To that
end, the Executive Secretary will meet with Venezuelan Government officials,
media outlet directors, independent journalists, and civil society
organizations. During
the 114th regular session of the Commission, to take place in Washington
from February 25 to March 15 of this year, Ambassador Canton will report to
the Commission on the results of his visit. The
IACHR is the body within the Organization of American States whose principal
function is to promote the observance and defense of human rights and to
advise the Organization in this area. Its
authority stems from the American Convention on Human Rights and the OAS
Charter, instruments both ratified by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
The Executive Secretary will be accompanied by attorney Milton Castillo, who
handles matters pertaining to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela within
the Executive Secretariat, and attorney Débora Benchoam, who works with the
Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression at the Commission. Washington, D.C., February 4, 2002 |
