|
PRESS RELEASE No. 29/02
VISIT
BY THE IACHR TO THE REPUBLIC OF GUATEMALA TO OBSERVE THE The
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) will visit the Republic of
Guatemala from July 23 to 26, 2002. The
Commission’s Unit for Human Rights Defenders will participate in the
visit, which is intended to evaluate the situation of human rights
defenders. Their
situation is one of the concerns of the IACHR and of the governments of the
Hemisphere, as expressed by the General Assembly of the Organization of
American States (OAS) in resolutions AG/RES. 1818/01 and AG/RES. 1842/02,
which requested the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to “continue
to pay due attention to the situation of human rights defenders in the
Americas and to consider preparing a comprehensive study in this area.”
During the visit, the IACHR delegation will also participate in the Second
Regional Consultation on Human Rights Defenders and the National Workshop on
Human Rights Defenders, both to be held in Guatemala City.
The
IACHR is a principal organ of the Organization of American States, composed
of seven members elected in their personal capacity by the OAS General
Assembly. The Commission’s
mandate is to promote the observance of human rights in the Hemisphere
according to parameters established in the American Convention on Human
Rights, to which Guatemala has been party since 1978. The
IACHR delegation that will visit Guatemala beginning on July 23 is made up
of Ms. Susana Villarán, Commissioner and Rapporteur for Guatemala; Dr.
Santiago A. Cantón, Executive Secretary of the IACHR; and attorneys from
the Executive Secretariat. During
its stay, the IACHR delegation will meet with government officials and with
representatives of different sectors of civil society. The
Commission is grateful for the cooperation and the facilities extended by
the Government of Guatemala, nongovernmental organizations, and other civil
society institutions in the planning and execution of this visit.
Washington, D.C., July 18, 2002
|