Civil Society Forum with Candidates for the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Created by the Organization of American States in 1959, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IAHCR) is one of the principal institutions dedicated to the defense of human rights in the Western Hemisphere. The effective promotion and protection of human rights by the IACHR depends on qualified and independent commissioners, transparency in the election process, and the active participation of civil society and other stakeholders in the Inter-American system. In this spirit, the Due Process of Law Foundation (DPLF), Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL), Open Society Justice Initiative, and Inter-American Dialogue are pleased to host an open forum with the candidates nominated by OAS member states to serve on the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
In this forum, the candidates will engage in a moderated discussion and take questions from the public on the central challenges to human rights in the Americas and how the IACHR can work most effectively to address them. Of the five candidates, four will be elected by member states at the forthcoming OAS General Assembly in Medellin in June.
The moderators will be using questions collected from the public prior to the event. Questions can be submitted via Twitter to @The_Dialogue or @CEJIL with the hashtag #YoVoto by Monday, May 20.
Welcome:
- Michael Shifter, President, Inter-American Dialogue (@MichaelShifter)
Opening remarks:
- Elsa Meany, Senior Program Officer, Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL)
Panel discussion:
- Edgar Stuardo Ralón Orellana, Guatemala
- Everth Bustamante García, Colombia (INVITED)
- Esmeralda Arosemena de Trotiño, Panama
- Julissa Mantilla Falcón, Peru
- Margarette May Macaulay, Jamaica
Moderators:
- Michael Camilleri, Program Director, Peter D. Bell Rule of Law Program, Inter-American Dialogue (@camillerimj)
- Katharine Valencia, Senior Legal Advisor, Due Process of Law Foundation (DPLF)
RSVP here.
