OEA/Ser.P
AG/RES. 1660 (XXIX-O/99)
7 June 1999
Original: Spanish

OBSERVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS /

(Adopted at the first plenary session, held on June 7, 1999,
and pending review by the Style Committee)

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

HAVING SEEN the annual report of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the presentation thereof by the Chair of the Commission, as well as the observations and recommendations of the Permanent Council on the annual report of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CP/CAJP-1537/99); and

CONSIDERING:

That the member states of the Organization of American States have proclaimed in the Charter, as one of their principles, respect for the fundamental rights of the individual, without distinction as to race, nationality, creed, or sex;

That the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, established at the Fifth Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, held in Santiago, Chile in 1959, has as its principal function, pursuant to the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights, that of promoting the observance and protection of human rights;

That the heads of state and government stated in the Declaration of Principles of the Second Summit of the Americas, held in Santiago, Chile, in April 1998, that "respect for and promotion of human rights and the fundamental freedoms of all individuals is a primary concern of our governments";

That the member states have reaffirmed the inextricable link between human rights, democracy, and development;

That the concepts of universality, indivisibility, and interdependence are principles enshrined in international instruments for the promotion and protection of human rights;

That the principles of good faith, legal certainty, and procedural equity are essential elements of the promotion and protection of human rights within the inter-American system, the ultimate purpose of which is the protection of human rights; and

That acceptance by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of voluntary contributions to fulfill both current and new mandates, initiatives, and proposals must not affect the priority attention that the Commission should give to all topics to which a rapporteur is assigned, financed under resources allocated in the program-budget and other resources, in accordance with the General Standards,

RESOLVES:

1. To take note of the annual report of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and to thank the Commission for its presentation.

2. To urge the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to continue to promote the observance and protection of the human rights in the terms set forth in the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man and the American Convention on Human Rights.

3. To recognize the Commission's efforts to that end; and to urge the member states to continue to assist and support the Commission and to provide it with the resources it needs in order to fulfill its functions, within resources allocated in the program-budget and other resources.

4. To express its recognition of the IACHR for its consultation of the member states of the Organization on the amendment of its Regulations and to urge it to take into consideration the observations and suggestions transmitted to it.

5. To welcome the report of the Permanent Council regarding the observations and recommendations of the member states on the Annual Report of the IACHR and to transmit them to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

6. To encourage the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to continue its efforts to improve procedures for processing individual cases, particularly those relating to admissibility and requests for cautionary measures.

7. To encourage the IACHR to pursue efforts to ensure the processing of individual cases, their conclusion, and corresponding notification of the parties within reasonable periods of time.

8. To urge the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, upon request by the parties concerned, to attach to the reports referred to in Articles 50 and 51 of the American Convention on Human Rights the oral and written statements made during this stage of the processing of individual cases.

9. To urge the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to continue to accord equal attention and treatment to the topics to which a special rapporteur is assigned and to other topics proposed by the member states.
10. To note with satisfaction the increased use of the friendly settlement mechanism, urging the member states and the IACHR to continue, in a spirit of cooperation, resorting to this procedure.

11. To urge the member states that are not parties to the American Convention on Human Rights ("Pact of San Jos�, Costa Rica"), the Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights ("Protocol of San Salvador"), the Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights to Abolish the Death Penalty ("Protocol of Asunci�n"), and the following inter-American instruments for the promotion and protection of human rights: the Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture; the Inter-American Convention on the Forced Disappearance of Persons; and the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence against Women ("Convention of Bel�m do Par�") to give special, prompt consideration to signing, ratifying, or acceding to them, as appropriate, in keeping with their constitutional precepts and domestic law, including those states that have denounced any of those instruments.

12. To note with satisfaction the willingness of the IACHR to strengthen dialogue with the political organs of the Organization concerning various aspects related to the work of that Commission.

13. To request the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to continue to report on measures taken in response to the observations and recommendations presented by the Permanent Council to the General Assembly.

14. To request the Permanent Council to report in due course to the General Assembly on the implementation of this resolution.