OEA/Ser.P
AG/RES. 1670 (XXIX-O/99)
7 June 1999
Original: Spanish



SUPPORT FOR THE WORK OF DEFENDERS OF THE PEOPLE, DEFENDERS OF THE POPULATION, HUMAN RIGHTS ATTORNEYS, AND HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSIONERS (OMBUDSMEN) IN THE CONTEXT OF
STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY IN THE HEMISPHERE

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


THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the important work of defenders of the people, defenders of the population, human rights attorneys, and human rights commissioners in various countries of the Hemisphere, which has created impetus for establishing and implementing the institution of the ombudsman in all countries of the region;

BEARING IN MIND resolutions AG/RES. 1505 (XXVII-O/97) and AG/RES. 1601 (XXVIII-O/98), in which the General Assembly recommended to the international community that it provide, as far as practicable, its valuable support in holding the Third Annual Congress of the Ibero-American Federation of Ombudsmen (IFO), which took place in Lima, Peru, in September 1998;

RECALLING that, in the aforementioned resolutions, the member states of the inter-American system were urged to take measures to promote the political, administrative, and financial independence of defenders of the people, defenders of the population, human rights attorneys, and human rights commissioners of the Hemisphere;

CONSIDERING the content of the Plan of Action adopted at the Second Summit of the Americas and, in particular, the commitment to strengthen democracy, justice, and human rights, which are a first priority for the Hemisphere; and

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the conclusions of the meetings of the Latin American and Caribbean Chapter of the International Ombudsmen Institute (IOI) and the Third Annual Congress of the Ibero-American Federation of Ombudsmen (IFO), contained in the Declaration of Lima, and the content of the Declaration of Oporto, adopted by the ombudsmen of Ibero-America at the meeting to prepare for the Eighth Ibero-American Conference of Heads of State and Government, held in Oporto in October 1998,

RESOLVES:

1. To reiterate its support for the work of ombudsmen, defenders of the people, defenders of the population, human rights attorneys, and human rights commissioners in the countries of the Hemisphere, which is essential to strengthening representative democracy, justice, human rights, and good governance.

2. To recommend to the member states that measures be taken, according to each country's legal system, to promote the political, administrative, and financial autonomy of defenders of the people, defenders of the population, human rights attorneys, and human rights commissioners in the member countries of the Hemisphere.

3. To recommend that those states that do not yet have such institutions consider the possibility of establishing them and setting them in motion, in the context of their existing legal and constitutional systems.

4. To encourage the governments and bodies of the inter-American system to promote opportunities for dialogue among those institutions and the appropriate bodies of the inter-American system, in order to enhance their contribution to democracy in the Hemisphere.

5. To reaffirm the support of the inter-American community for the Ibero-American Federation of Ombudsmen, particularly for the holding of its Fourth Annual Congress, which will be held in Honduras from September 27 to 29, 1999; and to give due attention to the recommendations issued at that Congress.

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