Washington, CMC – The Inter-American Human Rights Commission (IACHR) concluded its first technical cooperation and promotional visit to Suriname, which took place earlier this month.
The visit aligns with IACHR’s Strategic Plan 2023-2027, which identifies collaboration with Caribbean countries as a priority.
In a statement, the IACHR said the critical outcomes of the visit were:
- The increase of collaboration with State and non-state actors.
- The promotion of institutional strength through technical cooperation and capacity building on the Inter-American human rights system.
- The universalization of the Inter-American instruments.
Commissioner Stuardo Ralón, First Vice-President and Rapporteur for Suriname, and Commissioner Margarette May Macaulay, Second Vice-President and Rapporteur on the Rights of Older Persons and the Rights of People of African Descent and against Racial Discrimination led the delegation.
A team of human rights specialists from the Executive Secretariat accompanied them.
Ralón expressed appreciation for the State’s invitation to conduct the technical cooperation and training visit, which he said demonstrated the government’s commitment to closer collaboration with the Inter-American protection system and its interest in the work of the IACHR to guarantee human rights in the country.
Macaulay emphasized the IACHR’s commitment to implement its 2023-2027 Strategic Plan to intensify its work in the Caribbean and the explicit intent of increased collaboration with State and non-state actors, particularly in the areas of technical cooperation, capacity building, and promoting the ratification of major Inter-American conventions relevant to discrimination, racial discrimination, the rights of persons with disabilities and the rights of older persons.
Meetings were held with the Executive, the legislature, and the judiciary, as well as with non-state actors from civil society, academia, the Bar Association, and the International Organization of Migration (IOM).
The delegation met with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice and Police and its Human Rights Bureau, the National Assembly, the High Court of Justice, the Constitutional Court, and others.
“The Commission deeply appreciates the enthusiastic interest shown by the Government Ministers during our meetings and all other State and non-state participants during the training sessions. The Commission thanks the State of the Republic of Suriname for its logistical support and commitment to the established work plan during the visit. The IACHR would also like to thank all non-state actors and the IOM for participating in the dialogue and for sharing valuable information,” the statement noted.
A principal autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), the IACHR derives its mandate from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights.
The Inter-American Commission is mandated to promote respect for and defend human rights in the region and acts as a consultative body to the OAS in this area.
The Commission comprises seven independent members elected in an individual capacity by the OAS General Assembly and who do not represent their respective countries of origin or residence.
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