Letter to Minister Champagne on OAE Decision Regarding the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

Photo : KAIROS Canada

 September 14, 2020  

Via E-Mail: Francois-Philippe.Champagne@parl.gc.ca 

Honourable François-Phillippe Champagne  

Minister of Foreign Affairs  

House of Commons Office  

Ottawa, Ontario  

K1A 0A6  

Dear Minister Champagne:  

We are writing on behalf of the Americas Policy Group (APG/GOPA), a national network of  Canadian civil society organizations working for human rights and equitable development in  the Americas, to express our profound concern regarding the decision of the Secretary General  of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, not to renew the mandate of the  Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), Dr. Paulo  Abrão.  

The APG/GOPA believes that this decision puts at risk the independence of the IACHR to be  able to promote, protect, and defend human rights in the Americas.  

The IACHR is an autonomous body of the OAS. The Commission’s mandate derives from the  OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights; as such, it has the power to select  its Executive Secretary and renew their mandate without interference. Dr. Abrão’s mandate  was renewed for four years by the IACHR on January 9, 2020, in a process that has been in  place for decades. This decision was unilaterally reversed by the Secretary General on August  15, 2020.  

Civil society partners of APG/GOPA member organizations use the Inter-American Human  Rights System as a last resort for victims and survivors confronting situations of grave impunity,  corruption, abuse of power, and other violations of human rights in countries like Chile,  Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia. A strong and independent IACHR System is essential  to deter human rights violations in the region and growing authoritarianism among its States. 

As Minister of Foreign Affairs, the APG / GOPA asks that you :  

● Call on the Secretary General of the OAS to desist from interfering in the selection of  the Executive Secretary of the IACHR and recognize Dr. Paulo Abrão’s mandate;  ● Urge all Member States to fully cooperate with pending processes before the IACHR  System to protect the rights of citizens from across the region involved in these  processes;  

● Issue a public statement reiterating Canada’s commitment to an appointments process  to the IACHR independent of the Secretary General in order to maintain impartiality before the Members States and provide victims and survivors with effective measures  to prevent the recurrence of violations against human rights;  

● Support a process of investigation, should there be any concerns involving Dr. Abrão,  that follows normal administrative procedures.  

Sincerely,

Robin Buyers (Co-Chair) Laura Ramirez  ( Co-Chair )

cc: Hugh Adsett, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the  Organization of American States  

RB/LR