Police lethality beats records in 2025 and mainly targets the Black population, study says
Declaration signed by dozens of organizations, experts, and former members of the Inter-American system warn of risks to the protection of human rights in the Americas
Dozens of civil society organizations, experts, and former members of the Inter-American Human Rights System put out a statement defending the independence of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) in reaction to a campaign of attacks against commissioner and the first vice-president of the body, Andrea Pochak. The document warns of the risks that initiatives of the sort represent to the legitimacy and operation of regional human rights protection mechanisms.
The statement expresses concern with accusations of an alleged conflict of interests involving Pochak in a case pending before the IACHR. According to the statement, the commissioner took no part in the process when she held positions in the Argentinean government’s human rights area and the State was entitled to full defense within the Inter-American System.
According to the signatories, the campaign seeks to weaken the functional autonomy of the commissioner and, in broader terms, put into question the legitimacy of the Inter-American Human Rights System. The document highlights that discussions on transparency, ethics, and conflicts of interest are important to strengthen institutions, but also that it is necessary to distinguish legitimate discussions from actions meant to disqualify authorities and rights protection mechanisms.
Read more
The statement also highlights the role of the IACHR in responses to political-institutional crises and human rights violations in several countries in the region. Given the current global scenario, marked by growing challenges to democracy and human rights, the signatories defend the strengthening of international protection mechanisms.
“In a context of growing challenges to democracy and human rights, weakening the IACHR only favors those who seek to erode international protection mechanisms”, the document states.
Supporters of the declaration include organizations from multiple countries in the Americas, in addition to former presidents and members of the IACHR, experts, and human rights defenders who restate the importance of preserving the independence and legitimacy of the regional protection system.
The declaration is signed by dozens of organizations, experts, and former members of the Inter-American Human Rights System. Entities that support the document include Conectas Direitos Humanos, CEJIL (Center for Justice and International Law), WOLA (Washington Office on Latin America), ARTIGO 19 Brasil e América do Sul, Global Justice, the Due Process of Law Foundation (DPLF), Alianza Regional por la Libertad de Expresión e Información and CIVICUS, organizations that work promoting and defending human rights, democracy, and fundamental liberties in the Americas.
