WASHINGTON, Oct 16, CMC – The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) says it has sent a technical cooperation, promotional and follow-up of recommendations visit to Belize.
The IACHR, a principal, autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), which derives its mandate from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights, said the visit will end on Friday.
It said it has the objectives to promote the Inter-American System of Human Rights, to strengthen the Commission’s relations with the country with the purpose of increasing collaboration in human rights and promoting technical cooperation mechanisms and capacity building.
It will also serve to conduct several activities to gather information on Belize’s progress with Case 12.053 on the Maya indigenous communities in Toledo.
The IACHR said that the visit is in keeping with the priorities established in its Strategic Five-year Plan for the Caribbean (2023-2027) that places emphasis on the region.
“ The specific objective of the technical cooperation and promotional aspect of the visit is to learn of best practices, the needs and challenges faced by the State, civil society and other non-state actors with promoting and protecting human rights, and how best to respond,” said the IACHR, adding that the delegation is being led by Jose Caballero, the IACHR’s Second Vice-President and Country Rapporteur for Belize.
The delegation will hold meetings with authorities and representatives of the State, as well as with non-state actors, and will promote technical cooperation on prioritized human rights issues.
“The visit is also an opportunity for the Commission to follow-up of its recommendations by holding on-site working meetings and a seminar on the rights of indigenous peoples, as well as to gather updated information on the Case 12.053 on the Maya indigenous communities in Toledo.”
CMC/af/ir/2024