Title: Who can file a petition?
Course: Inter-American Human Rights System - 2nd. Edition > Section: Petition and Case System

A petition can be filed by the victim, the victim's family members, a legally constituted organization, or a group representing the victim.

Although less frequent, a State may also submit a petition against another State, as long as they both accept this procedure (Article 46 ACHR). The Commission may also process a petition on its own initiative (Article 24 of the Rules of Procedure).

- Petitioner: person, group of persons or organization that submits a petition.
- Alleged victim: person or group of persons affected by the facts alleged in the petition. The alleged victim(s) must be identified or identifiable.