Title: What is the IACHR?
Course: Inter-American Human Rights System - 2nd. Edition > Section: The IAHRS

The IACHR is a main and autonomous body of the OAS and is responsible for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Americas. It was created by the OAS in 1959. It is composed of seven independent members who serve in their personal capacities (they do not represent their countries of origin), and is headquartered in Washington, DC.

Source: https://www.oas.org/es/cidh/mandato/composicion.asp

The Commission members, who must be persons of high moral authority and recognized experts in the field of human rights, are elected by the OAS General Assembly, at the suggestion of States, and serve for a term of four years. They may be re-elected once.

The IACHR uses various mechanisms such as:

- Monitoring of the human rights situation in OAS Member States;
- Preventive intervention systems: early warnings and precautionary measures;
- The system of petitions and cases;
- Follow-up on recommendations in reports and cases.

We will explore these mechanisms in the following modules. The Commission considers that in order to protect the rights of all persons under its jurisdiction, it is essential to focus on populations, communities, and groups that have historically faced discrimination.

In addition, other principles guide the IACHR's work: the pro personae principle which states that the interpretation of a norm must be made in the manner most favorable to the human being; be based on access to justice; and must incorporate a gender perspective at all times.