This chapter considers human rights protection across the Americas, and focuses in particular on the Organization of American States (OAS). The chapter begins with a historical overview of the OAS. The OAS has drafted and promulgated several human rights documents and treaties, including the American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man and the American Convention on Human Rights, as well as others. Having introduced the main instruments for the protection the chapter then considers the two main OAS institutions that are mandated to promote and protect human rights: the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Finally, challenges to the Inter-American system are discussed.
Chapter
Thomas M Antkowiak
This chapter considers human rights protection across the Americas, and focuses in particular on the Organization of American States (OAS). The chapter begins with a historical overview of the OAS. The OAS has drafted and promulgated several human rights documents and treaties, including the American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man and the American Convention on Human Rights, as well as others. Having introduced the main instruments for the protection of human rights, the chapter then considers the two main OAS institutions that are mandated to promote and protect human rights: the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Finally, challenges to the Inter-American system are discussed.
Chapter
Başak Çalı
This chapter discusses regional systems of human rights protection. The complementary nature of these systems to the efforts of the UN is discussed. However, there is also competition. This chapter maps the regional human rights treaties and declarations in different parts of the world and compares their scope with the International Bill of Rights, composed of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The regional human rights institutions are also discussed. The interpretive tools adopted by regional human rights bodies are considered. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the future prospects for interaction between regional and UN human rights institutions, in particular, in light of the recent developments that have been undertaken by the League of Arab States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Chapter
Başak Çalı
This chapter discusses regional systems of human rights protection by surveying the human rights standards adopted and institutions created to interpret and enforce human rights in different regions. The central focus of the chapter is the convergences and divergences between regional human rights systems in standard settings and institutional mechanisms, in particular, when compared to standards and institutions in place at the level of the United Nations. The chapter concludes with a discussion of future prospects for interactions between regional human rights systems, in particular, in the light of developments undertaken by the League of Arab States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
