The Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) applauded, in a recent press release, that the governments of the American continent supported the Inter-American Human Rights System during the Extraordinary General Assembly celebrated in Washington on Friday, March 22.
The countries' foreign ministers approved a document that encourages member States to finance the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), at the same time they allow the Commission's rapporteurs to seek financing from outside sources. This document has a special impact on the Commission's Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, which depends on external funds. Barring outside funds would have implied the end for the Special Rapporteur, The Associated Press reported.
Four countries belonging to the Bolivarian Alliance (ALBA) -- Ecuador, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Venezuela -- opposed outside financing and requested to move the Commission to a city in Latin America. After a 12-hour discussion, the Organization of American States (OAS) agreed to allow the IACHR to keep its financial autonomy. But in a concession to the ALBA members, it also let the option open to continue the debate regarding the operations of the Commission, according to Bolivian newspaper Los Tiempos.
Note from the editor: This story was originally published by the Knight Center’s blog Journalism in the Americas, the predecessor of LatAm Journalism Review.
