The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

In this first of two clips on the Inter-American system of human rights protection, I describe the legal framework as well as the composition and functions of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Reading: • Thomas M. Antkowiak, "The Americas", chapter 21 in Daniel Moeckli et al., International Human Rights Law (3rd ed., Oxford University Press, 2017) Reading Question: • In terms of its functions, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights is somewhat comparable to the UN Human Rights Committee. Explain whether you agree with this statement. • Has the Inter-American human rights system brought about “convergence” or “divergence” (to use Çalı’s terms) in their regional protection in the Americas? Provide a brief but reasoned assessment. This video series was created for a third-year undergraduate course in international human rights law at University College Roosevelt in the Netherlands.