Decision Maker

CIDH

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) is a vital arm of the Organization of American States (OAS), focused on the protection and promotion of human rights within the American hemisphere. Established in 1959, its prime responsibility is overseeing the adherence of member states to international human rights standards. It performs this role through varied functions including receiving, analyzing and investigating individual petitions alleging human rights violations, conducting on-site visits to observe the general human rights situation in member states, and producing pertinent reports and recommendations. Moreover, the CIDH plays an instrumental part in providing legal advice to OAS members regarding human rights matters and in spearheading the process of drafting treaties and protocols in this sphere.