2. American Convention on Human Rights
American Convention on Human Rights (ACHR)
Purpose of the Convention
Rights protected by the American Convention
Restrictions imposed on the Rights
Machineries of American Convention
Differences between European Convention and
American Convention
3. American Convention on Human Rights
American Convention on Human Rights (ACHR) :-
The American Convention on Human Rights, also known as the
“Pact of San Jose de Costa Rica”, is an International Human
Rights instrument.
It was adopted by many countries in the western Hemisphere, on 22
November 1969, and came into force on 18th July, 1978.
4. American Convention on Human Rights
American Convention on Human Rights (ACHR) :-
The American Convention on Human Rights protects the human
rights of people of the organization of American States (OAS)
The Convention was ratified by 21 of the 32 members of the
Organization of American State (OAS)
5. American Convention on Human Rights
Purpose of the Convention :-
The purpose of the convention is “to consolidate, a system of
personal liberty and social justice based on respect for the essential
rights of man”.
6. American Convention on Human Rights
Rights protected by the American Convention :-
1. Civil and Political Rights
2. Economic Social and Cultural Rights
7. American Convention on Human Rights
Rights protected by the American Convention :-
1. Civil and Political Rights
Right to judicial personality
Right to Human treatment
Freedom from Slavery
Right to fair trial
Right to privacy
8. American Convention on Human Rights
Rights protected by the American Convention :-
1. Civil and Political Rights
Right to assembly
Right to nationality
Right to participate in government
Right to equal protection of law.
9. American Convention on Human Rights
Rights protected by the American Convention :-
2. Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Right to work
Trade union rights
Right to social security
Right to health and healthy environment
Right to food
Right to education
10. American Convention on Human Rights
Restriction imposed on the Rights :-
It is to be noted that these rights and freedoms may be suspended in
time of war, public danger, or other emergency that threatens the
independence and security of a state party.
11. American Convention on Human Rights
Machineries of American Convention :-
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Inter-American Court of Human Rights
12. American Convention on Human Rights
Machineries of American Convention :-
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights :-
The Inter-American Commission is a quasi- judicial, quasi-political
body established by the OAS charter and the American Convention
The Commission is composed of seven members.
The commission could receive petition by any person, any NGO, or
any members state
13. American Convention on Human Rights
Machineries of American Convention :-
Inter-American Court of Human Rights :-
The inter-American Court of Human Rights is an autonomous judicial
institution. Together with the Inter-American Commission on Human rights.
It makes up the human rights protection system of the Organization of
American States (OAS)
The Court consists of seven judges, held to the highest moral judgment who
have a high competency in human right law.
14. American Convention on Human Rights
Differences between European Convention and American Convention :-
ECHR
• European Convention lays down
only the rights and not the duties of
individual.
• European Convention provides for
an optional individuals petition
procedure.
• European Convention can take a
decision against a state.
ACHR
• American Convention stated the
individual’s rights as well as
individual’s duties.
• American Convention has a
mandatory individual petition
procedure.
• American Convention can only
make a report setting forth its
opinion.