OEA/Ser.L/V/II.3
Doc. 32
November
English
INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN
RIGHTS
DURING ITS THIRD SESSION
October 2 to November 4, 1961
I. ORGANIZATION OF THE THIRD SESSION
a. Opening date
The Commission opened its Third Session on October 2, 1961, at the Pan
American Union
Members present
The following members attended the Third Session:
Prof. Manuel Bianchi Gundian, Vice Chairman of the Commission
Mrs. Angela Acuna de Chacon
Dr. Gonzalo Escudero
Dr. Gabino Fraga
Dr. Reynaldo Galindo Pohl
Dr. Durward V. Sandifer
Mr. Romulo Gallegos, Chairman of the Commission, was unable to come
toWashington to attend the Third Session.
Acting Chairman
In the absence of Mr. Gallegos, Prof. Manuel Bianchi Gundian, Vice Chairman of
the Commission, occupied the chair.
Inaugural session
The Commission held its first meeting in the Columbus Room of the Pan Ameri-
can Union on October 2, 1961, at 10:30 a.m. The acting Chairman, Professor Bianchi,
declared the Third Session open.
Dr. William Sanders, Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of
American States, was present at this first meeting.
After welcoming the distinguished visitor and the other members present, Dr.
Bianchi- spoke of Mr. Gallegos' absence. Regretting that he was unable to take part in
the work of the Commission, he said: "I hope that he may soon be fully restored to health
and that we may once again have the benefit of his enlightened judgment in directing the
work of the Commission."
e. Meetings and documents
The Commission held 24 meetings during the course of its Third Session, between October 2 and November 4, !961. Five of these meetings took place in the Dominican Republic, which the Commission visited between October 22 and 28.
During this session, the Secretariat prepared a series of documents and summary minutes of ail the meetings. It also prepared a complete report of the communications received between the closing of the Second Session and the opening of the third. This report, supplemented by the communications received during the Third Session, were arranged chronologically in order of receipt, and by country, together with a summary of the contents of each communication (See Doc. 1 Rev.). The Secretariat also prepared four documents containing data on the situation with respect to human rights in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua. and Paraguay. These documents are for informational purposes and are intended for the exclusive use of the members of the Commission.
f. Secretariat
In accordance with Article 14 of the Statute, the Secretary General of the OAS assigned to the Codification Division of the Pan American Union the task of providing secretariat services to the Commission. Dr. Luis Reque, Chief of the Codification Division,
served as Executive Secretary and Drs. Isidoro Zanotti and Guillermo Cabrera, also
employed in this division, served as advisers.
The agenda of the Third Session was as follows:
1. Possible visit to the Dominican Republic.*
2. Report prepared by the Secretariat on the work of the Second Session
3. Report of the Secretariat on its activities between the Second and Third Sessions.
4. Report of the Subcommittee regarding communications or claims received.
Violations of human rights in American countries. Background material compiled by the Secretariat.
6. National committees on human rights. Report of the Secretariat.
7. Fellowship Program.
Topics of the general work program. Background material prepared by the Secretariat.
Communications to the governments and their replies.
Broadening of the functions and powers of the Commission..
Submission of reports to the Council of the Organization of American States and to the Eleventh Inter-American Conference.
. 12. Date of the Fourth Session.
13. Other matters.
* At the suggestion of the Acting Chairman, the Commission agreed to make this first topic on the agenda.
III. VISIT TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND
NOTE TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THAT COUNTRY
At the beginning of the Third Session, the Commission weighed the possibility of a visit to the Dominican Republic, considering that there was good reason to enlarge its study of the situation regarding human rights in that country with an on-the-spot analysis of facts denounced in numerous communications.
At its second meeting, held on October 3, 1961, the Commission considered the
possibility of holding part of its Third Session in Dominican territory, and after extensive
discussion, and on the basis of Article 11.c of its Statute, decided to ask the Dominican
Government for permission to go to that country. In this connection, the Commission
sent the following cable on October 3:
THE HONORABLE AMBROSIO ALVAREZ AYBAR
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
CIUDAD TRUJILLO (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC)
I HAVE THE HONOR TO INFORM YOU THAT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE POWERS ESTABLISHED IN ARTICLE 11.C OF ITS STATUTE, THE
INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON RIGHTS HAS PROPOSED GOING TO
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXAMINING THE
SITUATION IN THAT COUNTRY WITH REFERENCE TO THOSE
IMPORTANT RIGHTS. IN STRICT OBSERVANCE OF THIS SAME
STATUTORY ARTICLE, THE COMMISSION HAS ENTRUSTED ME WITH
THE PLEASANT TASK OF REQUESTING THE GOVERNMENT OF THE
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, THROUGH YOUR GOOD OFFICES, TO GIVE ITS
PRIOR CONSENT TO THIS VISIT, WHICH WOULD TAKE PLACE
BETWEEN OCTOBER 22 AND 29, 1961. I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
RENEW TO YOU THE ASSURANCE OF MY HIGHEST CONSIDERATION.
MANUEL BIANCHI, ACTING CHAIRMAN
This cable was answered by the Government of the Dominican Republic on,
October 17, 1961. At its twelfth meeting, held on October 18, the Commission carefully
considered the text of this cable, which was as follows:
IN REPLY TO YOUR MESSAGE OF OCTOBER 13, I AM PLEASED TO INFORM YOU THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC AND THE AMBASSADOR OF ECUADOR, DR. GONZALO ESCUDERO, HAVE HAD OCCASION TO DISCUSS THE MATTER AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC WILL WELCOME THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS, SO LONG AS ITS MISSION IS RESTRICTED TO EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE COUNTRY JULY 1 OF THIS YEAR, ON WHICH DATE, AS POINTED OUT BY THE PRESIDENT IN HIS ADDRESS TO THE SIXTEENTH SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OF THE UNITED NATIONS, HE ASSUMED CONTROL OVER THE GRAVE
SITUATION THAT AROSE IN THIS COUNTRY FOLLOWING THE TRAGIC
DEMISE OF GENERALISSIMO RAFAEL LEONIDAS TRUJILLO MOLINA.
OUR GOVERNMENT FURTHER BELIEVES THAT ANY ACTION WITH
REFERENCE TO THE PAST ADMINISTRATION WOULD ONLY SERVE TO
AGGRAVATE AN ALREADY EXPLOSIVE SITUATION, AND TO NO
AVAIL, SINCE THOSE WHO MIGHT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
ACTS HAVE DISAPPEARED FROM THE NATIONAL SCENE AND NO
LONGER HAVE THE SLIGHTEST CONNECTION WITH THE PUBLIC LIFE
OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. (S) ALVAREZ AYBAR, SECRETARY OF
STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
On the basis of the reply received from the Dominican Government, the Commission, by a
vote of five in favor and one opposed, decided to go to the Dominican
Republic to continue its study of the situation with reference to human rights in that
country. Dr. Escudero, in explaining his negative vote cited the fact that the Commission
would be handicapped in fulfilling its duties if it were not permitted to examine events
prior to July 1, 1961, especially since, as should be borne in mind, President Balaguer
had been exercising the duties of his office since August 5, 1960. On October 18, the
Commission agreed to send the following cable to the Government of the Dominican
Republic:
THE HONORABLE AMBROSIO ALVAREZ AYBAR SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
CIUDAD TRUJILLO (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC)
AS PART OF THE STUDY BEING MADE BY THE INTER-AMERICAN
COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS REGARDING THE CONSIDERATION
THAT HAS BEEN AND IS BEING GIVEN TO HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, WE WISH TO INFORM YOU THAT THE
COMMISSION WILL GO TO CIUDAD TRUJILLO ON OCTOBER 22 TO
CARRY OUT ITS DUTIES PURSUANT TO ITS STATUTE, TAKING INTO
ACCOUNT THE PERIOD OF TIME MENTIONED IN YOUR CABLE OF
OCTOBER 17. AMBASSADOR GONZALO ESCUDERO WILL NOT
ACCOMPANY THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION ON THIS
TRIP, OWING TO OFFICIAL DUTIES THAT CANNOT BE POSTPONED
MAKING IT NECESSARY FOR HIM TO REMAIN IN WASHINGTON. THE
COMMISSION WILL ARRIVE IN CIUDAD TRUJILLO ON OCTOBER 22 AT
11:00 A.M. ON PAA FLIGHT 229. SINCERELY, MANUEL BIANCHI,
ACTING CHAIRMAN
As planned, the Commission departed for the Dominican capital on October 22, and that same afternoon held its fifteenth meeting at the Ambassador Hotel, where the offices of the Secretariat were installed.
Beginning on Monday, October 23, the Commission undertook the following activities:
a. Interview with the President of the Republic, the Secretaries of Foreign Affairs and
Justice, the Attorney General of the Republic, and other civil and religious
authorities.
b. Interviews with groups and with private individuals, who made verbal and
written
denunciations with reference to violations of human rights in the Dominican
Republic.
c. Interviews with the leaders of the following political parties; Union Civica
Nacional (National Civic Union), Movimiento 14 de Junio (Fourteenth of June
Movement), Partido Revolucionario Dominicano (Dominican Revolutionary
Party); with leaders of the Federacion Obrera Unida Pro Sindicatos Autonomos
(United Workers' Federation for Autonomous Unions); with leaders of the
Federacion de Estudiantes de Secundaria y de Estudiantes Universitarios
(Federation of Secondary School and University Students); and with
representatives of various professions.
d. Trip to the interior of the country, on Thursday, October 26, 1961,
stopping at the
cities of La Vega, Moca, Santiago de los Caballeros, and San Francisco de
Macoris, where the Commission visited the respective provincial governors and
political organizations that had requested an audience. In these cities, the
Commission heard personal testimony regarding cases of violation of human rights
and received written denunciations thereon.
The Commission held five meetings in the Dominican Republic and gathered copious documented information on the status of human rights in that country, with which to prepare a study and a note to the Dominican Government.
On Friday, October 27, the Commission held its last meeting in the Dominican Republic and also visited the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to whom it gave a list of persons who had been arrested and whose whereabouts were unknown.
The Commission returned to Washington on Saturday, October 28, where it continued with its Session. At the twentieth meeting, held on October 30, the Commission requested its acting Chairman to draft a note to the Dominican Government. This note was submitted to the Commission for consideration at its twenty-fourth meeting, on November 4, 1961, and was approved and transmitted to the Dominican Government on November 8.
As indicated in the press release issued by the Commission that day, the note refers to the many arrests and disappearances of persons in the Dominican Republic, to the activities of the "stick men" (paleros), to the conflicts between authorities and students, to the limitations put upon freedom of expression, to the banishment of Dominican citizens, and to the problem of freedom for labor unions.
The aforementioned note is of a preliminary nature, since the Commission will in
due course prepare a complete report on the situation of human rights in the Dominican
Republic.
IV. REPORT PREPARED BY THE SECRETARIAT ON THE WORK
ACCOMPLISHED BY THE COMMISSION DURING ITS SECOND SESSION
At the first meeting, held on October 2, 1961, the Secretary read the Report on the Second Session which was presented to the members for consideration.
This report gives an ordered account of the work of the Commission during that Session, which extended from April 10 to 26, 1961.
Besides the agenda for the Second Session, the report contained data on the Report
of the Secretariat on the First Session and the report of the Subcommittee at the beginning
of the Second Session. The report also included information concerning the Fellowship
Program, the national committees on human rights, the general work program,
communications to the governments, submission of reports to the OAS and to the
Eleventh Inter-American Conference, urgent communications on Cuba, and the date
agreed upon for the Third Session. There is also an Appendix, listing in numerical order
the twenty-five documents prepared by the Secretariat during Second Session (See
Document 25 of the Second Session).
V. REPORT OF THE SECRETARIAT ON ITS ACTIVITIES
BETWEEN THE SECOND AND THIRD SESSIONS
The Secretariat also prepared a document describing its activities between
the Second and Third Sessions, that is, between April 26 and September 25, !961, on which date the Subcommittee began its work (See Document 5).
During this period, as indicated in the aforementioned report, the Secretariat attended to various matters agreed to at the Second Session, such as compiling information for preparing the Fellowship Program; information on the violation of human rights in four American countries (Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Paraguay); sending out communications regarding the organization of national committees on human rights; attending to complaints and claims of violations of human rights, as well as listing communications received in this regard, which are published as restricted matter.
The report also mentioned the preparation of such documents as the draft
convention, which was to be used by the rapporteur of the study on "measures designed
to perfect and implement the rights to freedom of investigation, opinion, and of the
expression and dissemination of ideas" and the compilation and analysis of background
material or human rights and representative democracy, to be used by the rapporteur
charged with studying that subject.
VI. REPORT OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE
As provided for in the Regulations of the Commission, the Subcommittee met a week in advance of the beginning of the Third Session, that is, on September 25, 1961. The Subcommittee began work on that date, with the presence of its members Drs. Manuel Bianchi Gundian and Durward V. Sandier. Another member of the Subcommittee, Dr. Escudero, was unable to attend and sent a message excusing himself.
The report submitted by the Subcommittee (Doc. 3) on September 29, 1961, dealt
with two fundamental questions:
Consideration of the communications or claims addressed to the Commission, and
b. Consideration of a draft agenda for the Third Session.
With reference to the first question, the Subcommittee carefully studied the communications brought to its attention, beginning with number 1 and ending with number 87, and decided upon the procedure to be followed in each case, in accordance with the provisions of the Regulations of the Commission.
With reference to point b., the Subcommittee, with the cooperation and advice of the Secretariat, drew up the agenda for the Third Session.
The Subcommittee's report was brought to the attention of the Commission at its first meeting, on October 2. Owing to its length, the report was studied and considered throughout four consecutive meetings and was approved at the fourth meeting, held on October 5. Subsequently, as new communications were received and registered, the Secretariat drew up a report of these and added it in the form of an addendum to the list already submitted to the Commission. A total of 438 communications on specific claims
were registered, in addition to several hundred of a general nature.
VII. VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE AMERICAN
COUNTRIES.
BACKGROUND MATERIAL COMPILED BY THE SECRETARIAT
To fulfill the decision of the Commission at its Second Session, the Secretariat, after extensive research, prepared four separate documents of data and information on the situation of human rights in each of the following countries: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Paraguay.
In the particular case of Cuba, the Committee received numerous communications with information from exiles in the United States and other countries of the hemisphere, and it also heard the verbal testimony of various persons, who, in their own behalf and as leaders of political, civic, student, and industrial organizations, amplified the accusations previously directed to the Commission, or added new complementary information. In view of the foregoing, the Commission, during its twenty-fourth meeting, considered preparing a note to the Government of Cuba, taking into account the background information compiled from the numerous communications received and the personal testimony given in individual and group interviews. After a thorough discussion of the matter, it was agreed at this meeting to send a note to the Government of Cuba, asking for pertinent information on some of the more urgent claims and, if the imputations made to the Commission were correct, requesting, under the authority of Article 9-c of the Statutes of the Commission, that it adopt "progressive measures favoring human rights," within Cuban domestic law.
With regard to information on the Dominican Republic, besides the research already mentioned and the visit to that country, described in point III of this Report, the Commission also received the personal testimony of several Dominican political leaders. Through a press release dated October 4, the Commission stated that the purpose of its personal interviews was to provide persons making claims with a chance to amplify accusations previously made in writing, and that the Commission had listened to these statements with complete impartiality.
In addition to drafting and sending the two aforementioned notes to the
Governments of Cuba and of the Dominican Republic, the Commission also communicated to the
Foreign Ministries of Bolivia, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua.
Paraguay, the United States, and Venezuela, transmitting to them various communications
regarding violations of human rights in their respective countries, and soliciting pertinent
information from these governments in accordance with the provisions of Article 9 of the
Statute of the Commission.
VIII. NATIONAL COMMITTEES ON HUMAN RIGHTS
At its First Session, the Commission began its study of the subject of national committees on human rights and adopted a resolution with reference to the establishment of those committees (OEA/Ser.L,/V/II.1, Doc. 32).
At the Second Session, it was agreed to inform the various organizations interested in establishing relations that the Commission would welcome their cooperation in carrying out its work. The Commission, at the same session, also decided that, at its next session, it would take up the matter once again, considering it on the basis of, first, the reports made by the members of the Commission, and second, the information presented by the Secretariat on activities of the United Nations in this field, as well as information obtained from the Pan American Union offices in the various countries of the hemisphere.
In order to comply with this mandate the Secretariat prepared a report on the matter, which was considered at the eleventh meeting, held on October 17, 1962 (Document 2).
At this meeting, the members of the Commission reported fully on the work that each was doing in his respective country to cooperate in the establishment of national committees. Dr. Bianchi reported on his efforts and said he was hopeful that the Chilean National Committee would be established before the end of the year.
Dr. Galindo Pohl reported on his own work in this regard, especially with university students, and said that a committee would be established in El Salvador as soon as possible.
Mrs. Angela Acuna de Chacon said that a committee had already been organized in Costa Rica, and that if the Commission gave its approval, she could also take charge of establishing national committees in Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The Commission approved Mrs. Acunia de Chacon's idea and congratulated her for the work she was doing in this field.
Dr. Sandifer said that he was trying to obtain information on various committees on human rights in the United States and offered to give a report on the matter during the next session.
Dr. Fraga mentioned the interest shown by the National Bar Association of
Mexico and other bar associations there, in establishing a national committee. The
Commission agreed to ask the Secretariat to obtain information from the United Nations
regarding the establishment of national committees in accordance with the resolutions
adopted by that world organization.
IX. FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
At the twenty-first meeting, held on October 31, 1961, the Commission discussed the Fellowship Program.
The Secretary reported to the Commission on the efforts to date toward securing the necessary information and suggestions from certain highly experienced professors in this field, esspecially Drs. Jimenez de Arechaga and Durward V. Sandifer, and coordinating the program with the Fellowship Program of the OAS. He said that certain additional information was still being awaited from the Universities of Chile and Mexico, and that upon receipt of this, the background material for drawing up a definitive program would be complete.
Dr. Bianchi told the Commission that he had submitted a memorandum on the matter to the Chilean Government, which had been turned over to the Law School and the School of political and Social Sciences of the University of Chile at Santiago. He said that the Director of the latter, Dr. Guzman Dinator, had offered to take charge of the matter personally and that he would draw up a memorandum on it, with a view to preparing a report to submit to the Commission at its Fourth Session.
With regard to Mexico, Dr. Fraga stated that at the Universidad Autonoma there is a chair entitled "Individual Guarantees and their Protection," and that he would make the necessary arrangements for the university to prepare a program of studies in the field of human rights.
The Commission agreed to complete preparation of the program during its Fourth
Session, since by that time it would have the necessary background material to do so.
X. WORK PROGRAM
During the First Session, the Commission organized a work program encompassing all
basic aspects regarding the recognition and observance of human rights in the
American countries. To this end, it assigned a specific topic of the program to each of the
members, as follows:
1. Study of appropriate measures for promoting and defending human rights, which constitutes the mandate of the Commission. (Rapporteur:Mr. Romulo Gallegos).
2. Study of political, economic, and social conditions of the countries of Latin America that may influence human rights (Rapporteur Mrs. Angela Acuna de Chacon). 3. Relation between the promotion and protection of human rights and the effective exercise of representative democracy (Rapporteur: Dr. Durward V.Sandifer).
4. Improvement of electoral procedures and measures that should be adopted to assure suffrage rights (Rapporteur: Prof. Manuel Bianchi).
5. Study of the most effective measures for the jurisdictional protection of human rights in the American states (Rapporteur: Dr. Gabino Fraga).
6. Measures designed to perfect and implement the rights to freedom of investigation, opinion, and of the expression and dissemination of ideas (Rapporteur: Dr. Gonzalo Escudero).
At the Second Session, the Commission agreed to add the following topic to the work program:
7. Comparative study of the American Declaration of the Rights and of Man, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the corresponding constitutional texts of the American states (Rapporteur: Dr. Reynaldo Galindo Pohl).
During the twenty-first meeting, held on October 31, the Commission considered the various aspects of its general work program, each member reporting on his progress in the study of the topic assigned to him.
On this occasion, Mrs. Acuna de Chacon presented her work on topic number 2, which had been assigned to her by the Commission (OEA/Ser.L/V/II.3 Doc. 9). This study was well received by the members, who congratulated the rapporteur.
Ambassador Escudero, to whom topic number 6 had been assigned, had, already at the eleventh meeting of the Second Session (April 25, 1961), already given a "First report on measures designed to perfect and implement the rights to freedom investigation, opinion, and of the expression and dissemination of ideas" (Doc. 15.II). Since, in his conclusions, the rapporteur had suggested the preparation of a draft convention on freedom of the press, the Commission requested Dr. Escudero himself to prepare the said draft. To facilitate the work of Dr. Escudero on the project, the Secretariat, in August 1961, prepared and published a preliminary draft, using as a basis the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Draft Convention on Freedom of Information of the United Nations, the Convention on the International Right of Correction, approved by the United Nations, and the European Convention for the protection of Human Rights and fundamental Freedoms.
Dr. Fscudero stated that he hoped to have his work completed for presentation at the Fourth Session.
The rapporteur of topic number 4, Dr. Bianchi, told the Commission that his work was practically completed, lacking only some recent statistics. The study will be finished by the time the Fourth Session takes place.
Dr. Fraga, the rapporteur of topic number 5, told the Commission that although his work is complete, he would like to include in it some data and information compiled during the seminar on means for protecting human rights, recently held in Mexico under the auspices of the United Nations. Dr. Fraga will present his study at the Fourth Session.
The rapporteurs of the other topics informed the Commission that their studies are almost finished, and some of them believe that they will be ready for presentation at the next session.
The Secretariat assisted the members in the preparation of their works by
supplying them with the necessary documents, minutes, legal information, and
bibliographic material in general.
XI. COMMUNICATIONS TO THE GOVERNMENTS AND REPLIES TO
THESE
At the close of its First Session, the Commission communicated with the American governments, informing them of everything in connection with the initiation of its work and submitting to them several documents prepared by t he Secretariat. At the same time, the Commission requested the cooperation of the governments for the better conduct of its work and the attainment of its aims.
When the Second Session concluded, the Commission sent the governments another communication, accompanied by a report on the work accomplished during this period.
By the end of the Third Session, the governments of the following countries had replied to the Commission: Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru. the United States, and Venezuela.
In all their communications, these governments offered the Commission their unrestricted cooperation and placed at the disposal of the Commission all necessary facilities.
These governments also expressed their firm support of the Commission's suggestion that the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man be publicized in educational institutions throughout their respective countries.
Furthermore, some governments indicated that they had set December 10 of each
year as Human Rights Day, and they invited the Commission to continue sending any
printed material that might be useful in promoting observance of these rights.
XII. BROADENING OF THE FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF THE
COMMISSION
At the twenty-first meeting, the Commission considered the matter of broadening its functions and powers. This had already been discussed by the Commission during its First Session, and on that occasion the Commission had drawn up a draft amendment to the chapter of its Statute relating to functions and powers (Doc. 27-I).
On October 28, 1960, this document was submitted to the Council of the Organization, with a note setting forth the reasons why such amplification of functions and powers was requested. This request was repeated during the Second Session, when on April 26, 1961, a second note was sent to the Council.
Since the Council of the Organization had taken no action on the Commission's
request, the Commission decided to reiterate it in another note which was sent to the
Council on November 8, 1961 (Doc. 31-III).
XIII. SUBMISSION OF REPORTS TO THE OAS AND TO THE ELEVENTH
INTER-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
On April 26, 1961, during its Second Session, the Commission agreed to send a second note to the Council of the OAS, and an additional report to the Eleventh Inter-American Conference.
Upon presenting this matter to the Commission for consideration during its Third Session, Dr. Galindo Pohl pointed out the advisability of preparing a single report incorporating those already submitted, thus making it unnecessary for the Eleventh Conference to consider several reports on the same subject.
The Commission agreed to prepare this report during its Fourth Session, which will be held in April 1962.
As mentioned in the preceding chapter, the Commission sent a note to the Council
of the Organization (Dec. 31-III), informing that body of the work accomplished during
the Third Session, and also referring to the draft amendment of the Statute, which it had
submitted to the Council in October 1960.
XIV. DATE OF THE FOURTH SESSION
The Commission agreed to hold its Fourth Session beginning on April 3, 1962, and
set March 27, 1962. as the date on which the Subcommittee would begin its work.
XV. OTHER MATTERS
Organization of the Secretariat. At its meeting of November 3, 1961, the Commission considered the matter of the organization of its Secretariat.
The Secretary informed the Commission that owing to its increased work the Secretary General of the Organization had decided to enlarge the facilities for the Secretariat and also to increase the technical and clerical staff. He pointed out that, as a result of this decision of the Secretary General of the OAS, the Secretariat was in a position to serve the Commission more efficiently.
Dr. Escudero stated that the Secretariat deserved the congratulations of the members of the Commission for its valuable service during the Third Session, adding that the necessary steps should be taken to give it the same status as the Secretariat of the Inter-American Nuclear Energy Commission.
The acting Chair-man said that he had discussed this matter with the Secretary General of the Organization and that, at the same time, he had also thanked him for the cooperation he was giving to the Commission.
The Commission agreed that the Secretariat should be composed of an Executive Secretary, an Administrative Secretary, and technical and office personnel, appointed by the Secretary General of the OAS. It was also agreed that this decision should be incorporated into the Regulations of the Commission. when amendments to this document are considered.
APPENDIX
DOCUMENTS OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS (OEA/Ser.L/V)
Document Number Title
OEA/Ser.L/V/II.3 DOCUMENTS OF THE THIRD SESSION
Doc. 1, Rev. Lista de comunicaciones recibidas por la Comision
Interamericana de Derechos Humanos
Doc. 2 Comites Nacionales de Derechos Humanos - Informe
preparado por la Secretaria de la Comision
Doc. 3 Informe sometido per la Subcomision a la Comision
Interamericana de Derechos Humanos
Doc. 4 Situacion en la Republica Dominicana. Comunicaciones
recibidas por la Comision Especial
Doc. 5 Informe de la Secretaria sometido a la Comision en su Tercer
Periodo de Sesiones
Doc. 6 Acta Resumida de la Primera Sesion celebrada el 2 de octubre de 1961
(Aprobada en la Tercera Sesion del 4 de octubre de 1961)
Doc. 7 Acta Resumida de la Segunda Sesion celebrada el 3 de octubre de 1961
(Aprobada en la Cuarta Sesion del 5 de octubre de 1961)
Doc. 8 Acta Resumida de la Tercera Sesion celebrada el 4 de octubre de 1961
(Aprobada en la Quinta Sesion del 8 de octubre de 1961)
Doc. 9 Estudio de las Condiciones Politicas, Economicas y Sociales
de los Paises de America que tengan influencia sobre los
derechos humanos, preparado por la Lcda. Angela Acuna de
Chacon, Miembro de la Comision.
Doc. 10 Acta Resumida de la Cuarta Sesion celebrada el 5 de octubre de 1961
(Aprobada en la Sexta Sesion del 9 de octubre de 1961)
Doc. 11 Acta Resumida de la Quinta Sesion celebrada el 6 de octubre de 1961
(Aprobada en la Septima Sesion del 10 de octubre de 1961)
Doc. 12 Acta Resumida de la Sexta Sesion celebrada el 9 de octubre de 1961
(Aprobada en la Octava Sesion del 11 de octubre de 1961)
Doc. 13 Acta Resumida de la Septima Sesion celebrada el 10 de octubre de 1961
(Aprobada en la Novena Sesion del 13 de octubre de 1961)
Doc. 14 Acta Resumida de la Octava Sesion celebrada el 11 de octubre de 1961
(Aprobada en la Decima Sesion del 16 de octubre de 1961)
Doc. 15 Acta Resumida de la Novena Sesion celebrada el 13 de octubre de 1961
(Aprobada en la Undecima Sesion del 17 de octubre de 1961)
Doc. 16 Acta Resumida de la Decima Sesion celebrada el 16 de octubre de 1961
(Aprobada en la Undecima Sesion del 18 de octubre de 1961)
Doc. 17 Acta Resumida de la Undecima Session celebrada el 17 de octubre de 1961
(Aprobada en la Decimatercera Sesion del 19 de octubre de 1961)
Doc. 18 Acta Resumida de la Duodecima Sesion celebrada el 18 de octubre de 1961
(Aprobada en la Decimcuarta Sesion del 20 de octubre de 1961)
Doc. 19 Acta Resumida de la Decimatercera Sesion celebrada el 19 de octubre de 1961
(Aprobada en la Decimasexta Sesion del 23 de octubre de 1961)
Doc. 20 Acta Resumida de la Decimacuarta Sesion celebrada el 20 de octubre de 1961
(Aprobada en la Decimasexta Sesion del 23 de octubre de 1961)
Doc. 21 Acta Resumida de la Decimaquinta Sesion celebrada el 22 de octubre de 1961
(Aprobada en la Decimaseptima Sesion del 24 de octubre de 1961)
Doc. 22 Acta Resumida de la Decimasexta Sesion celebrada el 23 de octubre de 1961
(Aprobada en la Vigesimasegunda Sesion del 2 de noviembre
de 1961)
Doc. 23 Acta Resumida de la Decimaseptima Sesion celebrada el 24 de octubre de 1961
(Aprobada en la Vigesimacuarta Sesion del 4 de noviembre de
1961)
Doc. 24 Acta Resumida de la Decimaoctava Sesion celebrada el 26 de octubre de 1961
(Aprobada en la Vigesimacuarta Sesion del 4 de noviembre de 1961)
Doc. 25 Acta Resumida de la Decimanovena Sesion celebrada el 27 de octubre de 1961
(Aprobada en la Vigesimacuarta Sesion del 4 de noviembre de
1961)
Doc. 26 Acta Resumida de la Vigesima Sesion celebrada el 30 de octubre de 1961
(Aprobada en la Vigesimatercera Sesion del 3 de noviembre
de 1961)
Doc. 27 Acta Resumida de la Vigesimaprimera Sesion celebrada el 31 de octubre de 1961
(Aprobada en la Vigesimatercera Sesion del 3 de noviembre
de 196l)
Doc. 28 Acta Resumida de la Vigsimasegunda Sesion celebrada el 2 de noviembre de 1961
(Aprobada en la Vigesimatercera Sesion del 3 de noviembre de 1961)
Doc. 29 Acta Resumida de la Vigesimatercera Sesion celebrada el 3 de noviembre de 1961
(Aprobada en la Vigesimacuarta Sesion del 4 de noviembre de
1961)
Doc. 30 Acta Resumida de la Vigesimacuarta Sesion celebrada el 4 de noviembre de 1961
(Aprobada en la Vigesimacuarta Sesion del 4 de noviembre de 1961)
Doc. 31 Note del Presidente en Ejercicio de la Comision
Interamericana de Derechos Humanos sobre las actividades
realizadas por la Comision en su Tercer Periodo de Sesiones (Aprobada en la
Vigesimaprimera Sesion del 31 de octubre de
1961)
Doc. 32* Informe sobre la labor desarrollada durante su Tercer Periodo
de Sesiones del 2 de octubre al 4 de noviembre de 1961
Doc. 33 Documentos de la Comision registrados hasta el 16 de marzo
de 1962
*This document also published in English.
CDH/158
