OEA/Ser.L/V/II.8
Doc. 35(English)
March 19, 1964
Original: Spanish
INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
REPORT ON THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED
DURING ITS SEVENTHSSESSION
October 7 to 25, 1963
PAN AMERICAN UNION
General Secretariat, Organization of American States
Washington, D. C.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Organization of the Seventh Session 4
Opening Date and Length of Session 4
Members of the Commission and their Participation in the Session 6
Meetings and Documents 6
Secretariat 7
II. Agenda 8
III. Report Prepared by the Secretariat on the Work Accomplished by the
Commission During its Sixth Session 9
IV. Report of the Executive Secretary on the Activities of the Secretariat
Between
the Sixth and Seventh Sessions of the Commission 9
Violations of Human Rights in American Countries 10
Report of the Subcommittee 10
The Case of Paraguay 11
The Case of Cuba 12
The Case of Nicaragua 12
The Case of Haiti 13
The Case of the Dominican Republic 15
Examination of the Situation Regarding Human Rights in Other American Countries 15
Ecuador 15
Guatemala 16
Honduras 16
VI. Situation of Political Refugees in America 17
VII. Activities Related to the General Work Program 18
Draft Convention on Freedom of Expression, Information,
and Investigation 18
Part II of the Report "The Relationship Between the Respect for Human Rights and the Effective Exercise of Representative Democracy" 25
Part II of the Report "The Right of Suffrage in America" 25
Draft Report on the General Application of the "State of Siege" 25
Lectures Delivered by Members of the Commission 26
VIII. Other Decisions and Conclusions of the Commission 27
National Committees on Human Rights 27
Fellowship Program 27
Observers at Sessions of the Commission 28
Communications to the Governments 28
Communication to the Chairman of the Council 28
Date and Place of the Eighth Session 29
Closing of the Seventh Session 29
Appendix 31
INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
REPORT ON THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED
DURING ITS SEVENTH SESSION
OCTOBER 7 TO 25, 1963
I. ORGANIZATION OF THE SEVENTH SESSION
A. Opening Date and Length of Session
1. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights held its Seventh Session
between October 7 and 25, 1963, in Santiago, Chile. In accordance with the decision
adopted at its Sixth Session, and pursuant to Article ll.c of its Statute, the Commission moved
its headquarters to Santiago, Chile, where it held its meetings at the Hotel Crillon. The
opening and closing meetings were held in the Salon de Honor of the University of Chile.
2. As mentioned at the end of the report, the Secretary General of the Organization,
Dr. José A. Mora, attended the closing meeting of the session.
3. The subcommittee, created to consider communications or claims addressed to the
Commission, and to make pertinent recommendations thereon, met in Santiago on October
2, 3, and 4.
4. The Commission held its first meeting on October 7, for the purpose of considering the draft agenda prepared by the subcommittee. This draft agenda was approved by the Commission.
At the second meeting, held on October 8, the Chairman, Professor Manuel Bianchi, addressed a few words to the members of the Commission and welcomed the new member, Dr. Daniel Hugo Martins, whose presence he said was particularly gratifying, since this was the first time that all seven members of the Commission had met together.
5. The inaugural meeting took place in the Salon de Honor of the University of Chile at 7 P.M. on October 8.
Present as honored guests were the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Chile, Mr.
Enrique Ortuzar Escobar; the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Chile, Mr. Osvaldo
Illanes Benitez; and the Assistant Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Pedro Daza. Also
present were the following Ambassadors accredited to the Government of Chile: Mr.
Charles W. Cole of the United States, Mr. Gustavo Ortiz Hernan of Mexico, Mr. Isaac
Felipe Azofeita of Costa Rica, and Mr. Alberto Nogués of Paraguay, as well as various
other members of the diplomatic missions accredited to the Government of Chile by the
American republics.
6. The Chairman of the Commission, Professor Manuel Bianchi, called the
meeting to order. He emphasized the importance of the Commission's meeting in
Santiago, at a time when the democracy of the hemisphere was beset by tragedy, and said
that the Comm ion would use all its powers to attend to the complaints that had been or
might be received in connection with violations of human rights. After introducing each
of the members of the Commission, the Chairman declared the Seventh Session open. 7. An
address of welcome to the Commission was delivered by the Minister of
Foreign Affairs of Chile, Mr. Enrique Ortuzar Escobar. In his address the Minister
pointed out "that the violation of human rights in one country constitutes an offense
against humanity. The dignity of the individual, which is the mark of the spirit that
characterizes his nature as a rational being, should be worthy of the deepest respect of
those who govern." The Minister further stated that "no reason, motive, or circumstance
can justify or excuse the violation of human rights; nor can the quite respectable principle
of nonintervention serve as a pretext for committing crimes that bring dishonor to all
humanity." The Foreign Minister concluded by declaring it to be the compelling duty of
the Commission to find "suitable legal formulas to guarantee to all people the right of
man and his children to life, justice, and freedom." (OEA/Ser. L./V/II.8, Doc. 11, October
8, 1963).
8. Dr. Gabino Fraga, Vice Chairman of the Commission thanked the Minister of
Foreign Affairs of Chile for his remarks, and gave an account of the activities and aims of
the Commission. He said that the work of the Commission had only begun. "There is a
long road still to travel," said Dr. Fraga, "and a road filled with obstacles and
unpleasantness; but we the members are motivated by a great faith, because we believe
we know our peoples in their poverty and in their greatness, in oppression and in
freedom, and we know that they, all of them, have a common purpose, that of unfailing
respect for human dignity and for the rights that are essential to the achievement of
justice and the welfare of men and of peace among nations, and as the great Liberator
said, it is matter of 'sister states, all interested in one sacred purpose: freedom.'"
(OEA/Ser.L/V/II.8, Doc. 9, October 8, 1963)
9. At 11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 8, the Commission was received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Chile, Mr. Enrique Ortuzar Escobar. On the same day the Commission paid a visit to the Rector of the University of Chile, Mr. Eugenio Gonzalez. On Wednesday, October 9, the Commission called upon the President of the Senate, the Mayor of Santiago, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
The President of the Republic, Mr. Jorge Alessandri Rodriguez, received the
Commission on October 25 at 10:00 a.m.
B. Members of the Commission and their Participation in the Session
10. The Commission is composed of the following members:
Name Nationality
Mrs. Angela Acuna de Chacon Costa Rica
Prof. Manuel Bianchi Gundian Chile
Dr. Gonzalo Escudero Ecuador
Dr. Gabino Fraga Mexico
Dr. Reynaldo Galindo Pohl El Salvador
Dr. Daniel Hugo Martins Uruguay
Dr. Durward V. Sandifer United States
All of the members attended the Seventh Session.
Meetings and Documents
11. During the course of the Seventh Session the Commission held nineteen
meetings.
12. The Secretariat prepared summary minutes for these meetings, which are
restricted for the exclusive use of the members.
13. In conformity with Article 34 of the Regulations, the Secretariat prepared a
list of the communications or claims received prior to this session, as well as those that
were received during its course, in each case attaching a resumé of the contents. This list
of communications or claims was compiled in chronological order and according to the
countries to which reference is made. (OEA/Ser.L/V/II.8, Doc. 4, September 16, 1963,
Rev.).
14. In compliance with the decision reached by the Commission during the Sixth
Session, the Secretariat prepared a draft report on the situation of human rights in Haiti,
which served as a basis for the report that the Commission published on this subject.
(OEA/Ser.L/V/II.8, Doc. 5, October 21, 1963).
15. The Secretariat also prepared a draft report on the general application of the
"State of Siege," which, after consideration by the Commission, was turned over to Dr.
Daniel Hugo Martins in order that he, as rapporteur, might prepare a study on the subject
to be presented to the Commission at its Eighth Session (OEA/Ser.L/V/II.8, Doc. 6,
September 17, 1963).
16. The Secretariat also prepared a study entitled: Background on the topic, "Comparative Study of the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the corresponding texts from the constitutions of the American states." (OEA/Ser.L/V/II.8, Doc. 2, August 1, 1963).
D. Secretariat
17. The Commission was provided with the technical and administrative services
of its Secretariat, composed of the Executive Secretary, Dr. Luis Reque, and Dr. Alvaro
Gomez, an official of the Secretariat. Cooperation was also furnished by the Pan
American Union Office in Santiago, Chile, under the direction of Mr. Ramon de
Lartundo. Several press releases were issued in order to inform the public of the work
being done by the Commission during this session.
II. AGENDA
18. At its first meeting, held on October 7, the Commission adopted the following
agenda for the Seventh Session:
1. Report prepared by the Secretariat on the work accomplished by the Commission during its Sixth Session.
2. Report of the Executive Secretary on the activities of the Secretariat between the Sixth and Seventh Session.
3. Violations of human rights in American countries.
a. Report of the Subcommittee regarding the communications or
claims received
b. The case of Paraguay
c. The case of Cuba
d. The case of Nicaragua
e. The case of Haiti
f. The case of the Dominican Republic
4. General work program:
a. Draft "Convention on Freedom of Expression, Information, and Investigation," presented by Ambassador Gonzalo Escudero
b. Part II of the Report, "The Relationship Between the Respect for Human Rights and the Effective Exercise of Representative Democracy," presented by Professor Durward V. Sandifer
c. Part II of the Report, "The Right of Suffrage in America," presented by Professor Manuel Bianchi, Chairman of the Commission
d. Draft report on the general application of the "State of
Siege,"
prepared by the Secretariat of the Commission
5. National committees on human rights
6. Fellowship program. Report of the Secretariat
7. Observers at sessions of the Commission
8. Communications to the governments and to the Council of the
Organization
of American States
9. Date and place of the Eighth Session
10. Other matters.
III. REPORT PREPARED BY THE SECRETARIAT ON THE
WORK
ACCOMPLISHED BY THE COMMISSION DURING ITS SIXTH SESSION
19. At the second meeting, held on October 8, the Executive Secretary presented
the report on the work accomplished by the Commission during its Sixth Session
(OEA/Ser.L/V/II.7, Doc. 28, August 15,1963). This report summarizes the work carried
out between April 16 and May 8, 1963, during the aforesaid Sixth Session, and contains
an account of the activities of the Commission with respect to violations of human rights
in American countries, especially in Paraguay, Nicaragua, Cuba, Haiti, and the
Dominican Republic. With reference to the three last-named countries the above-mentioned
report records approval of the report on the situation regarding political
prisoners and their families in Cuba, the request of the Commission to the Government of
Haiti for its consent to the holding of part of the Sixth Session in that country, and the
visit of the Commission to the Dominican Republic motivated by a complaint signed by
various political groups in the Dominican Republic, alleging violations of human rights
by the police of the country.
20. That report also contains an account of the work carried out by the
Commission under the General Work Program; agreements reached with respect to
amending the Statute and Regulations; the preliminary draft "Convention on freedom of
Expression, Information, and Investigation," presented by Ambassador Gonzalo
Escudero; Part II of the Report, "The Right of Suffrage in America," presented by
Professor Manuel Bianchi, Chairman of the Commission; Part II of the Report, "The
Relationship between the Respect for Human Rights and the Effective Exercise of
Representative Democracy," prepared by Professor Durward V. Sandifer; as well as
matters regarding the Fellowship Program, National Committees on Human Rights, and
other decisions of the Commission.
IV. REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY ON THE ACTIVITIES
OF THE SECRETARIAT BETWEEN THE SIXTH AND
SEVENTH SESSIONS
OF THE COMMISSION
21. At the second meeting, the Commission considered the report presented by the
Executive Secretary on the activities of the Secretariat between the Sixth and Seventh
Sessions. (OEA/Ser.L/V/11.8, Doc. 10, October 10, 1963)This document contains an
account of the work done by the Secretariat in compliance with the decisions taken by the
Commission at its Sixth Session, namely. the preparation of the revised text of
Regulations adopted in 1960 with the amendments adopted by the Commission during its
sessions of 1961 and 1962; the processing by the secretariat of the communications or
claims received between the Sixth and Seventh Sessions in accordance with the procedure
established in the Regulations of the Commission, as well as requests for information on
violations of human rights sent to various American governments in compliance with
Article 34 of the Regulations of the Commission; the preparation of the draft report on
the situation regarding human rights in Haiti on the basis of the communications or claims
received by the Commission on that subject; handling of requests for information
submitted by non-governmental organizations on the procedure to follow in accrediting
observers to meetings of the Commission; preparation of the document entitled:
Background on the topic "Comparative Study of the American Declaration of the Rights
and Duties of Man, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the corresponding
texts from the constitutions of the American states;" collaboration extended by the
Secretariat to Ambassador Gonzalo Escudero in the preparation of the third report on
"Freedom of Expression, Information, and Investigation;" preparation of the draft report
on the general application of the "state of Siege;" and, finally, work in connection with
the fellowship program, which was planned to begin in March 1964, with the holding of a
seminar on human rights at the Instituto de Derecho Comparado de México.
22. The report was approved without change and the Commission formally
expressed its pleasure with the manner in which the Secretariat had complied with the
instructions and requests that were given to it.
V. VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN AMERICAN
COUNTRIES
A. Report of the Subcommittee
23. The Subcommittee is composed of three members of the Commission,
namely:
Chairman: Dr. Manuel Bianchi
Members: Dr. Gonzalo Escudero
Dr. Durward V. Sandifer
24. In accordance with provisions of the Regulations, the subcommittee met one
week prior to the opening of the session to make a preliminary study of the
communications or claims addressed to the Commission, and to prepare a draft Agenda of
the Seventh Session.
25. At the conclusion of its discussions, the subcommittee prepared a report
(OEA/Ser.L/V/II.8, Doc. 8, October 4, 1963), which was submitted to the Commission
for consideration.
26. The Commission considered the report of the subcommittee at the second, third, and thirteenth meetings, held on October 8, 9, and 18, respectively. The Commission approved the report of the subcommittee in principle at the third meeting, but decided to give the members time in which to make observations with respect to the recommendations contained in the report. The Commission, on the other hand, examined at that meeting the communications or claims that the Subcommittee recommended for examination by the full Commission.
The Commission again took up the report of the subcommittee at the thirteenth
meeting and, since no observations were made on that document, the Commission
endorsed the recommendations drawn up by the subcommittee and instructed the
Secretariat to handle the communications or claims contained in the report in the manner
recommended.
27. At the seventeenth meeting, held on October 24, 1963, the Commission
considered Addendum 3 to Document 4, referring to the communications or claims
received after the opening of this session. The Commission reached a number of
conclusions with regard to these and instructed the Secretariat to handle them according
to these decisions. (OEA/Ser.L/V/II.8, Doc. 4, September 16, 1963, Rev.).
B. The Case of Paraguay
28. During the course of the Seventh Session the Commission continued its consideration of the situation of human rights in Paraguay.
At the fourth meeting, held on October 10, the Chairman informed the
Commission with regard to the instructions which the Commission had given to him at
the Sixth Session to the effect that he take the necessary steps with the Ambassadors of
Paraguay in Washington and Santiago to secure the consent of the Paraguayan
Government for a visit by the Commission to that country. The Commission decided at
that same meeting to extend its authorization to the Chairman to continue his
conversations with the Ambassador of Paraguay in Santiago, Chile.
29. At the thirteenth meetings held on October 18, after the Chairman again
reported to the Commission on the results of his recent conversations with the
Paraguayan Ambassador to Chile in regard to the request for consent, the Commission
decided: a. to continue examining the situation of human rights in Paraguay at the Eighth
Session; b. not to request permission from the Paraguayan Government to visit that
country during the Seventh Session; c. to authorize the Chairman and the Executive
Secretary to request and obtain the information they deem pertinent in order that the
Commission may take a decision on this subject at the next session.
30. At the sixteenth meeting, held on October 23, the Commission considered the
notes from the Government of Paraguay dated September 30 and October 5, 1963, sent in
reply to the requests from the Commission for information regarding alleged violations of
human rights in that country. The Commission decided to instruct the Secretariat to
include these notes as a background document in the case of Paraguay.
C. The Case of Cuba
31. During the Seventh Session the Commission continued to concern itself with
the situation of human rights in Cuba, particularly with reference to the situation of
political prisoners.
32. As a result of the numerous communications or claims received regarding
serious and repeated violations of human rights in Cuba and the maltreatment to which
political prisoners are subjected in that country, the Commission, at its fourth meeting,
held on October 10, entrusted the Secretariat with the preparation of a draft additional
report on the Cuban case, to be considered at the next session.
33. At the seventh meeting, held on October 14, the Commission granted a
hearing to the members of the Comision Cubana por los Derechos Humanos (Cuban
Committee for Human Rights), who had requested such hearing for the purpose of giving
to the Commission more details on their written denunciations of violations of human
rights in their country.
D. The Case of Nicaragua
34. The Commission considered the situation regarding human rights in Nicaragua
at its fourth and fifth meetings, held on October 10 and 11, respectively. First of all,
the Commission took cognizance of the statements of former President Luis Somoza, of
Nicaragua, that appeared in "Diario de las Américas" in July 1963, In these declarations,
President Somoza, referring to the denial by the Government of Nicaragua to the
Commission to visit that country, stated that the Commission's attitudes had been taken
"because of political reasons, since some members of the Commission on Human Rights
are personal enemies of mine, and personal enemies of my party. Why? For reasons that
are too long to go into in this program, but it is that some of them have been members of
a communist organization for many years, since this Central American battle did not
begin yesterday, it began many years ago, in 1948." The Commission unanimously
supported the position assumed by its Chairman and reported in a press release issued in
Washington and Santiago, Chile, on July 30, 1963. In that press release the Chairman of
the Commission, Dr. Manuel Bianchi, included the following statement: "As the
Commission is just now in recess, its Chairman considers it his inescapable duty to deny
categorically, on behalf of the Commission, the validity of the remarks made by Mr.
Somoza. It is not the first time that the tactics of Senator Somoza have been used to levy
accusations against international agencies that are working for representative democracy
and human rights."
35. With respect to the situation of human rights in Nicaragua, the Commission
decided to transmit to the government of that country the pertinent parts of the
communications or claims received regarding violations of human rights and to request
the corresponding information, in accordance with the procedure established in the
Regulations. The Commission likewise decided to continue the restricted character of the
document entitled "Documents and Information Concerning the Request for the Consent
of the Government of Nicaragua." (OEA/Ser.L/V/II.6, Doc. 17, February 14, 1963).
36. At the sixteenth meeting, held on October 23, 1963, the Commission took
cognizance of a note from the Government of Nicaragua, dated September 21, 1963,
replying to a request for information sent by the Commission in August of that year.
Since the Government of Nicaragua offered in that note to send the information requested
as soon as possible, the Commission decided to consider this matter at its next session.
E. The Case of Haiti
37. During the course of the Sixth Session, the Commission instructed the
Secretariat to draft a report on the situation regarding human rights in Haiti. The
Secretariat prepared a document in accordance with these instructions (Doc. 5, September
7, 1963), which it submitted to the Commission for consideration. That document
contained an account of the activities carried out by the Commission in the Haitian case
and an examination into the situation regarding human rights in that country, for which it
took as a basis the claims or complaints addressed to the Commission and the information
furnished by the Haitian Government.
38. The Commission considered the draft report prepared by the Secretariat, at its
sixth and fourteenth meetings, held on October 14 and 21, respectively. At the former
meeting, the Commission proceeded to make a general examination of the draft report,
and appointed Dr. Reynaldo Galindo Pohl as rapporteur of this matter, in order that he
might recommend the changes he deemed appropriate. The members were requested to
advise the rapporteur of any observations they wished to make regarding that document. 39. At
the fourteenth meeting, the Commission examined in detail the draft
prepared by the Secretariat, together with the observations and recommendations made by
the rapporteur. At the same meeting the Commission unanimously approved the report
on the situation of human rights in Haiti, and decided to make it available to the
governments through the Council of the Organization.
40. The report approved by the Commission divided into 3 parts: an introduction,
in which the reasons are set forth that prompted the Commission, in accordance with
Article 9.c of its Statute, to prepare the document; a chapter giving background,
including the various communications exchanged by the Commission and the
Government of Haiti; and a chapter on the situation of human rights in Haiti, in which
reference is made to the provisions of the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties
of Man, to the communications or claims regarding violations of human rights in Haiti
received by the Commission, and to the information furnished by the Haitian
Government.
41. In the aforementioned report, the Commission expressly mentioned the
following facts:
1. That the requests for information sent to the Government of Haiti by the
Commission referred to serious and repeated violations of human rights in that country;
2. That the information supplied by the Government of Haiti did not relate to the
complaints transmitted by the Commission in their entirety;
3. That, in some cases, the information supplied to the Commission by the
Government of Haiti was incomplete, while in others the Government merely denied that
human rights were violated in Haiti, but without supplying information on the specific
complaints transmitted by the Commission;
4. That, on two occasions - September 26, 1962, and May 7, 1963 -, the Commission, in accordance with Article ll.c of its Statute, requested permission from the Government of Haiti to go to that country to study the situation regarding human rights;
5. That, on both occasions, the Government of Haiti refused the Commission the
permission it requested, on the grounds that its visit might be interpreted as a form of
interference in the internal affairs of Haiti; and
6. That, on both occasions, the Commission made it expressly clear that it
respected the sovereignty of Haiti, but that it was empowered, by Article ll.c of its Statute
to visit the territory of any American state, with the prior consent of its government.
F. The Case of the Dominican Republic
42. Having received numerous communications or claims with respect to serious
and repeated violations of human rights in the Dominican Republic, the Commission
decided at the first meeting to include the study of the case of the Dominican Republic on
the agenda of the Seventh Session.
43. The Commission began its study of the case at the sixth meeting, held on
October 14. It first of all considered the communications or claims that had been
addressed to it regarding violations of human rights in that country. (OEA/Ser.L/V/11.8,
Doc. 8, October 4). In relation to these, the Commission decided to follow the procedure
recommended to it by the subcommittee, that is, to transcribe and send to the Dominican
Government the pertinent parts of the communications or claims that contained concrete
denunciations of violations of human rights, and to request that Government to send the
information it considered pertinent. The Commission decided to adopt the same
procedure for the specific communications or claims that were received during the course
of the Seventh Session.
44. At the same Meeting, the Commission considered the cable reply sent by the
Dominican Government in response to the request for information about violations of
human rights in that country that had been transmitted to it. The Commission instructed
the Secretariat to prepare a background document based upon the information received,
so that this might be considered at the next session.
G. Examination of the Situation Regarding Human Rights in Other American
Countries
1. Ecuador
45. The Commission considered the communications or claims that had been
addressed to it on violations of human rights in Ecuador at its fourth, sixth, and
seventeenth meetings, held on October 10, 14, and 24, respectively. In accordance with
the provisions of its Regulations, the Commission decided to transmit to the Government
of Ecuador the pertinent parts of communications regarding concrete denunciations of
violations of human rights.
46. At the seventh meeting, held on October 14, the Commission granted a
hearing to the leaders of the committee of Ecuadorean Exiles in Chile, who had requested
it for the purpose of enlarging upon the complaint that they had presented in writing. In
the course of the said hearing the Chairman of that committee referred to the situation of
human rights in his country, making several concrete complaints regarding violations of
these rights.
47. At the same meeting the Commission decided to transmit to the Government
of Ecuador the specific facts mentioned in the denunciation made by the aforementioned
committee of exiles and, on the other hand, entrusted to its Secretariat the compilation of
the information sent to the Commission regarding the situation of human rights in
Ecuador, so that this might be considered at the next session.
2. Guatemala
48. At the third meeting the Commission examined the situation of human rights
in Guatemala. It must be pointed out that the Commission had received numerous
communications and reports on concrete violations of human rights in that country. In
accordance with the Regulations, the Secretariat prepared a summary of all of the
denunciations received. As in the case of other countries, the Commission decided to
send to the Government of Guatemala the pertinent parts of the communications and to
request it to send the corresponding information.
49. At the sixteenth meeting, held on October 23, the Commission considered the
information sent by the Government of Guatemala under date of August 23 and October
10, 1963, in reply to the request for such information transmitted to that government on
August 19 of that year. The Commission decided to examine the situation of human
rights in Guatemala at its next session, after the Secretariat prepared the background
document that was entrusted to it.
3. Honduras
50. At its seventeenth meeting held on October 24, the Commission considered
several communications on violations of human rights in Honduras. In accordance with
Article 36 of its Regulations, the Commission agreed to request the pertinent information
from the Government of Honduras regarding a communication dealing with concrete
reports of violations of human rights in that country. The Government of Honduras, by
cable of November 4, authorized the Commission to assign responsible representatives so
that they might prove the falseness of the claims. The text of the cable is as follows:
DOCTOR MANUEL BIANCHI
INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
SANTIAGO, CHILE
REPLYING TO YOUR NOTE OF OCTOBER TWENTY-EIGHT GOVERNMENT
HONDURAS AUTHORIZES THE COMMISSION TO ASSIGN RESPONSIBLE
REPRESENTATIVES IN ORDER TO PROVE FALSENESS OF CLAIMS.
RESPECTFULLY
JORGE FIDEL DURON
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
On November 8, 1963, the Chairman of the Commission sent the following cable
to the Government of Honduras:
HIS EXCELLENCY
JORGE FIDEL DURON
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
TEGUCIGALPA (HONDURAS)
IN REPLY TO YOUR COURTEOUS CABLE OF NOVEMBER 4 NEITHER THE
INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS NOR ITS
REPRESENTATIVES CAN GO TO HONDURAS FOR THE TIME BEING DUE TO
THE FACT THAT THE COMMISSION ENDED ITS SESSION OCTOBER 25 IN
SANTIAGO, CHILE. ON BEHALF OF COMMISSION I WISH TO EXPRESS TO
GOVERNMENT HONDURAS, THROUGH YOU, SINCERE APPRECIATION
AUTHORIZATION GRANTED. VERY SINCERELY
MANUEL BIANCHI CHAIRMAN
VI. SITUATION OF POLITICAL REFUGEES IN
AMERICA
51. On September 6, 1963, a refugee committee with headquarters in Madrid
wrote to the Secretary General of the Organization Dr. José A. Mora, requesting the help
of the Organization.
The Secretary General of the Organization sent a note to the Chairman of the
Commission on September 26, requesting that the matter presented by the said committee
be examined by the Commission in the course of its Seventh Session and that, at the same
time, the Commission consider the possibility of making a complete study of the situation
of political refugees in America, so that it might submit proposals on the subject to the
governments of the member states for their consideration.
52. At the first meeting, held on October 6, the Commission considered the note
of the Secretary General and the communication from the refugee committee, and agreed
to take up the matter during the course of the session.
53. The Commission again considered the matter of refugees at the third meeting,
held on October 9, and agreed upon the following: 1. to write to the Intergovernmental
Committee for European Migration, with headquarters in Geneva, informing it of the
desire of the Commission that the problem raised by the refugee committee with
headquarters in Madrid be given a favorable solution; and 2. to entrust the Secretariat
with the preparation of a preliminary study on the situation of political refugees in
America. Such a study should have as background the work that had been done in this
field by the Organization of American States, the League of Nations, and the United
Nations, the legislation that had been passed by the American countries to meet the
problem of refugees, and the information received by the Commission with respect to this
problem. The Commission decided to study the problem of refugees at its Eighth
Session.
VII. ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE GENERAL WORK PROGRAM
A. Draft Convention on Freedom of Expression, Information, and Investigation
54. This subject was taken up originally during the Second Session of the
Commission, in April 1961, under the heading "First report on measures designed to
improve implementation of rights to freedom of investigation, of opinion, and of the
expression and dissemination of ideas"(OEA/Ser.L/V/II.2, Doc. 15, April 21, 1961).
Since the rapporteur of this topic, Dr. Gonzalo Escudero, had suggested in the
conclusions to his report the preparation of a draft convention on freedom of the press,
the Commission entrusted to Dr. Escudero himself the preparation of the said draft. For
the purpose of facilitating the work of the rapporteur the Secretariat prepared and
published, in August 1961, a preliminary draft convention, taking as a basis for it 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,
and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental
Freedoms.
55. At the Fourth Session of the Commission, held in April 1962, the rapporteur
presented a "Second Report on Freedom of Expression, Information, and Investigation"
(OEA/Ser.L/V/II.4, Doc. 4, March 27, 1962). That report contained a preliminary draft
convention comprising several introductory clauses and 25 articles referring to freedom
of conscience, thought, and religion; freedom of expression through the press and other
media; the right to information; facilities for receiving and disseminating information;
right of correction, reply, or clarification; and freedom of investigation. The Commission
recommended that its members examine the document and transmit to the Secretariat,
within a period of 60 days, any comments they might wish to make regarding it.
56. The Commission continued the study of this draft at its Fifth Session, October
1962, taking into account the comments of the various members. It was agreed to request
the rapporteur to prepare a new preliminary draft in the light of these comments
57. At the present session, the rapporteur of this topic, Dr. Gonzalo Escudero, prepared a "Third Report on Freedom of Expression, Information, and Investigation," which contained a revised draft convention on the subject. The Commission examined this matter at its seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth meetings, held on October 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18, respectively. The Commission gave careful consideration to the said revised draft, which contained a number of changes and additions. Some of the provisions of the original draft were eliminated.
At its twelfth meeting, the Commission approved the text of the "Draft Inter-American
Convention on Freedom of Expression, Information, and Investigation"
(OEA/Ser.L/V/II.8, Doc. 15, October 18, 1963).
The text of the approved draft is as follows:
DRAFT INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION ON FREEDOM OF
EXPRESSION,
INFORMATION AND INVESTIGATION
Whereas:
The Charter of the Organization of American States and the American Declaration
of the Rights and Duties of Man proclaim human rights and fundamental freedoms, as do
the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
Among these freedoms, those of conscience, thought, religion, opinion,
expression, information, and investigation are of principal importance;
The respect and protection of the aforementioned freedoms constitute one of the
foundations supporting the solidarity and unity of the Hemisphere, international peace,
understanding, and justice and the progress of civilization;
The freedoms of opinion, expression, information, and investigation are essential
to the enjoyment of the freedom of conscience, thoughts and religion;
The exercise of these freedoms presupposes the responsibilities and obligations
essential to maintain compatibility with the respect for the individual, society and its
moral code, and the existence and personality of the State against whatever could disturb
the peace, security, and public order;
Freedom of information comprehends both the right to transmit information on
facts and ideas by any media, and the right of every person to receive such information
without any limitation whatsoever;
Whoever makes use of information media assumes a grave responsibility before
public opinion and has the moral duty to respect the truth; and
The attainment of the ends stated above requires these freedoms to be free of
pressure or force of any kind,
The Governments of the member states of the Organization of American States have
agreed to conclude the following convention.
The Contracting States, under the terms of this Convention, guarantee to the
inhabitants of their respective territories the right to express their thoughts and opinions
freely, as well as freedom of information and investigation.
Article II
Everyone has the right to express and freely disseminate his thoughts and opinions
orally or in writing, or to employ, at his choice, printing, lithography, painting, sculpture,
cartoons, engraving, the press, radio, television, films, public address systems, or any
other medium utilized or useful for the exercise of this right.
The exercise of this right precludes any form of prior censorship, guarantee, or pledge.
Except as provided in Article XII, everyone shall be free to seek, receive and
communicate, without governmental or other interference, information and opinions in
oral, written, printed or illustrated form, or by any other method presently established or
that may be established.
No Contracting State shall regulate or control the use of or access to any means of
communication in a manner that amounts to discrimination for reasons of political beliefs,
race, sex, language, or religion.
The Contracting States agree to respect and enforce respect for freedom of
scientific, technical, and artistic investigation and, in general. all forms of cultural
investigation.
The Contracting States undertake to respect the right to free access to official and
unofficial news sources equally for all journalists and news agencies, national and
foreign, provided that, with respect to the latter, they are duly accredited for the
performance of their professional duties in accordance with the law of the country where
they are stationed.
The Contracting States also undertake to provide them with all facilities for the
fulfillment of their professional duties, fully guaranteeing their freedom of action and
movement, both in gathering information and in the transmitting it inside the respective
country and outside of it.
1. The Contracting States shall grant facilities for the acquisition of newsprint
and machinery and supplies for use in the dissemination of ideas, as well as the
implements required for radio broadcasting, television or for dissemination by any other
information medium.
2. The Contracting States shall seek the adoption of measures to permit the
entry into their respective territories, free of duty and advance permits or other formalities
of all kinds of books, magazines, newspapers and pamphlets that are not contrary to
morality, public order, and the security of the State as well as recordings, films, and other
educational material which are in accord with these same conditions.
No provision of this Convention shall limit the right of any Contracting State to
adopt the measures required:
a. To develop its national information agencies; and
b. To prevent restrictive or monopolistic interference or agreements limiting
the free
flow of information and opinions.
1. The Contracting States have the right to correct or reply to a news report or
dispatch published in any of them which misrepresents the truth, or in some way impairs
the dignity or prestige of the claimant State or tends to disturb the peaceful relations
between the Nations of the Hemisphere.
2. Every person will have the right to correct or reply to information or
opinions prejudicial to him that have been expressed via the information media by
another person or entity in any contracting State.
3. The correction or reply shall be published gratuitously wherever the
information which motivated it appeared, following the procedure established by law,
apart from the clarification and determination of any liabilities incurred.
The Contracting States agree to introduce in their domestic legislation such
amendments as may be necessary for the effective application of the provisions of this
Convention, and undertake to establish penal sanctions in their laws for the criminal
conduct of officials or persons who violate the provisions of those laws.
The Contracting States undertake to transmit to the Secretary General of the
Organization of American States the texts of their legislation relating to the provisions of
this Convention, in order that they may be communicated to the other Contracting States.
The exercise of the rights and freedoms established in the preceding articles
implies duties and responsibilities and may therefore be subject only to such formalities,
conditions or restrictions, clearly defined by law and applied in conformity therewith, as
are strictly necessary in a democratic society to uphold national security, territorial
integrity, public order or the prevention of crime, to prevent incitement to racial or
religious strife, to protect the health, morals, reputation or rights of others, to prevent the
disclosure of confidential information, or to guarantee the impartial administration of
justice. In no case, however, shall such formalities, conditions or restrictions represent an
abuse or distortion of power which shall prevent or restrict the legitimate exercise of such
rights and freedoms.
The Contracting States may regulate for technical necessities the installation and
operation of radio and television stations, and all other methods of disseminating thought,
which methods, by their nature, cannot be utilized in an unrestricted manner.
1. In time of war or in any other grave national emergency, each Contracting
State may adopt measures to suspend compliance with its obligations under this
Convention, to an extent and for a duration strictly limited by the requirements of the
situation.
2. Each Contracting State exercising this power shall immediately inform the
Secretary General of the Organization of American States of the measures so adopted and
of the reasons prompting the action. It shall also inform him of the form and duration of
the application of such measures.
3 The Secretary General of the Organization of American States shall
transmit this information to the other Contracting States.
Article XIV
This Convention shall neither limit nor modify more favorable provisions which, for
the exercise of the rights and freedoms contained herein, are authorized in the law of any
Contracting State or in any other convention to which that State may be a party. Neither
shall it derogate other rights and freedoms related to those contemplated in this Convention
that are recognized in the law of any Contracting State or in any other convention to which
that State may be a party.
Article XV
This Convention shall be open for signature by the member states of the
Organization of American States and shall be ratified by the signatory States in
accordance with their respective constitutional procedures.
Article XVI
The original instrument, the English, French, Portuguese and Spanish texts of
which are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Pan American Union which shall
send certified copies thereof to the Governments for the purpose of ratification. The
instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Pan American Union, which shall
notify the signatory Governments of such deposit.
This Convention shall enter into force among the ratifying States in the order in
which their instruments of ratification are deposited.
Article XVIII
This Convention shall be registered with the Secretariat of the United Nations
through the Pan American Union.
This Convention shall remain in force indefinitely, but may be denounced by any
of the Contracting States upon notification given one year in advance, after which it will
cease to have effect for the denouncing State, but shall remain in force as among the other
Contracting States. The denunciation shall be communicated to the Pan American Union,
which shall inform the other Contracting States.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Plenipotentiaries, whose full powers
have been presented and found to be in good and due form, sign the present Convention,
in the name of their respective Governments, in the city of ................... on the ...........
day of ..........., nineteen hundred and sixty...........
The Commission agreed to submit the Draft Convention to the consideration of the
Eleventh Inter-American Conference, through the Council of the Organization. It was
sent to the Council of the Organization on October 30, 1963, with a request that it be
included in the item on "Human Rights" of the Agenda of the Eleventh Inter-American
Conference.
B. Part II of the Report "The Relationship Between the Respect for Human Rights
and the Effective Exercise of Representative Democracy"
58. At the thirteenth and fourteenth meetings, held on October 18 and 21, respectively, the Commission examined Part II of the Report "The Relationship Between the Respect for Human Rights and the Effective Exercise of Representative Democracy," presented by Dr. Durward V. Sandifer. (OEA/Ser.L/V/II5, Doc. 3, October 2, 1962). After studying the document closely the Commission decided that, before closing the Seventh Session, the members should make such observations as they deemed pertinent with respect to the report presented by Dr. Sandifer, so that the Secretariat might proceed to prepare the document on human rights and representative democracy.
It also agreed that after the aforementioned document was drafted by the
Secretariat, it should be referred to the members so that they might make the necessary
observations within a period of 15 days, and that at the conclusion of this period the
Secretariat was authorized to publish the said document.
C. Part II of the Report "The Right of Suffrage in America"
59. At the fifteenth meeting, held on October 22, the Chairman of the
Commission, Professor Manuel Bianchi Gundian, made an oral report on the above topic.
Professor Bianchi stated that the object of Part II of his Report was to point out the
progress achieved by the countries of America with respect to the right of suffrage,
recalling that Part I of his Report had sought to analyze the right of suffrage according to
the domestic legislation of the American countries. He further stated that Part I of his
Report (OEA/Ser.L/V/II.5, Doc. 14, October 4, 1962) had already been transmitted to the
governments, but that so far no information had been forthcoming on new developments
in this field. He emphasized the need for official information from the governments with
respect to progress achieved in the field of elections, in order that he might prepare the
second report and submit it to the Commission for consideration at its next session. 60.
After considering the report presented by Professor Bianchi, rapporteur of the
topic, the Commission decided to request the Secretary General of the Organization to
transmit the Report "The Right of Suffrage in America" to the governments of the
member states, with a request that they be good enough to transmit their laws and
pertinent material so that the Commission may continue its consideration of this
important matter.
D. Draft Report on the General Application of the "State of Siege"
61. At the Fifth Session, held in October 1962, the Commission approved a general work program, and in connection therewith it authorized the Secretariat to prepare preliminary studies on the topics or matters included in it. In the performance of this duty the Secretariat prepared a document on the history and general application of the "State of Siege" and submitted it for consideration by the Commission at the fifteenth meeting, held on October 22.
The Commission designated Dr. Daniel Hugo Martins as rapporteur of this topic,
so that, based upon the draft report prepared by the Secretariat, he might prepare a
broader report and formulate the conclusions indicated for submittal to the Commission
for consideration at its next session.
E. Lectures Delivered by the Members of the Commission
62. In accordance with the mandate of the Commission to promote the respect of
human rights, the members of the Commission delivered a series of lectures on the
various subjects of the general work program. This series of lectures was sponsored by
the University of Chile, and included the following:
1. "Human Rights in the International Order" by Dr. Reynaldo Galindo Pohl, in the
"Valentin Letelier" Hall of the University of Chile on Friday, October 10.
2. "Human Rights and the Right of Suffrage in America" by Prof. Manuel Bianchi, in
the "Valentin Letelier" Hall of the University of Chile, on Monday, October 14.
3. "The Juridical Protection of Human Rights in the field of Children Born out of
Wedlock" by Mrs. Angela Acuna de Chacon, in the "Valentin Letelier" Hall of the
University of Chile, Friday, October 18.
4. "The Protection of Human Rights under the Writ of Amparo" by Dr. Gabino Fraga, in
the Assembly Hall of the Faculty of Law of the University of Chile, on Tuesday, October
22.
5. "Human Rights and Representative Democracy" by Prof. Durward V. Sandifer, in the School of Political and Administrative Sciences of the University of Chile, on Wednesday, October 23.
6. "The European and Inter-American Commissions on Human Rights - Similarities and
Differences" by Dr. Daniel Hugo Martins, in the Assembly Hall of the Faculty of Law of
the University of Chile, on Friday, October 25. The Commission entrusted its Secretariat
with the preparation of a compilation of these lectures in a document for general
distribution. *
* Subsequent to this Session, Dr. Gonzalo Escudero, Member of the Commission, gave a
lecture in Bogota, on December 11, 1963, on "Freedom of Expression, Information and
Investigation."
VIII. OTHER DECISIONS AND CONCLUSIONS OF THE
COMMISSION
A. National Committees on Human Rights
63. The Commission considered the question of National Committees on Human
Rights at the sixth meeting, which took place on October 14. At that meeting the
Executive Secretary reported that, in compliance with the decision of the Commission at
the Fifth Session (OEA/Ser.L/V/II.5, Doc. 40, February 11, 1963), the Secretariat had
been establishing relations of cooperation with institutions and societies interested in
human rights. The Executive Secretary also pointed out that the Commission, at the First
Session, had adopted a resolution on the establishment of National Committees on
Human Rights, but that until now no such committee had been established, and this
despite the efforts of the Commission itself and of its Secretariat.
64. The Commission, in accordance with the information furnished by the Secretariat, decided that the National Committees on Human Rights should be established according to the terms of the resolution of October 1960, and that
the Secretariat should continue to establish relations of cooperation with institutions and
organizations interested in human rights, according to the decision taken at the Fifth
Session.
B. Fellowship Program
65. The Commission took up this matter at its sixth meeting, held on October 14. In the report submitted by the Secretariat on its activities between the Sixth and Seventh Sessions (OEA/Ser.L,/V/11.8, Doc. 10, October 10, 1963) reference was made to the fact that the Fellowship Program, approved by the Commission at its First Session, was planned to begin in March 1964, with a four-month course on human rights at the Instituto de Derecho Comparado de Mexico (Institute of Comparative Law, Mexico), but that this could not be carried out due to the fact that the financial situation of the Pan American Union had made it necessary to withhold the item earmarked to meet the expenses of the aforementioned course.
66. The Commission instructed its Chairman to take such steps as might be
necessary with the General Secretariat of the Organization to the end that the sum
withheld be utilized in carrying out the program referred to.
C. Observers at Sessions of the Commission
67. This subject was considered by the Commission at its first, second, and
seventeenth meetings, held on October 7, 8, and 24, respectively. The Secretariat
informed the Commission (OEA/Ser.L/V/II.8, Doc. 10, October 10, 1963) that a number
of non-governmental organizations had expressed a desire to send observers to the
meetings of the Commission; that two organizations, the B'Nai B'Rith and the World
Jewish Congress, in notes sent to the Commission, had requested information on the
procedure they had to follow in order to accredit observers to the session of the
Commission in Santiago, Chile; and that the Secretariat had limited itself to informing
these organizations that the Statute and Regulations of the Commission contained no
provisions with respect to observers.
68. The Commission agreed to grant hearings to the non-governmental
organizations that had requested them for the purpose of presenting plans of cooperation
with the Commission, in accordance with the resolution adopted in October 1960. At the
same time, the Commission entrusted to the Secretariat the preparation of a background
document on the status of non-governmental organizations with other international
agencies, such as the United Nations and the Council of Europe. The Commission agreed
to take this subject up at its next session. At its seventeenth meeting, the Commission
received representatives of the Comité de la Colectividad Israelita de Chile (Committee of
the Jewish Community of Chile), who had requested an audience for the purpose of
informing the Commission of their desire to maintain relations of cooperation with it and
their interest in accrediting permanent observers to the sessions of the Commission. The
Chairman of the Jewish Committee fully described the activities and aims of his
organization and asked the Commission for permission to accredit a permanent observer
to their sessions. The Chairman of the Commission, in thanking him for the cooperation
offered, stated that the question of observers would be taken up at the next session of the
Commission.
D. Communications to the Governments
69. In conformity with agreements reached at the third, sixth, seventh, thirteenth, and
seventeenth meetings, held on October 9, 14, 18, and 24, respectively, the Commission,
pursuant to Article 36 of the Regulations, wrote to the governments of some of the
American countries requesting information on alleged violations of human rights in those
countries.
E. Communication to the Chairman of the Council
70. As in its preceding sessions, the Commission decided at the seventeenth
meeting, held on October 24, to send a note to the Chairman of the Council of the
Organization of American States, Ambassador Gonzalo Facio, informing him of the work
accomplished by the Commission during its Seventh Session.
F. Date and Place of the Eighth Session
71. At the sixteenth meeting, held on October 23, the Commission considered the question of a date and place for the Eighth Session.
The Commission decided to hold its Eighth Session at the Pan American Union,
Washington, D. C., its permanent headquarters, early in 1964, on a date to be set by the
Chairman of the Commission.
G. Closing of the Seventh Session
72. The closing of the Seventh Session took place with formal ceremonies held for
that purpose in the Salon de Honor of the University of Chile at eleven o'clock on
October 25. Attending this session, as guest of honor, was the Secretary General of the
Organization of American States, Dr. José A. Mora.
73. The Secretary General, in the address he delivered at the closing of the
Seventh Session spoke, first of all, of the work accomplished by the Commission since it
was first established. In this connection he pointed out that the Commission, "since the
beginning of its work, has been aware of the noble mission to which it was called, and
has felt that its duty could not be limited to the simple promotion of respect for human
rights, but must be equally careful that these were not violated." The Secretary General
then stated that every day wider horizons were opening so that the Commission might
discharge a decisive mission in the Hemisphere. In this respect he stated that the
Commission must be "an instrument of collaboration, within the institutional plans of the
Charter of Punta del Este, for revealing and defending the spiritual values connected with
economic and social development." He then referred to the matter of political refugees
and pointed out that the Commission, as advisory body of the Organization of American
States in the field of human rights, could undoubtedly furnish advise on the best methods
for dealing with questions of this kind. (See the text of the address of the Secretary
General in Doc. OEA/Ser.L/V/II.8, Doc. 13, October 25, 1963)
74. The Chairman of the Commission, Professor Manuel Bianchi, then spoke, referring to
the work done by the Commission at this session, and particularly to the reports
and studies prepared by the Commission and to the number of communications and
claims that had been examined. He expressed his appreciation to the University of Chile
and the Government of Chile for all the facilities they had made available to the
Commission for the success of its work. He referred especially to the presence of the
Secretary General of the Organization at the closing meeting, with the following
statement, among others: "As a member of the Inter-American Commission on Human
Rights, I can testify to the collaboration that Ambassador José A. Mora has given to our
agency since the very first moment in which we began our work in October 1960. This
support has increased with time, and culminates today with his presence at this solemn
closing meeting." Immediately thereafter, the Chairman of the Commission declared the
work of the Seventh Session at an end. (The text of the address by the Chairman of the
Commission is contained in Document OEA/Ser.L/V/11.8, Doc. 14. October 25, 1963)
APPENDIX
DOCUMENTS OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
(OEA/Ser.L/V)
Document Number Title
OEA/Ser.L/V/II.8 DOCUMENTS OF THE SIXTH SESSION
Doc. 1 Documentos de la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos
Humanos, registrados por la Secretaria hasta el 30 de
diciembre de 1963.
Doc. 2 Antecedentes sobre el Tema "Estudio Comparado entre la
Declaración Americana de los Derechos y Deberes del
Hombre, la Declaración Universal de Derechos Humanos y
los correspondientes textos constitucionales de los Estados
Americanos"
Doc. 3 Tercer Informe sobre Libertad de Expresion, Informacion, e
Investigacion
Doc. 4, Rev. Resumen de las comunicaciones recibidas por la Comisión
Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, correspondiente el
Séptimo Periodo de Sesiones
Doc. 5 Informe sobre la situacion de los derechos humanos en Haiti
Doc. 6 Preliminary Study of the State of Siege and the protection of
human rights in the Americas
Doc. 7 Human Rights and Representative Democracy
Doc. 8 Informe sometido por la Subcomisión a la Comisión
Interamericana de Derechos Humanos
Doc. 9 Discurso pronunciado por el Dr. Gabino Fraga,
Vicepresidente de la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos
Humanos en la Sesión Inaugural celebrada en el Salon de
Honor de la Universidad de Chile
Doc. 10 Informe del Secretario Ejecutivo sobre las actividades de la
Secretaria entre el Sexto y Séptimo Periodos de Sesiones
Doc. 11 Discurso del Sr. Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores Don Enrique Ortuzar Escobar, en la Inauguracion del Séptimo
Periodo de Sesiones de la Comisión Interamericana de
Derechos Humanos
Doc. 12 Comisión Europea e Interamericana de
Derechos Humanos
Semajanzas y Diferencias
Doc. 13 Discurso pronunciado por el Dr. Jose A. Mora, Secretario
General de la Organizacion de los Estados Americanos en la
Sesión de Clausura del Séptimo Periodo de Sessiones de la
Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, celebrada en
el Salon de Honor de la Universidad de Chile
Doc. 14 Discurso pronunciado por el Profesor Manuel Bianchi,
Presidente de la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos
Humanos en la Sesión de Clausura celebrada en el Salon de
Honor de la Universidad de Chile
Doc. 15 Proyecto de Convencion Interamericana sobre Libertad de
Expresion, de Informacion y de Investigacion
Doc. 16 Acta Resumida de la Primera Sesión Celebrada el 7 de
octubre de 1963
Doc. 17 Acta Resumida de la Segunda Sesión celebrada el 8 de
octubre de 1963
Doc. 18 Acta Resumida de la Sesión Inaugural, celebrada el 8 de
octubre de 1963
Doc. 19 Acta Resumida de la Tercera Sesión, celebrada el 9 de
octubre de 1963
Doc. 20 Acta Resumida de la Cuarta Sesión, Celebrada el 10 de
octubre de 1963
Doc. 21 Acta Resumida de la Quinta Sesión, celebrada el 11 de
octubre de 1963
Doc. 22 Acta Resumida de la Sexta Sesión, celebrada el 14 de octubre de 1963
Doc. 23 Acta Resumida de la Septima Sesión, celebrada el 14 de
octubre de 1963
Doc. 24 Acta Resumida de la Octava Sesion, celebrada el 15 de octubre de 1963
Doc. 25 Acta Resumida de la Novena Sesión, celebrada el 15 de
octubre de 1963
Doc. 26 Acta Resumida de la Décima Sesión, celebrada el
16 de octubre de 1963
Doc. 27 Acta Resumida de la Undécima Sesión, celebrada el
17 de
octubre de 1963
Doc. 28 Acta Resumida de la Duodécima Sesión, celebrada
el 18 de
octubre de 1963
Doc. 29 Acta Resumida de la Décimatercera Sesión,
celebrada el 18
de octubre de 1963
Doc. 30 Acta Resumida de la Decimacuarta Sesión, celebrada el
21 de
octubre de 1963
Doc. 31 Acta Resumida de la Décimaquinta Sesión,
celebrada el 22 de
octubre de 1963
Doc. 32 Acta Resumida de la Décimasexta Sesión, celebrada
el 23 de
octubre de 1963
Doc. 33 Acta Resumida de la Décimaséptima
Sesión, celebrada el 24
de octubre de 1963
Doc. 34 Acta Resumida de la Sesión de Clausura, celebrada el
25 de
octubre de 1963
Doc. 35* Informe sobre la Labor Desarrollada durante su Séptimo
Periodo de Sesiones
* This document was also published in English, Portuguese and French.
