Dean Grossman Opens the United Nations Annual Meeting of Chairpersons of the Human Rights Treaty Bodies

On June 22, 2015, Dean Claudio Grossman, in his capacity as president of the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights and the chairperson of the Committee against Torture, opened the 27th Meeting of Chairpersons of Human Rights Treaty Bodies of the United Nations (UN). 

Other speakers at the opening included the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica, Manuel González Sanz, the Ambassador of Switzerland to Costa Rica, Yasmine Chatila Zwahlen, and representatives of the UN.

Taking place in San Jose, Costa Rica, June 22-26, this is the first official meeting that the heads of human rights committees, also known as treaty bodies, hold in the Western Hemisphere.

Dean Grossman and Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera
Dean Grossman with President Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera(on his left) and fellow UN chairpersons

By meeting in Latin America, the chairpersons, whose committees monitor the major international human rights treaties, want to strengthen cooperation between the treaty body system and the Inter-American system for the protection of human rights. They will hold consultations with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

Other agenda items for the annual meeting include adopting a resolution to reject reprisals against human rights defenders and promoting interconnectedness between the working methods of the treaty bodies. The chairpersons will also hold consultations with the diplomatic community, civil-society organizations, national human rights institutions, the UN entities, and other specialized agencies.

Following the first day of the meeting, the President of Costa Rica Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera hosted a dinner in honor of the chairpersons.

Dean Grossman will participate in a public panel discussion on Cooperation of the UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies with the Inter-American System of Human Rights. Additionally, he will meet with American University Washington College of Law alumni and with partners in the academic community, where he will promote externships in the Inter-American organs of protection of human rights.

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