Regional human rights context
The legal framework for human rights protection in Latin America and the Caribbean region is relatively strong. The region has long-established mechanisms, such as the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights,while most countries in the region have national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights. There are networks of civil society organizations monitoring human rights, and many governments are willing to cooperate with international and regional human rights mechanisms. The rate of ratification of major human rights treaties is relatively high in Latin America, although not in the Caribbean.
At the same time, Latin America has one of the highest levels of social inequality in the world,which has worsened over the past decade. The region’s persistent inequality in income hampers development and the enjoyment of human rights. Indigenous and Afrodescendent groups are among the most affected by poverty and exclusion, highlighting the imperative of promoting respect for economic, social and cultural rights.
Pressing human rights concerns include impunity, inefficient administration of justice,weak institutions, corruption, and past human rights abuses committed under various dictatorial regimes. Alarmingly high instances of prolonged pre-trial detention, prison overcrowding, and violence against women are also pervasive. Latin America is affected by public insecurity and violence, including violence related to organized crime rings linked to drug trafficking and juvenile gangs.
Democratic elections are now the norm in the region. In 2006-2007, there were national elections in 16 countries; 12 more elections are scheduled for the 2008-2009 biennium. In addition, two countries, Bolivia and Ecuador, are undergoing constitutional reform processes,which present another opportunity for strengthening domestic human rights protection mechanisms.
Strategy
In 2008-2009, OHCHR will concentrate its efforts on the fight against impunity, poverty, inequality and discrimination. To address these issues, the Office will work to ensure that national institutions, laws and programmes comply with human rights standards, that governments implement the recommendations of UN human rights mechanisms and bodies, and that more steps are taken to allow groups that are marginalized or discriminated against to participate in public policy decision-making and monitoring processes.
In 2008-2009, OHCHR will have ten presences in the region: Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama.
Where no field offices are present, OHCHR will follow and analyse the human rights situations from Headquarters, proposing adequate courses of action to the High Commissioner and UN human rights mechanisms; assist UN Country Team efforts to integrate human rights into their activities; support activities of the UN human rights mechanisms, including visits by special procedures, and examinations of States parties’ reports by treaty bodies; support visits to the region by the High Commissioner and other UN officials; and reinforce cooperation with the inter-American and other regional human rights mechanisms.