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Key Latin American human rights group faces serious funding crisis Key Latin American human rights group faces serious funding crisis
(2 months later)
In late 2014, the Mexican government asked a group of experts from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to provide technical assistance with its investigation into an attack on 43 students from the Ayotzinapa teacher training school. The experts delivered two devastating reports, which dismantled the government’s official investigation – especially its insistence that the students’ bodies had been burned in a funeral pyre.In late 2014, the Mexican government asked a group of experts from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to provide technical assistance with its investigation into an attack on 43 students from the Ayotzinapa teacher training school. The experts delivered two devastating reports, which dismantled the government’s official investigation – especially its insistence that the students’ bodies had been burned in a funeral pyre.
For families of the students – farmers from impoverished Guerrero state – the IACHR’s intervention offered the opportunity to keep alive a case causing enormous embarrassment for the image-conscious government. The IACHR also “provided a complete picture of the shortcomings in the Mexican justice system”, says Santiago Aguirre, deputy director of the Miguel Agustin Pro Juarez Human Rights Centre, which worked with the students’ families.For families of the students – farmers from impoverished Guerrero state – the IACHR’s intervention offered the opportunity to keep alive a case causing enormous embarrassment for the image-conscious government. The IACHR also “provided a complete picture of the shortcomings in the Mexican justice system”, says Santiago Aguirre, deputy director of the Miguel Agustin Pro Juarez Human Rights Centre, which worked with the students’ families.
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The government thanked the experts for their work, though it disputed many of the findings, and clung to the fire theory. Government officials responsible for the case skipped the report’s official presentation. The IACHR experts said they were subjected to a smear campaign.The government thanked the experts for their work, though it disputed many of the findings, and clung to the fire theory. Government officials responsible for the case skipped the report’s official presentation. The IACHR experts said they were subjected to a smear campaign.
Since then, Mexico has not contributed to the IACHR, according to the commission’s list of donors (pdf).Since then, Mexico has not contributed to the IACHR, according to the commission’s list of donors (pdf).
The government disputes any suggestions of non-support or that it is seeking retribution, and says it paid $2m (£1.4m) for the experts’ work on the Ayotzinapa case.The government disputes any suggestions of non-support or that it is seeking retribution, and says it paid $2m (£1.4m) for the experts’ work on the Ayotzinapa case.
But Mexico is not the only country in South America and the Caribbean apparently wavering in its support for the IACHR, which has confronted governments often reluctant to address human rights issues and increasingly uncomfortable with scrutiny of press freedom, political violence and infringements on indigenous people’s land.But Mexico is not the only country in South America and the Caribbean apparently wavering in its support for the IACHR, which has confronted governments often reluctant to address human rights issues and increasingly uncomfortable with scrutiny of press freedom, political violence and infringements on indigenous people’s land.
The commission is now facing a financial crisis that could result in the loss of 40% of its personnel by the end of July, which would have a devastating impact on its work.The commission is now facing a financial crisis that could result in the loss of 40% of its personnel by the end of July, which would have a devastating impact on its work.
As well as leaving a skeleton staff to handle more than 6,000 petitions, the IACHR faces the prospect of having to halt investigations; not having its staff appear before the inter-American court of human rights; postponing country visits and cancelling hearings in which activists and victims have a voice and countries are called to account. It would also have to disband a team evaluating and granting protective measures for activists coming under threat.As well as leaving a skeleton staff to handle more than 6,000 petitions, the IACHR faces the prospect of having to halt investigations; not having its staff appear before the inter-American court of human rights; postponing country visits and cancelling hearings in which activists and victims have a voice and countries are called to account. It would also have to disband a team evaluating and granting protective measures for activists coming under threat.
Related: Mexican journalist shot dead, the sixth in 2016
The commission’s future is expected to be discussed this week at the general assembly of the Organisation of American States (OAS) in Santo Domingo. The IACHR is an independent body of the OAS.The commission’s future is expected to be discussed this week at the general assembly of the Organisation of American States (OAS) in Santo Domingo. The IACHR is an independent body of the OAS.
Last month, the UN high commissioner for human rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, expressed concern at the funding crisis and urged countries to commit resources.Last month, the UN high commissioner for human rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, expressed concern at the funding crisis and urged countries to commit resources.
“What’s at stake is the functioning of the commission,” said the IACHR president, James Cavallaro. “The whole machine of international human rights: increasing visibility, making things international, providing a forum for victims, all that goes away.”“What’s at stake is the functioning of the commission,” said the IACHR president, James Cavallaro. “The whole machine of international human rights: increasing visibility, making things international, providing a forum for victims, all that goes away.”
Inadequate funding is not a new issue for the commission. It operates on an annual budget of $10m-12m (£7m-8.5m) – smaller than commissions in Europe and Africa.Inadequate funding is not a new issue for the commission. It operates on an annual budget of $10m-12m (£7m-8.5m) – smaller than commissions in Europe and Africa.
Roughly half of its funding comes from the OAS operating budget; voluntary contributions from OAS members and observer states make up the rest.Roughly half of its funding comes from the OAS operating budget; voluntary contributions from OAS members and observer states make up the rest.
Contributions from member states in Latin America amounted to only $199,600 (£141,000) last year – a sum surpassed by Denmark, which has donated $1.7m since 2013. Latin American countries gave $13.7m to the international criminal court in 2015, even though no cases from the region were pending, according to the IACHR.Contributions from member states in Latin America amounted to only $199,600 (£141,000) last year – a sum surpassed by Denmark, which has donated $1.7m since 2013. Latin American countries gave $13.7m to the international criminal court in 2015, even though no cases from the region were pending, according to the IACHR.
The US, which has not ratified the American convention on human rights, has given $2m annually, on average over the last four years, while Canada, not a signatory to the convention, has donated in the past, although it has not committed funds for 2016.The US, which has not ratified the American convention on human rights, has given $2m annually, on average over the last four years, while Canada, not a signatory to the convention, has donated in the past, although it has not committed funds for 2016.
Related: How Mexico's attack on human rights undercut an international investigation
Observers such as Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands and the EU have been filling the funding void, but the refugee crisis has prompted many European countries to focus funding closer to home.Observers such as Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands and the EU have been filling the funding void, but the refugee crisis has prompted many European countries to focus funding closer to home.
“The truth is that only a handful of countries in the region are seriously committed to having a strong commission,” says José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch.“The truth is that only a handful of countries in the region are seriously committed to having a strong commission,” says José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch.
“Many others would appear to prefer a commission that looks more like a human rights thinktank, instead of an effective international human rights mechanism that is able to denounce abuses wherever it sees them and protect the victims.”“Many others would appear to prefer a commission that looks more like a human rights thinktank, instead of an effective international human rights mechanism that is able to denounce abuses wherever it sees them and protect the victims.”
Some countries such as Brazil face budget crises. But even before its recent recession, in 2011 Brazil withdrew funding and recalled its ambassador to the OAS after the IACHR requested the government delay the licensing process for the Belo Monte dam to allow consultations with indigenous groups.Some countries such as Brazil face budget crises. But even before its recent recession, in 2011 Brazil withdrew funding and recalled its ambassador to the OAS after the IACHR requested the government delay the licensing process for the Belo Monte dam to allow consultations with indigenous groups.
The Brazilian reaction “opened the way to much harsher criticism from countries like Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela and Colombia”, says Maurício Santoro, international relations professor at Rio de Janeiro State University. Criticism of the commission “cuts across right and left”, he adds.The Brazilian reaction “opened the way to much harsher criticism from countries like Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela and Colombia”, says Maurício Santoro, international relations professor at Rio de Janeiro State University. Criticism of the commission “cuts across right and left”, he adds.
In Mexico, a source familiar with the commission said the government was working to dissuade others from funding the commission.In Mexico, a source familiar with the commission said the government was working to dissuade others from funding the commission.
“Of course there is a relationship between the work of the [experts] and what was said and suddenly they’re not giving enough money,” the source said. “It’s not that they’re just not giving enough money. They’re working behind the scenes to make sure that others don’t give money.”“Of course there is a relationship between the work of the [experts] and what was said and suddenly they’re not giving enough money,” the source said. “It’s not that they’re just not giving enough money. They’re working behind the scenes to make sure that others don’t give money.”