Practical Matters for Consideration in the Establishment of a Regional Human Rights Mechanism: Lessons from the Inter-American Experience

Abstract

This article suggests models and considerations for establishing regional human rights mechanisms based on the experience of the Inter-American human rights system. The proposed structure is limited to experience gained under one system, and local conditions may require some adaptation and deviation from the structure proposed. No claim is made that the experiences of human rights regimes in other parts of the world are irrelevant or that extrapolation from these would not enhance particular regional mechanisms. But some of the challenges faced in the Inter-American system have been especially daunting, so its solutions and achievements may be particularly useful for venues that seem resistant to inter- governmental human rights regimes. It is hoped that this article will initiate further inquiry into how the experiences of different regional human rights systems can be drawn upon to inform the establishment of new human rights mechanisms in regions and sub-regions where they do not yet exist.