What a spectacle LIII General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington DC! Amid all the noise and low-profile conspiracies, it was decided to vote and appoint four new commissioners for the prestigious Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), that super important body that watches over rights in the region. But oh surprise! The process carried out by member countries, with the help of a somewhat apathetic Assembly, has left a bitter-sweet taste for us, who yearn for more transparency and internal democratic processes in the selection and appointment of candidates. .

Not to go too far, it turns out that Ecuador woke up one morning to the announcement of the candidacy of Pier Paolo Pigozzi Sandoval, an Ecuadorian lawyer who lives in Chile and who supposedly has extensive experience in human rights! What a joke! Pigozzi received only 9 votes, a third of the 27 received by the most popular candidate. And do you know why? Since civil society organizations defend and promote rights on the ground, they knew who the Ecuadorian candidate was chosen by presidential will.

It turned out that Pigozzi runs the organization Dignidad y Derecho, from where he openly fought against key decisions for the protection of rights in Ecuador. A true supporter of equality! He was and continues to be against equal marriage, the decriminalization of abortion and even the protection of animals. His election would be a major step backwards in terms of equal rights and a clear challenge to the progress we have made in the region. Fortunately, the majority of OAS member states opted for the second course.

The poor number of votes that Pigozzi received makes us think. A clear and strong message is being sent to the governments of member states: we need candidate selection and nomination processes that are participatory and transparent! Pigozzi’s rejection is a clear sign that many social sectors in the hemisphere are unwilling to tolerate anti-rights attitudes. At least something positive!

Now, on the other hand, we cannot avoid concerns about the election of the ultraconservative candidate from Guatemala, Stuart Ralón Orellana. His appointment is a joke to all progressives and human rights defenders. What message are we sending by electing commissioners with ultra-conservative views that could threaten the progress in human rights that civil society organizations and victims have fought so hard for? That’s not all, because in the end the re-elected commissioner represents the government that destroyed democratic institutions in Guatemala.

All these events produced a legitimate social demand: we want more transparency and internal democracy in the determination of candidates for the IACHR by the OAS member states! We must establish solid mechanisms that will enable fair selection, based on the elementary principles of citizen participation and social control. Non-transparency and particular decisions made to the detriment of the protection of fundamental rights damage the credibility of the OAS and the IACHR as guarantors of human rights in the region.

The election of IACHR Commissioners is not an insignificant matter. These women and men have a responsibility to ensure respect for human rights in each of our countries. Their work is crucial for ensuring justice, equality and respect for human dignity. This is why citizens and civil society must be vigilant and demand active participation in the processes of selecting and appointing candidates. We must promote an open and plural dialogue, where all relevant voices are heard and where unfettered respect for rights is central to the discussion.

The LIII General Assembly of the OAD clearly indicated the challenges we still face in terms of rights in Latin America. The election of the IACHR commissioner is just one example of the importance of greater internal democracy and transparency in the processes of applying to international organizations. Now citizens and civil society have taken center stage and no longer want to remain silent. The fight for human rights cannot be overshadowed by particular interests! We must be guided by universal principles that define us as a society. It’s that simple! (OR)