58 2011 Quebec Journal of International Law (Special Edition) Along with the European and African systems, the Inter-American system of human rights is one of the three principal regional human rights protection mechanisms. It was established by the Organization of American States (OAS) and, over the past decades, has undergone considerable changes. Given the way it was conceived, the system as such is atypical. It is based on two principal instruments: the

American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man (1948) 1 and the American Convention on Human Rights (1969). 2 In addition, it is institutionally dual: member States’ respect for their human rights obligations is monitored by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (which has its seat in Washington, D. C.) and by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (based in San José, Costa Rica). The Inter-American system is the result of a form of institutional design in which provisional arrangements have been permanently maintained due to political considerations and regional strategies. 3

Adopted in 1969, the American Convention on Human Rights has, to date, been ratified by 25 of the 35 States which make up the OAS. However, Trinidad and Tobago’s denunciation of the treaty reduced the number of member States to 24.4 The

1OAS, General Assembly, 3rd Sess., American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man, OR OEA/ AG/ RES. 1591 (XXVIII-O/ 98) (1998) [ Declaration or American Declaration].

2American Convention on Human Rights, 22 November 1969, O. A. S. T. S. No. 36 (entered into force 27 August 1978) [ Convention or American Convention].

3On the Inter-American system, see generally H. Faundez Ledesma, The Inter-American System for the Protection of Human Right :, Institutional and Procedural Aspects (San Jose : Inter-American Institute of Human Rights, 2007) ; David Harris & Stephen Livingstone, eds., The Inter-American System of Human Rights (Oxford : Clarendon Press, 1998) ; Scott Davidson, The Inter-American Human Rights System (Dartmouth : Aldershot, 1997) ; A. A. Cançado Trindade, “ El Sistema Interamericano de Protección de los Derechos Humanos (1948-1995) : Evolución, Estado Actual y Perspectivas”, in D. Bardonnet & A. A. Cançado Trindade, eds., Derecho Internacional y Derechos Humanos (San Jose : Inter-American Institute of Human Rights, 1996) 47 ; Thomas Buergenthal & Dinah Shelton,

Protecting Human Rights in the Americas : Cases and Materials (Kehl : Engel, 1995) ; C. Medina Quiroga, The Battle of Human Rights : Gross Systematic Violations and the Inter-American System

(The Hague : Kluwer, 1988) ; Thomas Buergenthal & Robert Norris, Human Rights : The Inter-American System (Dobbs Ferry : Oceana, 1982). See also A. A. Cançado Trindade, “ Le système inter-américain de protection des droits de l''homme : état actuel et perspectives d''évolution à l''aube du XXIème siècle” (2000) 46 A. F. D. I. 547 ; David Harris, “ Regional Protection of Human Rights : The Inter-American Achievement”, in David Harris & Stephen Livingstone, eds., The Inter-American System of Human Rights (Oxford : Clarendon Press, 1998) 1 ; A. A. Cançado Trindade, “ Current State and Perspectives of the Inter-American System of Human Rights Protection at the Dawn of the New Century”, (2000) 8 Tul. J. Int’l & Comp. L. 5 ; A. A. Cançado Trindade, The Evolution of the Organization of American States (OAS) System of Human Rights Protection : An Appraisal, (1982) 26 German Yearbook of International Law 498. See also the following chapters : Thomas Buergenthal, Dinah Shelton & David Stewart, International Human Rights in a Nutshell (St-Paul : Westgroup, 2004) at 221 ; Henry Steiner, Philip Alston & Ryan Goodman, International Human Rights in Context : Law, Politics, Morals (Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2007) at 1020.

4N. Parassran Concepcion, “ The Legal Implications of Trinidad & Tobago''s Withdrawal from the American Convention on Human Rights”, (2001) 18 Am. U. Int’L L. Rev. 847, at 849. See also

Hilaire, Constantine and Benjamin et al. Case (Trinidad and Tobago) (2002), Inter-Am. Ct. H. R. (Ser. C) No. 94, Annual Report of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights : 2002,

OEA/ Ser. L/ V/ III. 57/ doc. 5 (2003) 20 [ Hilaire, Constantine and Benjamin et al. Case] ; Caesar Case (Trinidad and Tobago) (2005), Inter-Am. Ct. H. R. (Ser. C) No. 123, Annual Report of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights : 2002, at 10 online : Inter-Am. Ct. H. R. < http :// www. corteidh. or. cr/ docs/ informes/ Inf% 20anua% 202005% 20diag% 20ingles. indd. pdf> [ Caesar Case].