ABSTRACT
The Americas has one of the most interesting yet contested regional human rights systems in the world: the Inter-American System of Human Rights (IASHR). The IASHR has two key institutions: the Commission and the Court. The chapter introduces the Organisation of American States (OAS); the key players of the System, its aims and powers. The OAS has promoted the enactment and ratification of several human rights treaties that complement the American Convention and the Declaration. The chapter looks at its achievements and challenges over the period of more than 50 years since the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights was created, and more than 30 years since the first judges of the Inter-American Court were appointed. A key challenge of the System is how to respond to new human rights violations that take place in a context of inequality, poverty, discrimination and/or authoritarianism.
