PETITION FORM 

Instructions: The following petition form has been prepared to facilitate the work of human rights organizations and others in assisting alleged victims and their family members in the presentation of petitions to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

Please read the instructions and this form carefully before proceeding. It is very important that as much factual detail be supplied as possible. Of course, in cases of emergency, where the alleged victim's life or health might be in danger, do not hesitate to file the petition even if certain non-essential information may be lacking. Petitions may be filed either by mail or facsimile. Incomplete petitions may be supplemented at a later time. In the event that particular information is simply not available or does not exist, write "not applicable" or "none" as appropriate.

Petitions may only be brought against member states of the Organization of American States and should be drafted in a simple and straightforward manner, free of political rhetoric.

Petitions should be sent to:

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
1889 F Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006
Telephone number: (202) 458-6002
Fax number: (202) 458-3992
E-mail:  cidhoea@oas.org

The Commission's Rules of Procedure states:

Article 28.  Requirements for the Consideration of Petitions

       Petitions addressed to the Commission shall contain the following information:

a.       the name, nationality and signature of the person or persons making the denunciation; or in cases where the petitioner is a nongovernmental entity, the name and signature of its legal representative(s);  

b.       whether the petitioner wishes that his or her identity be withheld from the State;

c.       the address for receiving correspondence from the Commission and, if available, a telephone number, facsimile number, and email address;

d.       an account of the act or situation that is denounced, specifying the place and date of the alleged violations;

e.       if possible, the name of the victim and of any public authority who has taken cognizance of the fact or situation alleged;

f.       the State the petitioner considers responsible, by act or omission, for the violation of any of the human rights recognized in the American Convention on Human Rights and other applicable instruments, even if no specific reference is made to the article(s) alleged to have been violated;  

g.       compliance with the time period provided for in Article 32 of these Rules of Procedure;

h.       any steps taken to exhaust domestic remedies, or the impossibility of doing so as provided in Article 31 of these Rules of Procedure; and,

i.        an indication of whether the complaint has been submitted to another international settlement proceeding as provided in Article 33 of these Rules of Procedure.