o.       Total number of hearings held by year 

During its regular sessions, the Inter-American Commission held hearings on individual cases in order to receive information, evidence, and/or arguments regarding admissibility, merits, and fulfillment of obligations or in order to contribute to the friendly settlement of a case.  The IACHR also held hearings in order to receive information on the general human rights situation in member states.  The preceding graph reflects a considerable increase in the number of hearings in relation to the three preceding years.