AMERICAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
"PACT OF SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA"

(Signed at San José, Costa Rica, 22 November 1969, at the
Inter-American Specialized Conference on Human Rights)

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 18 July 1978, in accordance with Article 74.2 of the Convention.

DEPOSITORY: OAS General Secretariat (Original instrument and ratifications).

TEXT: OAS, Treaty Series, Nº 36.

UN REGISTRATION: 27 August 1979, Nº 17955

SIGNATORY COUNTRIES DATE OF DEPOSIT OF RATIFICATION DATE OF ACCEPTANCE OF THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURT

1/Argentina*

5 September 1984 a/

5 September 1984

2/Barbados

27 November 1982 b/

4 June 2000

Bolivia

19 July 1979 c, w

27 July 1993

Brazil

25 September 1992 t/

10 December 1998

3/Chile*

21 August 1990 q/

21 August 1990

Colombia*

31 July 1973 n/

21 June 1985

Costa Rica*

8 April 1970 d/

2 July 1980

Dominica

11 June 1993

 

4/Dominican Republic

19 April 1978 z/

25 March 1999

5/Ecuador*

28 December 1977 e/

24 July 1984

El Salvador

23 June 1978 f, x/

6 June 1995

6/Grenada

18 July 1978

 

Guatemala

25 May 1978 g/

9 March 1987

Haiti

27 September 1977 c/, y/

20 March 1998

Honduras

8 September 1977 h/

9 September 1981

7/Jamaica*

7 August 1978 i/

 

Mexico

2 April 1982 c, j/

16 December 1998

Nicaragua

25 September 1979 r/

12 February 1991

Panama

22 June 1978 p/

9 May 1990

Paraguay

24 August 1989 u/

26 March 1993

8/Peru*

28 July 1978 k/

21 January 1981

Suriname

12 November 1987 o/

12 November 1987

Trinidad y Tobago 

28 May 1991s/

 28 May 1991

9/United States

 

 

10/Uruguay*

19 April 1985 l/

19 April 1985

Venezuela*

9 August 1977 m/

24 June 1981

* States that have accepted the competence of the Inter-American Court on Human Rights to receive and examine communications in which a State Party alleges that another State Party has violated the human rights set forth in the American Convention:  Argentina (September 5, 1984); Chile (August 21, 1990); Colombia (June 21, 1985); Costa Rica (July 2, 1980); Ecuador (August 13, 1984); Jamaica (August 7, 1978); Peru (January 21, 1981); Uruguay (April 19, 1985) and Venezuela (August 9, 1977).

All States listed herein signed the Convention on 22 November 1969, with the exception of those indicated in the notes.

1. Argentina

Signed 2 February 1984 at the OAS General Secretariat.

2. Barbados

Signed 20 June 1978 at the OAS General Secretariat.

3. Chile:

(Declaration made at the time of signature)

The Delegation of Chile signs this Convention, subject to its subsequent parliamentary approval and ratification, in accordance with the constitutional rules in force. Such parliamentary approval was later granted and the instrument of ratification was deposited with the General Secretariat of the OAS.

4. Dominican Republic:

Signed 7 September 1977 at the OAS General Secretariat with the following declaration:

The Dominican Republic, upon signing the American Convention on Human Rights, aspires that the principle pertaining to the abolition of the death penalty shall become purely and simply that, with general application throughout the states of the American region, and likewise maintains the observations and comments made on the aforementioned Draft Convention which it distributed to the delegations to the Council of the Organization of American States on 20 June 1969.

5. Ecuador:

(Declaration made at the time of signature)

The Delegation of Ecuador has the honor of signing the American Convention on Human Rights. It does not believe that it is necessary to make any specific reservation at this time, without prejudice to the general power set forth in the Convention itself that leaves the governments free to ratify it or not.

6. Grenada

Signed 14 July 1978 at the OAS General Secretariat.

7. Jamaica

Signed 16 September 1977 at the OAS General Secretariat.

8. Peru

Signed 27 July 1977 at the OAS General Secretariat.

9. United States

Signed 1 June 1977 at the OAS General Secretariat.

10. Uruguay:

(Reservation made at the time of signature)

Article 80.2 of the Constitution of Uruguay provides that a person's citizenship is suspended if the person is "under indictment on a criminal charge which may result in a penitentiary sentence." Such a restriction on the exercise of the rights recognized in Article 23 of the Convention is not envisaged among the circumstances provided for in Article 23, paragraph 2, for which reason the Delegation of Uruguay expresses a reservation on this matter.


a. Argentina:

(Reservation and interpretative declarations made at the time of ratification)

The instrument of ratification was received at the General Secretariat of the OAS on 5 September 1984 with a reservation and interpretative declarations. The notification procedure of the reservation was taken in conformity with the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties signed on 23 May 1969.

The texts of the above-mentioned reservation and of the interpretative declarations are the following:

I. Reservation:

Article 21 is subject to the following reservation: "The Argentine Government establishes that questions relating to the Government's economic policy shall not be subject to review by an international tribunal. Neither shall it consider reviewable anything the national courts may determine to be matters of 'public utility' and 'social interest', nor anything they may understand to be 'fair compensation'".

II. Interpretative Statements:

Article 5, paragraph 3, shall be interpreted to mean that a punishment shall not be applied to any person other than the criminal, that is, that there shall be no vicarious criminal punishment.

Article 7, paragraph 7, shall be interpreted to mean that the prohibition against "detention for debt" does not involve prohibiting the state from basing punishment on default of certain debts, when the punishment is not imposed for default itself but rather for a prior independent, illegal, punishable act.

Article 10 shall be interpreted to mean that the "miscarriage of justice" has been established by a national court.

Recognition of Competence:

In the instrument of ratification dated 14 August 1984 and deposited with the General Secretariat of the OAS on 5 September 1984, the Government of Argentina recognizes the competence of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and of the jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. This recognition is for an indeterminate period and on condition of reciprocity on all cases related to the interpretation or application of the Convention cited, with the partial reservation and bearing in mind the interpretative statements contained in the Instrument of Ratification.

b. Barbados:

(Reservations made at the time of ratification)

The instrument of ratification was received at the General Secretariat of the OAS on 5 November 1981, with reservations. Notification of the reservations submitted was given in conformity with the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, signed on 23 May 1969. The twelve-month period from the notification of said reservations expired on 26 November 1982, without any objection being raised to the reservations.

The text of the reservations with respect to Articles 4(4), 4(5) and 8(2)(e), is the following:

In respect of 4(4) the Criminal Code of Barbados provides for death by hanging as a penalty for murder and treason. The Government is at present reviewing the whole matter of the death penalty which is only rarely inflicted but wishes to enter a reservation on this point in as much as treason in certain circumstances might be regarded as a political offence and falling within the terms of section 4(4).

In respect of 4(5) while the youth or old age of an offender may be matters which the Privy Council, the highest Court of Appeal, might take into account in considering whether the sentence of death should be carried out, persons of 16 years and over, or over 70 years of age, may be executed under Barbadian law.

In respect of 8(2)(e) Barbadian law does not provide, as a minimum guarantee in criminal proceeding, any inalienable right to be assisted by counsel provided by the state. Legal aid is provided for certain scheduled offences such as homicide and rape.

c. Bolivia, Haiti and Mexico:

Accession.

d. Costa Rica:

Recognition of Competence:

Deposited on 2 July 1980 at the General Secretariat of the OAS an instrument recognizing the competence of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, in accordance with Articles 45 and 62 of the Convention.

e. Ecuador:

Recognition of Competence:

On 24 July 1984 recognized the applicability of Articles 45 and 62 of the American Convention on Human Rights, by Decree Nº 2768 of 24 July 1984, published in the Registro Oficial Nº 795 of said month and year. In addition, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador made the following declaration on 30 July 1984, in conformity with Articles 45(4) and 62(2) of the above-mentioned Convention:

In keeping with the provisions of Article 45, paragraph 1, of the American Convention on Human Rights--Pact of San José, Costa Rica--(ratified by Ecuador on 21 October 1977, and in force since 27 October 1977), the Government of Ecuador recognizes the competence of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to receive and examine communications in which a state party alleges that another state party has committed a violation of the human rights set forth in the Convention, under the terms provided for in paragraph 2 of that Article.

This recognition of competence is to be valid for an indefinite time and on condition of reciprocity.

As provided in Article 62, paragraph 1, of the Convention in reference, the Government of Ecuador declares that it recognizes as binding, ipso facto, and not requiring special agreement, the jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on all matters relating to the interpretation or application of the Convention.

This recognition of jurisdiction is for an indeterminate period and on condition of reciprocity. The Ecuadorian State reserves the right to withdraw its recognition of this competence and this jurisdiction whenever it may deem it advisable to do so.

f. El Salvador:

(Declaration and reservations made at the time of ratification)

The present Convention is ratified, its provisions being interpreted to mean that the Inter-American Court of Human Rights shall have jurisdiction to hear any case that can be submitted to it, either by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights or by any state party, provided that the State of El Salvador, as a party to the case, recognizes or has recognized such jurisdiction, by any of the means and under the arrangements indicated in the Convention.

The American Convention on Human Rights, known as the "Pact of San José, Costa Rica", signed at San José, Costa Rica, on 22 November 1969, composed of a preamble and eighty-two articles, approved by the Executive Branch in the Field of Foreign Affairs by Agreement 405, dated June 14 of the current year, is hereby ratified, with the reservation that such ratification is understood without prejudice to those provisions of the Convention that might be in conflict with express precepts of the Political Constitution of the Republic.

The instrument of ratification was received at the General Secretariat of the OAS on 23 June 1978 with a reservation and a declaration. The notification procedure of the reservation was taken in conformity with the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties signed on 23 May 1969.

g. Guatemala:

(Reservation made at the time of ratification)

The Government of the Republic of Guatemala ratifies the American Convention on Human Rights, signed at San José, Costa Rica, on 22 November 1969, with a reservation as to Article 4, paragraph 4 thereof, since the Constitution of the Republic of Guatemala, in its Article 54, only excludes the application of the death penalty to political crimes, but not to common crimes related to political crimes.

The instrument of ratification was received at the General Secretariat of the OAS on 25 May 1978 with a reservation. The notification procedure of the reservation was taken in conformity with the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties signed on 23 May 1969.

Withdrawal of Guatemala's reservation:

The Government of Guatemala, by Government Agreement Nº 281-86, dated 20 May 1986, has withdrawn the above-mentioned reservation, which was included in its instrument of ratification dated 27 April 1978, considering that it is no longer supported by the Constitution in the light of the new legal system in force. The withdrawal of the reservation will become effective as of 12 August 1986, in conformity with Article 22 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties of 1969, in application of Article 75 of the American Convention on Human Rights.

Recognition of Competence:

On 9 March 1987, presented at the General Secretariat of the OAS, the Government Agreement Nº 123-87, dated 20 February 1987, of the Republic of Guatemala, by which it recognizes the jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, in the following terms:

"(Article 1) To declare that it recognizes as binding, ipso facto, and not requiring special agreement, the jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on all matters relating to the interpretation or application of the American Convention on Human Rights."

"(Article 2) To accept the competence of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights for an indefinite period of time, such competence being general in nature, under terms of reciprocity and with the reservation that cases in which the competence of the Court is recognized are exclusively those that shall have taken place after the date that this declaration is presented to the Secretary General of the Organization of American States."

h. Honduras:

Recognition of Competence:

On 9 September 1981, presented at the General Secretariat of the OAS, an instrument recognizing the jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in accordance with Article 62 of the Convention.

i. Jamaica:

Recognition of Competence:

The instrument of ratification, dated 19 July 1978, states, in conformity with Article 45, paragraph 1 of the Convention, that the Government of Jamaica recognizes the competence of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to receive and examine communications in which a State Party alleges that another State Party has committed a violation of a human right set forth in this Convention.

j. Mexico:

(Declarations and reservation made at the time of ratification)

The instrument of accession was received at the General Secretariat of the OAS on 24 March 1981, with two interpretative declarations and one reservation. Notification of the reservation submitted was given in conformity with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, signed on 23 May 1969. The twelve-month period from the notification of said reservation expired on 2 April 1982, without any objection being raised to the reservation.

The texts of the interpretative declarations and the reservation are the following:

Interpretative Declarations:

With respect to Article 4, paragraph 1, the Government of Mexico considers that the expression "in general" does not constitute an obligation to adopt, or keep in force, legislation to protect life "from the moment of conception," since this matter falls within the domain reserved to the States.

Furthermore, the Government of Mexico believes that the limitation established by the Mexican Constitution to the effect that all public acts of religious worship must be performed inside places of public worship, conforms to the limitations set forth in Article 12, paragraph 3.

Reservation:

The Government of Mexico makes express reservation to Article 23, paragraph 2, since the Mexican Constitution provides, in Article 130, that ministers of denominations shall not have an active or passive vote, nor the right to associate for political purposes.

DECLARATION FOR RECOGNITION OF THE JURISDICTION OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS

1.    The United States of Mexico recognizes as binding ipso facto the adjudicatory jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on matters relating to the interpretation or application of the American Convention on Human Rights, in accordance with article 62.1 of the same, with the exception of cases derived from application of article 33 of the Political Constitution of the United States of Mexico

2.    Acceptance of the adjudicatory jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights shall only be applicable to facts or juridical acts subsequent to the date of deposit of this declaration, and shall not therefore apply retroactively.

3.    Acceptance of the adjudicatory jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights is of a general nature and shall continue in force for one year after the date of which the United States of Mexico gives notice it has denounced it.

k. Peru:

Recognition of Competence:

On 21 January 1981, presented at the General Secretariat of the OAS an instrument recognizing the competence of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, in accordance with Articles 45 and 62 of the Convention.

l. Uruguay:

(Reservation made at the time of ratification)

With the reservation made at the time of signature. Notification of this reservation was given in conformity with the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, signed on 23 May 1969.

Recognition of Competence:

In the instrument of ratification dated 26 March 1985 and deposited with the General Secretariat of the OAS on 19 April 1985, the Government of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay declares that it recognizes the competence of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights for an indefinite period and of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on all matters relating to the interpretation or application of this Convention, on the condition of reciprocity, in accordance with Articles 45.3 and 62.2 of the Convention.

m. Venezuela:

(Reservation and declaration made at the time of ratification)

Article 60, paragraph 5 of the Constitution of the Republic of Venezuela establishes that: No one may be convicted in a criminal trial without first having been personally notified of the charges and heard in the manner prescribed by law. Persons accused of an offense against the res publica may be tried in absentia, with the guarantees and in the manner prescribed by law. Such a possibility is not provided for in Article 8, paragraph 1 of the Convention, and for this reason Venezuela formulates the corresponding reservations, and,

DECLARES: That, in accordance with the provisions of Article 45, paragraph 1 of the Convention, the Government of the Republic of Venezuela recognizes the competence of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to receive and examine communications in which a State Party alleges that another State Party has committed violations of human rights set forth in that Convention, in the terms stipulated in paragraph 2 of that article. This recognition of competence is made for an indefinite period of time.

The instrument of ratification was received at the General Secretariat of the OAS on 9 August 1977 with a reservation and a declaration. The notification procedure of the reservation was taken in conformity with the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties signed on 23 May 1969.

Recognition of Competence:

On 9 August 1977 recognized the competence of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and on 24 June 1981 recognized the jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, in accordance with Articles 45 and 62 of the Convention, respectively.

n. Colombia:

Recognition of Competence:

On 21 June 1985 presented an instrument of acceptance by which recognizes the competence of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights for an indefinite time, on the condition of strict reciprocity and nonretroactivity, for cases involving the interpretation or application of the Convention, and reserves the right to withdraw its recognition of competence should it deem this advisable. The same instrument recognizes the jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, for an indefinite time, on the condition of reciprocity and nonretroactivity, for cases involving the interpretation or application of the Convention, and reserves the right to withdraw its recognition of competence should it deem this advisable.

o. Suriname:

Accession.

Recognition of Competence:

On 12 November 1987, presented at the General Secretariat of the OAS, an instrument recognizing the jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in accordance with Article 62 of the Convention.

p. Panama:

On May 9, 1990, presented at the General Secretariat of the OAS, an instrument, dated February 20, 1990, by which it declares that the Government of the Republic of Panama recognizes as binding, ipso facto, the jurisdiction of the Court on all matters relating to the interpretation or application of the American Convention on Human Rights.

q. Chile:

(Reservations made at the time of ratification)

a. The Government of Chile declares that it recognizes, for an indefinite period of time and on the condition of reciprocity, the competence of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to receive and examine communications in which a State Party alleges that another State Party has committed a violation of the human rights established in the American Convention on Human Rights, as provided for in Article 45 of the Convention.

b. The Government of Chile declares that it recognizes as legally binding the obligatory jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in cases dealing with the interpretation and application of this Convention pursuant to Article 62.

On formulating said declarations, the Government of Chile notes that the recognition of jurisdiction it has accepted refers to situations occurring subsequent to the date of deposit of this instrument of ratification, or, in any event, to circumstances which arose after March 11, 1990. Likewise the Government of Chile, on accepting the competence of the Inter-American Commission and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights declares that these organs, in applying Article 21(2) of the Convention, shall refrain from judgments concerning the concept of public use or social interest cited in cases involving the expropriation of an individual's property.

r. Nicaragua:

Recognition of Competence:

On February 12, 1991, presented at the General Secretariat of the OAS, an instrument dated January 15, 1991, by which the Government of Nicaragua declares:

I. The Government of Nicaragua recognizes as binding as of right with no special convention the competence of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in all cases involving interpretation and application of the Inter-American Convention on Human Rights, "Pact of San Jose, Costa Rica," by virtue of Article 62(1) thereof.

II. The foregoing notwithstanding, the Government of Nicaragua states for the record that its acceptance of the competence of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights is given for an indefinite period, is general in character and grounded in reciprocity, and is subject to the reservation that this recognition of competence applies only to cases arising solely out of events subsequent to, and out of acts which began to be committed after, the date of deposit of this declaration with the Secretary General of the Organization of American States.

s. Trinidad and Tobago:

(Reservations made at the time of accession)

1. As regards Article 4(5) of the Convention the Government of The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago makes reservation in that under the laws of Trinidad and Tobago there is no prohibition against the carrying out a sentence of death on a person over seventy (70) years of age.

2. As regards Article 62 of the Convention, the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago recognizes the compulsory jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights as stated in said article only to such extent that recognition is consistent with the relevant sections of the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago; and provided that any judgment of the Court does not infringe, create or abolish any existing rights or duties of any private citizen.

On May 26, 1998, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago notified the Secretary General of the OAS of its denunciation of the American Convention. In accordance with Article 78(1) of the American Convention, the denunciation came into effect one year from the date of notification.

t. Brazil:

(Interpretative declaration made at the time of adhesion)

The Government of Brazil understands that Articles 43 and 48, (d) do not include the automatic right of on site visits and inspections by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, which will depend on the express consent of the State.

Recognition of Competence:

The Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil declares its recognition as binding, for an indefinite period of time, ipso jure, of the jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on all matters relating to the interpretation or application of the American Convention on Human Rights, according to Article 62 of that Convention, on the condition of reciprocity, and for mattres arising after the time of this declaration.

u. Paraguay

Recognition of Competence:

On March 11, 1993, Paraguay presented to the General Secretariat of the OAS an instrument recognizing the jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, "for an indefinite period of time and which should be interpreted in accordance with the principles of International Law in the sense that this recognition refers expressly to acts that occurred after the deposit of this instrument and only for cases in which there exists reciprocity."

v. Dominica

On June 3, 1993, during the twenty-third regular session, held in Managua, Nicaragua, the Commonwealth of Dominica ratified the American Convention on Human Rights, with the following reservations:

1) Article 5. This should not be read as prohibiting corporal punishment administered in accordance with the Corporal Punishment Act of Dominica or the Juvenile Offenders Punishment Act.

2) Article 4.4. Reservation is made in respect of the words "or related common crimes".

3) Article 8.21 (e). This Article shall not apply in respect of Dominica.

4) Article 21.2. This must be interpreted in the light of the provisions of the Constitution of Dominica and is not to be deemed to extend or limit the rights declared in the Constitution.

5) Article 27.1. This must also be read in the light of our Constitution and is not to be deemed to extend or limit the rights declared by the Constitution.

6) Article 62. The Commonwealth of Dominica does not recognize the jurisdiction of the Court.

w. Bolivia

Recognition of competence:

On July 27, 1993 the instrument of recognition of the competence of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights was deposited with the OAS General Secretariat, in accordance with Article 62 of the American Convention on Human Rights, with the following declaration:

I.    The constitutional Government of the Republic, in accordance with Article 59, paragraph 12 of the Political Constitution of the State, by law No. 1430 of February 11, provided for adoption and ratification of the American Convention on Human Rights "Pact of San Jose de Costa Rica," signed in San José, Costa Rica, on November 22, 1969 and also provided for recognition of the competence of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, in accordance with Articles 45 and 62 of the Convention.

II.    In exercise of the powers conferred upon it by Article 96, paragraph 2 of the Political Constitution of the State, this Instrument of Ratification of the American Convention on Human Rights "Pact of San Jose" is issued along with the recognition of the jurisdiction and competence of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights as unconditionally binding by law for an indefinite period, in accordance with article 62 of the Convention."

The Government of Bolivia in letter OAS/262/93, of July 22, 1993, made an interpretative declaration at the time of deposit of the instrument of recognition of the competence of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.  The text of the declaration is as follows:

"The Government of Bolivia declares that the norms of unconditionally and indeterminacy shall apply with strict observance to the Constitution of Bolivia, especially with respect to the principles of reciprocity, non retroactivity and judicial autonomy."

x. El Salvador

I. The Government of El Salvador declares as binding, ipso facto, and not requiring special agreement, the jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court on Human Rights, pursuant to the provisions of Article 62 of the American Convention on Human Rights or "Pact of San Jose."

II. The Government of El Salvador, in recognizing that jurisdiction, notes that its acceptance applies to an undetermined period, under the condition of reciprocity and with the reservation that the cases for which the jurisdiction is recognized comprise solely and exclusively legal events or acts that are subsequent, or legal events or acts whose start of execution were subsequent, to the deposit of this Declaration of Acceptance, and reserves the right to nullify the jurisdiction at whatever moment it considers opportune.

III. The Government of El Salvador recognizes the jurisdiction of the Court insofar as this recognition is compatible with the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of El Salvador.

y.    Haiti

Recognition of Competence:

Having seen the Constitution of the Republic of 1987; and

Having seen the law dated August 18, 1979, whereby the Republic of Haiti ratified the American Convention on Human Rights.

Hereby declare that we recognize as binding, ipso facto, and not requiring special agreement, the jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on all matters relating to the interpretation or application of the Convention.   This declaration has been issued for presentation to the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States, which shall transmit copies thereof to the other member states of the Organization and to the Secretary of the Court, pursuant to Article 62 of the Convention.

Attached to the present declaration is the law of August 18, 1979, whereby the Republic of Haiti ratified the American Convention on Human Rights, which was promulgated in the Official Journal of the Republic.

Done in the National Palace, in Port-au-Prince, on march 3, 1998, the 195th year of independence.

z.    Dominican Republic

Recognition of Competence:

The Government of the Dominican Republic presented at the General Secretariat of the OAS an instrument by which it declares that the Dominican Republic recognizes as binding ipso facto, the Jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court on Human Rights on all matters relating to the interpretation of the American Convention on Human Rights.  


ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE AMERICAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
IN THE AREA OF ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS
"PROTOCOL OF SAN SALVADOR"

(Signed at San Salvador, El Salvador on November 17, 1988, at
the eighteenth regular session of the General Assembly)

ENTRY INTO FORCE:   November 16, 1999
DEPOSITORY:            OAS General Secretariat (Original instrument and ratifications).
TEXT:                      OAS. Treaty Series, No. 69.
UN REGISTRATION:
 

SIGNATORY COUNTRIES

DEPOSIT OF RATIFICATION

Argentina

23 October 2003

Bolivia

 

Brazil

21 August 1996a/

Colombia

23 December 1997a/

Costa Rica

16 November 1999

3/Chile

 

Dominican Republic

 

Ecuador

25 March 1993

El Salvador

6 June 1995

Guatemala

5 October 2000

Haiti

 

Mexico

16 April 1999b/

Nicaragua

 

Panama

18 February 1993

Paraguay

3 June 1997

Peru

4 June 1995

Suriname

10 July 1990a/

2/Uruguay

2 April 1996

1/Venezuela

 

   

PROTOCOL TO THE AMERICAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY

(Approved at Asunción, Paraguay, on June 8, 1990, at the
twentieth regular session of the General Assembly)

ENTRY INTO FORCE:
DEPOSITORY:            OAS General Secretariat (Original instrument and ratifications).
TEXT:                      OAS, Treaty Series, No. 73
UN REGISTRATION:

SIGNATORY COUNTRIES

DEPOSIT OF RATIFICATION

7/Brazil

13 August 1996 a/

9/Chile

 

6/Costa Rica

26 May 1998

1/Ecuador

15 April 1998

2/Nicaragua

9 November 1999

5/Panama

28 August 1991

8/Paraguay

7 December 2000

4/Uruguay

4 April 1994

3/Venezuela

6 October 1993

   

INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION TO PREVENT AND PUNISH TORTURE

(Signed at Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, on December 9, 1985, at
the fifteenth regular session of the General Assembly)

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 28 February 1987, in accordance with Article 22 of the Convention.
DEPOSITARY:          OAS General Secretariat (Original instrument and ratifications).
TEXT:                    OAS, Treaty Series, No. 67.
UN REGISTRATION:

SIGNATORY COUNTRIES

DEPOSIT OF RATIFICATION

5/Argentina

31 March 1989

1/Bolivia

 

3/Brazil

20 July 1989

11/Chile

30 September 1988 b/

1/Colombia

19 January 1999

9/Costa Rica

8 February 2000

6/Dominican Republic

29 January 1987

7/Ecuador

9 November 1999

13/El Salvador

5 December 1994

10/Guatemala

29 January 1987 a/

8/Haiti

 

5/Honduras

 

4/Mexico

22 June 1987

12/Nicaragua

 

4/Panama

28 August 1991

15/Paraguay

9 March 1990

2/Peru

28 March 1991

14/Suriname

12 November 1987

1/Uruguay

10 November 1992

1/Venezuela

26 August 1991

 

INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION
ON FORCED DISAPPEARANCE OF PERSONS
 

(Adopted at Belém do Pará, on June 9, 1994, at the
twenty fourth regular session of the General Assembly)

 

ENTRY INTO FORCE:            March 28, 1996
DEPOSITORY:                     OAS General Secretariat (Original instrument and ratifications)

TEXT:              

UN REGISTRATION:                                                          

SIGNATORY COUNTRIES

DEPOSIT OF RATIFICATION

Argentina

28 February 1999

4/Bolivia

5 May 1999

Brazil

 

Chile  

 

1/Colombia

 

Costa Rica

2 June 1996

7/Ecuador

 

2/Guatemala

25 February 2000

Honduras

 

9/Mexico

9 April 2002

Nicaragua

 

5/Panama

28 February 1996

6/Paraguay

26 November 1996

8/Peru

13 February 2002

3/Uruguay

2 April 1996

Venezuela

19 January 1999

   

INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION ON THE PREVENTION,
PUNISHMENT, AND ERADICATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

"CONVENTION OF BELÉM DO PARÁ"

(Adopted in Belém do Pará, Brasil, on June 9, 1994,
at the twenty fourth regular session of the
General Assembly) 

ENTRY INTO FORCE:             March 5, 1995
DEPOSITARY:                      General Secretariat OAS (Original instrument and ratifications)

TEXT                     
UN REGISTRATION:                                                                     

SIGNATORY COUNTRIES

DEPOSIT OF RATIFICATION 

Antigua and Barbuda

19 November 1998a/

1/ Argentina

5 July 1996

15/Bahamas

16 May 1995

16/Barbados

16 May 1995a/

26/Belize

15 November 1996a/

2/ Bolivia

5 December 1994 

3/ Brazil

27 November 1995

5/ Chile

15 November 1996

27/Colombia

15 November 1996

4/ Costa Rica

12 July 1995

17/Dominica

6 June 1995

10/Dominican Republic

7 March 1996

18/Ecuador

15 September 1995

19/El Salvador

26 January 1996

    Grenada

15 February 2001

6/  Guatemala

4 April 1995

20/Guyana

28 February 1996

    Haiti

2 June 1997

7/ Honduras

12 June 1995

21/Mexico

12 November 1998

8/ Nicaragua

12 December 1995

9/ Panama

12 July 1995

22/Paraguay

18 October 1995

23/Peru

4 June 1996

11/Saint Kitts and Nevis

12 June 1995

24/Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

31 May 1996

12/Saint Lucia

4 April 1995

25/Trinidad and Tobago

8 May 1996

13/Uruguay

2 April 1996

14/Venezuela

3 February 1995

 

INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS
 
OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

 

(Adopted at Guatemala City, Guatemala on June 7, 1999,
at the twenty-ninth regular session of the General Assembly)
  

ENTRY INTO FORCE:          September 14, 2001
DEPOSITORY:                   OAS General Secretariat (Original instrument and ratifications)
TEXT: 
UN REGISTRATION:                    

SIGNATORY COUNTRIES     

DEPOSIT OF RATIFICATION

Argentina

10 January 2001

Bolivia

30 May 2003

Brazil

15 August 2001

Chile.

26 February 2002

Colombia

 

Costa Rica

8 February 2000

Dominica (Commonwealth)

 

Dominican Republic

 

Ecuador

 

El Salvador

8 March 2002

Guatemala

29 January 2003

Haiti

 

Jamaica

 

Mexico

25 January 2001

Nicaragua

25 November 2003

Panama

16 February 2001

Paraguay

22 October 2002

Peru

30 August 2001

Uruguay

20 July 2001

Venezuela