Introduction: The Convention, adopted by the Organization of American States in 1969, protects primarily civil and political rights as enumerated here, although it also defines in more detail some of the rights contained in the American Declaration of Human Rights. In addition, the Convention creates an Inter-American Court of Human Rights to ensure that member states remain in compliance with the documents, working to secure the rights enumerated in both the Declaration and the Convention.

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

Preamble

The American states signatory to the present Convention,

Reaffirming their intention to consolidate in this hemisphere, within the framework of democratic institutions, a system of personal liberty and social justice based on respect for the essential rights of man;

Recognizing that the essential rights of man are not derived from one's...