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Directorate of Human Rights

Aims
The Human Rights Division is responsible for coordinating Chile's international endeavors in the field of human rights. This involves promoting the country's position on the protection and promotion of human rights in international forums and encouraging compliance with the international commitments undertaken in this regard.

Main responsibilities

  • Coordinate and follow up with national and international agencies in the field of human rights, encouraging the participation of the competent State institutions in the preparation of the Periodic Universal Review (UPR) reports.
  • Coordinate with the relevant State agencies and international organizations, as appropriate, the implementation and execution of the commitments and obligations assumed by the State of Chile.
  • Participate in international meetings and in the negotiation of international instruments in the field of its competence.
  • Support the drafting and negotiation of declarations, conventions, agreements and/or international treaties on human rights, and supervise their subsequent ratification by Chile, in coordination with the General Directorate of Legal Affairs.
  • Coordinate and direct, in accordance with the relevant instructions of the Under Secretariat of Foreign Affairs, the representation of the State before multilateral human rights organizations, in collaboration with the General Directorate of Legal Affairs.
  • Develop and manage matters related to the defense of Chile's interests before international human rights tribunals and bodies with the collaboration of the Under Secretariat for Human Rights, which will provide specialized technical advice.

Structure of the Division

The Human Rights Division is part of the General Secretariat for Foreign Policy and structured as follows:

1. The Department of the Universal Human Rights System (DIDEHU - DESU) has, among others, the following areas of action:

  • Reviewing documents, preparing instructions and coordinating Chile's participation in the three annual sessions of the Human Rights Council.
  • Reviewing documents, preparing instructions and coordinating Chile's participation in the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly.
  • Coordinate and support Chile's reports and periodic reviews before the various Human Rights Treaty Bodies.
  • Coordinating and organizing the State's responses to the requirements of the United Nations special procedures rapporteurs.
  • Compile background information and prepare instructions for Chile's participation in the Universal Periodic Review process.
  • Acting as a focal point on indigenous affairs.

2. The Department of the Inter-American Human Rights System (DIDEHU - DESI) has the following areas of action:

  • Coordinate with the relevant State agencies the response of the State of Chile to cases brought to the attention of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, including the negotiation of friendly settlements.
  • Coordinate with the relevant State agencies the defense of the State of Chile in cases that come to the attention of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
  • To follow up on the process of compliance with judgments, recommendations and friendly settlements.
    Coordinate and lead the participation of the various State agencies in thematic hearings of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
  • Respond to the requirements of the thematic rapporteurships for Human Rights of the Organization of American States (OAS).
  • To analyze and prepare instructions on Human Rights in the context of Chile's participation in the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS).

Indigenous Affairs Unit

The Indigenous Affairs Unit was created by Service Order of the Under Secretariat No. 649 of 29 December 2010, under the Directorate of Human Rights (DIDEHU/U.A.I.). Its aim is to ensure the integration of indigenous policy throughout the institutional structure of this Ministry, establishing actions, adaptations and definitions of policies, plans and programs to incorporate the indigenous variable and promote cultural diversity.

Contact

Tomás Pascual Ricke
Ambassador
Director of Human Rights