Abstract
An Inter-American Convention against Racial Discrimination would significantly increase the value of existing standards and international efforts to fight against discrimination. A regional agreement would help counteract the powerful legacy of exploitation, discrimination and marginalization that continue to affect many groups in the Americas. In a regional convention, groups that have suffered or been exploited because they were invisible would be identified and named accurately as citizens with rights. A clear-cut statement that the African descendants, indigenous people and migrants have basic human rights, would make them independent groups and strongly influence their activities to prevent and punish racial discrimination. A regional agreement would also strengthen the effect and complement the standards and mechanisms for national, regional and international discrimination. A regional convention would fill the gaps in the regional and international standards would support existing and evolving standards nationally. A regional agreement would also encourage better enforcement of the provisions outlined in national standards, both regional and international. It has long been the rule that principal political organs of the Organization of American States (OAS) have expressed concern about racism, racial discrimination and related issues. In 1954, the OAS adopted a resolution on racial discrimination and in 1965; the Second Special Inter-American Conference issued a declaration on racial integration. Several years later, the OAS has collected a number of statements on issues of racial discrimination in the past and issued a report which indicates that the Inter-American Commission is the protector of human rights in this area. In the early 90s, the OAS has intensified its efforts. The Nassau Declaration was intended to eliminate all forms of racism and racial discrimination in the continent and worldwide.
