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Mechanisms

Case before the Inter-American Court, through the Commission

Inter-American Court of Human Rights

Which States it covers
The State must be party to the American Convention and have accepted the Court's jurisdiction.
Who can file
Only the Commission and States can send a case to the Court. Victims take part once the case is before the Court.
Time limit
Follows the Commission procedure.
Do I need to use national courts first?
Yes, at the Commission stage, subject to the applicable exceptions.
Good to know
Individual petitions start at the Commission's petition portal. The exhaustion, provisional measures and source texts were corrected on the 20th of October 2026.
What it can achieve
A binding judgment ordering reparations.
Do I need a lawyer?
Victims can be represented by their own lawyer or by the Inter-American Public Defender.
What if my situation is urgent?
The Court can order provisional measures in extremely serious and urgent cases, when necessary to avoid irreparable harm. For matters not yet before the Court, the request must come from the Commission. In cases already before the Court, victims or their representatives may request measures connected with the case.
What happens after the decision?
The Court supervises compliance until every measure it ordered is carried out.

This portal is a first source of ideas, not a substitute for expert advice. Before you take any step, talk to a human rights lawyer, for example the team of lawyers at Just Access e.V. (contact@just-access.de).

How to submitOfficial information

Source: Official information.Last updated: 10 November 2026.

Where it is open

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Sources