The United States is pleased to announce the candidacy of Rosa María Payá to serve as a member of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) for elections to be held during the 2025 General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Antigua and Barbuda on June 27.
Rosa María Payá is an internationally respected democracy advocate, human rights leader, and expert in Latin American policy, renowned for her efforts to promote freedom, human rights, and democratic governance across the Western Hemisphere. She serves as Executive Director of the Foundation for Pan-American Democracy, where she engages with policymakers to advance regional security, human rights, and democratic stability.
As the founder of Cuba Decide, she spearheads the most prominent pro-democracy movement, uniting Cuban civil society, activists, and opposition groups to demand political change through a binding plebiscite. Daughter of the late Oswaldo Payá, the Sakharov Prize laureate assassinated by the Cuban regime, Rosa María has continued his pro-freedom legacy with unparalleled determination. Her accolades include the Morris Abram Human Rights Award (2019) and Common-Sense Society Courage Award (2022).
The independent and autonomous IACHR promotes and defends human rights in all member states of the OAS. It impacts thousands of lives in the hemisphere through the issuance of reports on petitions and cases as well as recommendations to OAS member states to improve the human rights conditions in their countries.
Over the last 65 years, the IACHR has played a critical role in monitoring and supporting OAS member state adherence to human rights commitments and obligations. Its seven Commissioners are recognized human rights experts who are elected in their personal capacity, not as representatives of governments. This political autonomy and objectivity distinguish the IACHR as a leading human rights body.
The promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as embodied in the American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man and the Inter-American Democratic Charter, is a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy. The United States is pleased to be a strong supporter of the IACHR and is committed to continuing support for the Commission’s work and its independence. Preserving the IACHR’s autonomy is a pillar of our human rights policy in the region.
