1 See Charter of the Organization of American States, Apr. 30,1948, 2 UST 2394,119 UNTS 3, as amended Feb. 27, 1967, Arts. 51 (e), 112, 21 UST 607, 674, 691. The United States is a party to the Charter. The principal function of the commission under the Charter is to promote compliance with the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man, which the OAS adopted in 1948 in the form of a nonbinding resolution.

2 Nov. 22,1969, Arts. 33–51,1144 UNTS 123,153–57,9ILM 673, 685–89. The United States is not a party to this Convention. The principal function of the commission under the Convention is to deal with petitions by individuals (and, in certain circumstances, states) charging violations of the rights guaranteed under the Convention.

3 See id., Art. 36.

4 Id., Art. 34.

5 Previous U.S. members of the commission were Sandifer (1960–72), Woodward (1972–76), Farer (1976–83), McColm (1984–88), Stevenson (1988–91), Reisman (1992–95), and Goldman (1996–2003).

6 See Larry Rohter, O.A.S. Votes Against U.S. Candidate for Human Rights Group, N.Y. Times, June 12, 2003, at A7.

7 See OAS Press Release on General Assembly Elects New Members to OAS Bodies (June 10,2003), at <http://www.oas.org>. The members elected came from Brazil, El Salvador, Paraguay, and Venezuela.

8 Richard Boucher, Spokesman, U.S. Dep’t of State Daily Press Briefing at 15–16 (June 12,2003), at <http://www.state.gov>.