Paraguay Hosts 180th Ordinary Session of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in Asunción

Historic Gathering in Asunción

The 180th Ordinary Session of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (Corte IDH) commenced on September 22, 2025, in Asunción, Paraguay, and is scheduled to run until September 26. The prestigious event is primarily taking place at the Palacio de Justicia, with additional academic activities at the Universidad Nacional de Asunción. This gathering signifies Paraguay's enduring commitment to human rights and its role in strengthening the inter-American judicial system. Following the in-person sessions, the Court will deliberate virtually from September 29 to October 3.

A Legacy of Commitment to Human Rights

This marks the third occasion that Paraguay has hosted the Corte IDH, having previously done so in 2005 and 2014. Notably, Paraguay was the first state to host an itinerant session of the Court outside its headquarters in Costa Rica in 2005. This year's session coincides with the 20th anniversary of these out-of-headquarters meetings. The President of the Corte IDH, Nancy Hernández López, highlighted Paraguay's 'sustained will for dialogue, cooperation, and institutional openness,' projecting it as a reference point within the inter-American system. The President of the Supreme Court of Justice of Paraguay, César Diesel, emphasized that hosting the session reaffirms the country's determination for justice in contexts of transparency, independence, and respect for human dignity.

Key Activities and Participants

The inaugural ceremony on September 22 saw the participation of high-ranking officials, including Paraguay's Vice President, Pedro Alliana; the President of the National Congress, Basilio Núñez; and the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Raúl Latorre. The session's agenda is comprehensive, featuring:

• An international seminar titled 'El impacto de las decisiones de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos' (The impact of the decisions of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights) at the Faculty of Law of the National University of Asunción.
• The presentation of a book: 'La Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos y el Paraguay. Impactos, desafíos y oportunidades.'
• Three public hearings on contentious cases.
• Five private hearings dedicated to supervising compliance with judgments in cases directly related to Paraguay.

Cases Under Review

Among the critical cases being addressed, several pertain directly to Paraguay. The Court will conduct supervision hearings regarding the compliance with judgments concerning the indigenous communities of Yakye Axa, Xákmok Kásek, and Sawhoyamaxa, primarily focusing on land restitution. Additionally, the case of journalist Santiago Leguizamón, assassinated in 1991, and the Córdoba case are also on the agenda. Other contentious cases from the region include Gamboa García and others vs. Peru, Moliné O'Connor vs. Argentina, and Mães de Cabo Frio vs. Brazil, underscoring the broad scope of the Court's work during this session. The presence of judges from the Corte IDH, international delegations, government authorities, civil society representatives, and human rights experts from across Latin America further highlights the significance of this event for regional human rights discourse and judicial cooperation.