WASHINGTON, United States (CMC) — Jamaican diplomat, Andrea L M Wilson, is among 10 finalists for the position of Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression (RELE), which reports to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR).

The Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression also works in coordination with the executive secretariat of the IACHR, and is based at the headquarters of the Organisation of American States (OAS) in Washington.

The IACHR said that during its internal session late last month, the 10 finalists were shortlisted and apart from Wilson, the others came from the United States, Costa Rica, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil.

The IACHR said that in total it had received 81 applications and the short list is based on the criteria established in the call for applications, as well as on gender parity and the representation of the different regions of the Americas.

“We are very pleased with the interest in this contest on the part of highly qualified individuals with extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of the area of freedom of expression,” said IACHR president, Joel Hernández, adding “we had to choose from a large number of candidates of high excellence, as reflected in the level of the finalists”.

The IACHR said that the process by which the commission selects the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression is governed by the relevant regulations.

“With the publication of the names of the finalists, a public consultation process is opened. In accordance with Article 15.4 of its Rules of Procedure, the IACHR will receive observations from OAS member states and civil society on these finalists,” it added.

It said that the deadline for submitting observations is midnight, June 15, and that the IACHR executive secretariat would contact the finalists to produce a video to be published on the IACHR website within the next two weeks, explaining their proposals in the event that they are elected special rapporteur.

Following the presentation of comments, the IACHR will select five candidates from among the finalists who will be interviewed by the plenary session of the commission.

On July 13, the commission will announce the list of five selected persons who will be interviewed on September 14 and 15, with the new head of the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression being announced on September 15.