Preliminary Objections Before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights: Legitimate Issues and Illegitimate Tactics

This article does not specifically address women's rights, but describes how the Inter-American Court and Commission have taken action to minimize unwarranted objections in court proceedings without infringing on the procedural protections guaranteed to State Parties by the American Convention on Human Rights. This author examines these developments and the use of preliminary objections in the Inter-American system. The article also includes a discussion of the character and scope of possible jurisdictional objections and objections to admissibility and the Court's processing of preliminary objections. The author makes suggestions for additional changes that will streamline the process. [Descriptors: Applying Human Rights Law - International, International - Latin America, International - North America]