HUMAN RIGHTS, IMPUNITY AND REGIONAL DEMOCRACY. CHALLENGES FOR LATIN AMERICA

The aim of this paper is to show that impunity for human rights violati ons in Lati n America is closely related to the democrati c defi cit in the States involved. It is argued that, in the absence of nati onal sancti on mechanisms, the preventi ve dimension of human rights violati ons is nullifi ed and that the strengthening of civil society would lead to a decrease in impunity. It concludes by indicati ng that this strengthening and its combinati on with regional instruments and structures would lead to the constructi on of a regional cosmopolitan democracy that would guarantee truth, justi ce, reparati on, and preventi on in human rights.