Abstract

SALAS CRUZ, Armando. The Inter-American Democratic Charter and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Cuest. Const. [online]. 2014, n.31, pp.185-235. ISSN 1405-9193.

This article after analyzes the origins and fundamental characteristics of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, explores its use in the judgments (contentious cases) of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. It concludes that despite the political origin of this regional instrument and having as primary end the collective defense of democracy, this Court has established itself as an important document in the interpretation of the political rights recognized in the American Convention on Human Rights. In this sense, exist a friendly relationship between the IDC and the ACHR that has contributed to a broader understanding of these rights, encouraging new developments.

Keywords : democratic rights; Inter-American Democratic Charter; Organization of American States; collective defense of democracy; right to democratic governance; interpretation; Inter-American Court of Human Rights.