OAS Opens Human Rights Investigation over Slain Journalist in Brazil

On January 23, 2013, O Estado de São Paulo reported that the Organization of American States (OAS) has formally launched an investigation into the 1975 murder of journalist Vladimir Herzog, assassinated in Brazil during the military dictatorship.  The request had been tabled since 2009, as the current Brazilian government impeded the investigation.  The government stated that it was impossible to punish any official involved due to the Amnesty Law of 1979, which benefited those officials charged with future human rights violations.  Viviana Kristicevic, head of the Center for Justice and International Law, rejected the government’s argument, stating that her organization follows the precedent of the OAS’ Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.  Read Article