Q COSTARICA — Costa Rican Gabriela Pacheco Arias has made history as the first woman appointed Secretary of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR). Her groundbreaking appointment marks a significant milestone for gender representation in this vital institution dedicated to protecting human rights across the Americas.
With a distinguished career in human rights law and a deep commitment to justice, Pacheco Arias brings extensive expertise to her new role, effective April 2026. The IACHR, tasked with interpreting and enforcing the American Convention on Human Rights, plays a crucial role in addressing human rights violations and fostering legal standards in its member states.
Pacheco Arias has over 22 years of experience working at the Court’s Secretariat, where she has served as a senior lawyer, coordinator of international cooperation, and director of the Judgment Compliance Monitoring Unit, a role she held from its creation in 2015 until she was appointed Deputy Secretary in 2024.
Her appointment not only breaks a longstanding gender barrier but also signals a broader commitment within international human rights bodies to embrace diversity in leadership.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs celebrated her appointment and wished her success in her duties during the next five-year term.
According to the Statute and Rules of Procedure of the Inter-American Court, the Secretariat is responsible for ensuring the proper legal and administrative functioning of the Court, and the person holding the position may be reappointed by the Court itself.
Costa Rica had already established a presence in this position with the jurist Manuel Ventura Robles, who served as secretary from 1990 to 2003.
Costa Rica’s role in the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Costa Rica plays a significant role as a host and champion of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) system, having hosted the signing of the American Convention on Human Rights (Pact of San José) in San José in 1969.
The country is a strong proponent of human rights, consistently voting in favor of human rights resolutions and maintaining a high level of cooperation with the IACHR. Costa Rica is also a party to the convention, bound by its obligations to respect and guarantee human rights, and has
The first woman to serve as a judge on the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) was the Costa Rican Sonia Picado, elected in 1988 and serving until her resignation in the mid-1990s to become the Costa Rican Ambassador to the United States. During her tenure, she also served as the Court’s Vice-President from 1992.
Elizabeth Odio Benito, also from Costa Rica, later became the first female president of the IACHR, an office she held from 2016 to 2021.