Dr Riyad Insanally, former Ambassador of Guyana to the United States and Permanent Representative to the Organisation of American States (OAS), was elected on Wednesday as a Commissioner of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) by the OAS Permanent Council.
Nominated by the Government of Guyana, Dr Insanally will succeed Dr Christopher Arif Bulkan, who recently vacated the position following his appointment to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).
In a Facebook post announcing the development, President Dr Irfaan Ali expressed his appreciation for Dr Bulkan’s contributions and extended his best wishes to Dr Insanally.
“I thank Dr Bulkan for his service and wish Dr Insanally all the best as he supports the advancement of human rights across the Americas,” the President stated.
Dr Insanally brings extensive diplomatic experience to his new role, having served as Guyana’s ambassador to the United States and as the country’s representative to the OAS, where he played a key role in regional policymaking and multilateral engagements.
His election is expected to strengthen Guyana’s presence in international human rights discourse and contribute to the promotion of human rights across the Americas.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights is an autonomous organ of the OAS responsible for promoting and protecting human rights in the Americas. Commissioners are tasked with examining human rights issues, advising member states, and ensuring compliance with regional human rights standards.