Our mission is to promote and strengthen respect for the human rights set out in the American Convention on Human Rights and contribute to the consolidation of democracy in the Americas through education, research, political mediation, programs for training, technical assistance in the field of human rights, and the dissemination of knowledge by means of specialized publications. Its endeavors are guided by the principles of representative democracy, the rule of law, ideological pluralism and respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms.

Politically, the work of the IIHR is predicated on the idea that the effective exercise of human rights is only possible within the framework of representative, participatory and inclusive democracy. In other words, the IIHR holds that there is a close relationship between the full exercise of political democracy and the effective exercise of human rights. In order to achieve this, it is necessary that democracy transcends what is merely formal and is made effective for vast sectors of the population that are currently marginalized.

In methodological terms, the IIHR bases its work on three principles: human rights viewed from an integrated, interdisciplinary and multisectorial approach.

Cross-cutting themes. The current administration of the IIHR has implemented a strategy that prioritizes four themes: justice and security; political participation; education in human rights; and the effective exercise of economic, social, and cultural rights.

The institutional strategy includes, in addition, addressing these subjects taking into account three cross-cutting perspectives: gender equity; recognition and preservation of ethnic and cultural diversity; and providing opportunities for participation on civil society and its interaction with the State.