American Convention on Human Rights

American Convention on Human Rights in the United States

Article 15. RIGHT OF ASSEMBLY. The right of peaceful assembly, without arms,
is recognized. No restrictions may be placed on the exercise of this right
other than those imposed in conformity with the law and necessary in a
democratic society in the interest of national security, public safety or
public order, or to protect public health or morals or the rights or
freedoms of others.

Article 16. FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION. 1. Everyone has the right to associate
freely for ideological, religious, political, economic, labor, social,
cultural, sports, or other purposes.

2. The exercise of this right shall be subject only to such restrictions
established by law as may be necessary in a democratic society, in the
interest of national security, public safety or public order, or to protect
public health or morals or the rights and freedoms of others.

3. The provisions of this article do not bar the imposition of legal
restrictions, including even deprivation of the exercise of the right of
association, on members of the armed forces and the police.

Article 17. RIGHTS OF THE FAMILY. 1. The family is the natural and
fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society
and the state.

2. The right of men and women of marriageable age to marry and to raise a
family shall be recognized, if they meet the conditions required by domestic
laws, insofar as such conditions do not affect the principle of
nondiscrimination established in this Convention.

3. No marriage shall be entered into without the free and full consent of
the intending spouses.

4. The States Parties shall take appropriate steps to ensure the equality
of rights and the adequate balancing of responsibilities of the spouses as
to marriage, during marriage, and in the event of its dissolution. In case
of dissolution, provision shall be made for the necessary protection of any
children solely on the basis of their own best interests.

5. The law shall recognize equal rights for children born out of wedlock and
those born in wedlock.

Article 18. RIGHT TO A NAME. Every person has the right to a given name and
to the surnames of his parents or that of one of them. The law shall
regulate the manner in which this right shall be ensured for all, by the use
of assumed names if necessary.

Article 19. RIGHTS OF THE CHILD. Every minor child has the right to the
measures of protection required by his condition as a minor on the part of
his family, society, and the state.

Article 20. RIGHT TO NATIONALITY. 1. Every person has the right to a
nationality.

2. Every person has the right to the nationality of the state in whose
territory he was born if he does not have the right to any other
nationality.

3. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality or of the right
to change it.

Article 21. RIGHT TO PROPERTY. 1. Everyone has the right to the use and
enjoyment of his property. The law may subordinate such use and enjoyment
to the interest of society.

2. No one shall be deprived of his property except upon payment of just
compensation, for reasons of public utility or social interest, and in the
cases and according to the forms established by law.

3. Usury and any other form of exploitation of man by man shall be
prohibited by law.

Article 22. FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AND RESIDENCE. 1. Every person lawfully in
the territory of a State Party has the right to move about in it, and to
reside in it subject to the provisions of the law.

2. Every person has the right to leave any country freely, including his
own.

3. The exercise of the foregoing rights may be restricted only pursuant to
a law to the extent necessary in a democratic society to prevent crime or
to protect national security, public safety, public order, public morals,
public health, or the rights or freedoms of others.

4. The exercise of the rights recognized in paragraph 1 may also be
restricted by law in designated zones for reasons of public interest.

5. No one can be expelled from the territory of the state of which he is a
national or be deprived of the right to enter it.

6. An alien lawfully in the territory of a State Party to this Convention
may be expelled from it only pursuant to a decision reached in accordance
with law.

7. Every person has the right to seek and be granted asylum in a foreign
territory, in accordance with the legislation of the state and international
conventions, in the event he is being pursued for political offenses or
related common crimes.

8. In no case may an alien be deported or returned to a country, regardless
of whether or not it is his country of origin, if in that country his right
to life or personal freedom is in danger of being violated because of his
race, nationality, religion, social status, or political opinions.

9. The collective expulsion of aliens is prohibited.

Article 23. RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN GOVERNMENT. 1. Every citizen shall enjoy
the following rights and opportunities:

a. To take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through
freely chosen representatives;

b. To vote and to be elected in genuine periodic elections, which shall
be by universal and equal suffrage and by secret ballot that
guarantees the free expression of the will of the voters; and

c. To have access, under general conditions of equality, to the public
service of his country.

2. The law may regulate the exercise of the rights and opportunities
referred to in the preceding paragraph only on the basis of age,
nationality, residence, language, education, civil and mental capacity, or
sentencing by a competent court in criminal proceedings.

Article 24. RIGHT TO EQUAL PROTECTION. All persons are equal before the law.
Consequently, they are entitled, without discrimination, to equal protection
of the law.


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