The Commission shall consider inadmissible any petition or communication submitted under Articles 44 or 45
if:
a. any of the requirements indicated in Article 46 has not been met;
b. the petition or communication does not state facts that tend to establish a violation of the rights guaranteed
by this Convention;
c. the statements of the petitioner or of the state indicate that the petition or communication is manifestly
groundless or obviously out of order; or
d. the petition or communication is substantially the same as one previously studied by the Commission or by
another international organization.
Section 4. Procedure
Article 48
1. When the Commission receives a petition or communication alleging violation of any of the rights
protected by this Convention, it shall proceed as follows:
a. If it considers the petition or communication admissible, it shall request information from the government
of the state indicated as being responsible for the alleged violations and shall furnish that government a
transcript of the pertinent portions of the petition or communication. This information shall be submitted
within a reasonable period to be determined by the Commission in accordance with the circumstances of each
case.
b. After the information has been received, or after the period established has elapsed and the information has
not been received, the Commission shall ascertain whether the grounds for the petition or communication still
exist. If they do not, the Commission shall order the record to be closed.
c. The Commission may also declare the petition or communication inadmissible or out of order on the basis
of information or evidence subsequently received.
d. If the record has not been closed, the Commission shall, with the knowledge of the parties, examine the
matter set forth in the petition or communication in order to verify the facts. If necessary and advisable, the
Commission shall carry out an investigation, for the effective conduct of which it shall request, and the states
concerned shall furnish to it, all necessary facilities.
e. The Commission may request the states concerned to furnish any pertinent information and, if so requested,
shall hear oral statements or receive written statements from the parties concerned.
f. The Commission shall place itself at the disposal of the parties concerned with a view to reaching a friendly
settlement of the matter on the basis of respect for the human rights recognized in this Convention.