This book examines how international human rights systems impact real-world practice. International experts integrate human rights law, political science, and criminology to analyze how the decisions of human rights bodies shape laws, policies, and societies. Combining theoretical analysis with case studies from various countries, the contributing authors provide an in-depth contextual understanding of the multifaceted impact of human rights systems, specifically the Inter-American Human Rights System (IAHRS). They emphasize that the role of the IAHRS is increasingly vital in promoting justice, documenting human rights violations, and upholding international human rights standards. The book provides fresh insights into how human rights mechanisms function in practice and moves beyond state compliance to examine the extent of the broader legal and political impact of human rights systems. Impact within the Human Rights Framework is an essential resource for students and academics in human rights law, political science, public international law, and international relations. It is also a beneficial read for practitioners in human rights organizations and policy institutions. ‘This book offers an outstanding and timely contribution to the study of the Inter-American Human Rights System. It reveals the broader and often underexplored dimensions of impact that shape law, policy, and human rights practice across the Americas. By addressing a range of topics and drawing on rich examples, the authors capture the dynamic interplay among international institutions, domestic actors, and civil society. A must-read for scholars, practitioners, and anyone seeking to understand the evolving architecture of human rights in the region.’ -- Angelita Baeyens, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, USA Edited by Yves Haeck, Professor of International Human Rights Law and Director of the Programme for Studies on Human Rights in Context, Faculty of Law and Criminology, Ghent University and Clara Burbano Herrera, Professor of International Human Rights Law, Principal Investigator of the ERC Consolidator Grant IMPACTUM, and Director of the Programme for Studies on Human Rights in Context, Faculty of Law and Criminology, Ghent University, Belgium