The American Convention on Human Rights (also known as the Pact of San José) is an international human rights instrument. It was adopted by many countries in the Western Hemisphere in San José, Costa Rica, on November 22, 1969. It came into force after the eleventh instrument of ratification (that of Grenada) was deposited on 18 July 1978. According to its preamble, the purpose of the Convention is "to consolidate in this hemisphere, within the framework of democratic institutions, a system of personal liberty and social justice based on respect for the essential rights of man."