The Inter-American Court of Human Rights will hold at its seat, in San Jose, Costa Rica, its XXIII Special Session from March 1 to 8, 1998. During this Session, the Court will consider the following matters:

1) Loayza Tamayo Case:

On December 19, 1997, pursuant to article 67 of the American Convention on Human Rights and article 58 of the Rules of Procedure of the Tribunal, Peru presented to the Court an application of interpretation of the Judgment on merits of September 17, 1997, in which the Court decided that Peru violated Articles 5 (Right to Humane Treatment), 7 (Right to Personal Liberty), and 8 (Right to a Fair Trial) in relation to articles 1(1) and 25 of the American Convention on Human Rights and ordered Peru to compensate Ms. María Elena Loayza Tamayo and her family members for the harm suffered and to release her within a reasonable time, in accordance with its domestic legislation.

2) Paniagua Morales et al. Case:

The Court will consider the possibility of passing judgment on the merits in the Paniagua Morales et al. Case during this Special Session. This Case is motivated on the facts that occurred between 1987 and 1988, when several civilians were kidnapped, tortured and assassinated, allegedly by State agents of the “Guardia de Hacienda” (Treasury Police) of Guatemala. This case is also known as the “Panel Blanca Case” due to the use of this type of vehicle in the modus operandi.

The composition of the Court during this Special Session will be: Hernán Salgado-Pesantes (Ecuador), President; Antônio A. Cançado Trindade (Brazil), Vice President; Héctor Fix-Zamudio (Mexico); Alejandro Montiel-Argüello (Nicaragua); Máximo Pacheco-Gómez (Chile) and Alirio Abreu-Burelli (Venezuela). Edgar E. Larraondo Salguero, Judge ad hoc appointed by Guatemala in the Paniagua Morales et al. Case, will also participate. Also present will be Manuel E. Ventura Robles, Secretary, and Víctor M. Rodríguez Rescia, Interim Deputy Secretary.

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights is an autonomous judicial institution of the Organization of American States, was established in 1979 and is composed of jurists of the highest moral authority and recognized competence in the field of human rights. The judges are elected based on their personal capacity by the General Assembly of the OAS, and they cannot exercise their functions for more than two terms of six years each.

San Jose, February 27, 1998.

Nota / Footnote

^(*) El contenido de este comunicado es responsabilidad de la Secretaría de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos. El texto oficial de los documentos reseñados puede obtenerse mediante solicitud escrita dirigida a la Secretaría, en la dirección que se adjunta.
The contents of this press release are the sole responsibility of the Secretariat of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. The official text of the documents cited may be obtained by sending a written request to the Secretariat at the address provided at the end of this press release.