peasant universe.”514 Thus, when the victims hear the massacre discussed or see something that
reminds them, “98% of them describe feeling ill, dizzy, chest pains and generally depressed.”515
In addition, many have been diagnosed with illnesses such as cancer, multiple sclerosis and
other terminal diseases.516 For their part, the individuals and families who were displaced from
their place of origin “lost their community and affective ties to their identifying roots, in addition
to their property,” as well as “what had been, until then, the life project of each of them.”517
Therefore, they feel “anger, sadness, fear, nostalgia, helplessness, shame, abandonment, and
loss of their place in the universe, all of which may result in the appearance of psychological
symptoms.”518 The expert witness noted that, in general, the victims “have not been able to
process their sorrow owing to lack of mechanisms for the social validation of their pain, as a
result of the lack of institutional and collective support. It is a very deep and private sorrow,
which paralyzes many healthy aspects, such as giving or receiving affection, and having a plan
for the future.”519 All of this must be repaired at both the individual and the collective levels.520
352. Having verified the violations and the harm suffered by the victims, as it has in other
cases,521 the Court considers it necessary to order measures of rehabilitation in this case. In this
regard, it finds that comprehensive attention to the physical, mental and psychosocial problems
suffered by the victims in this case is the appropriate reparation. Indeed, give the characteristics
of this case, the Court finds that psychosocial is an essential component of reparation, because it
has been verified that the harm suffered by the victims refers not only to parts of their individual
identity, but also to the loss of their community roots and ties. Consequently, the Court finds it
necessary to establish the obligation of the State to implement, within one year, a permanent
program of comprehensive care and attention to their physical, mental and psychosocial health.
This program must have a multidisciplinary approach and be headed by experts in this area, who
have been sensibilized and trained in attention to victims of human rights violations, and also a
collective approach.
353. Thus, under the said program ordered for the comprehensive care and attention to
health, the State must provide, free of charge, through its specialized health care institutions in
El Salvador, adequately and effectively, medical, psychological or psychiatric, and psychosocial
treatment to the surviving victims of the massacres and the next of kin of the victims who were
executed, who request this, following their informed consent, including the supply, free of
charge, of the medicines and tests they may eventually require, taking into consideration the
ailments of each of them. If the State is unable to provide this treatment, it must have recourse
to specialized private or civil society institutions. Furthermore, the respective treatments must
514
Expert opinion provided by María Sol Yáñez De La Cruz before the Inter-American Court during the public
hearing held on April 23, 2012.
515
Expert opinion on psychosocial impacts and recommendations for reparations in the case of “The Massacres of
El Mozote and nearby places” provided by María Sol Yáñez De La Cruz, undated (evidence file, tome XVIII, annex 2 to
the final written arguments of the representatives, folio 10548).
516
Cf. Expert opinion provided by María Sol Yáñez De La Cruz before the Inter-American Court during the public
hearing held on April 23, 2012.
517
Expert opinion on psychosocial impacts and recommendations for reparations in the case of “The Massacres of
El Mozote and nearby places” provided by María Sol Yáñez De La Cruz, undated (evidence file, tome XVIII, annex 2 to
the final written arguments of the representatives, folios 10549 to 10550).
518
Expert opinion on psychosocial impacts and recommendations for reparations in the case of “The Massacres of
El Mozote and nearby places” provided by María Sol Yáñez De La Cruz, undated (evidence file, tome XVIII, annex 2 to
the final written arguments of the representatives, folios 10548 to 10550).
519
Expert opinion on psychosocial impacts and recommendations for reparations in the case of “The Massacres of
El Mozote and nearby places” provided by María Sol Yáñez De La Cruz, undated (evidence file, tome XVIII, annex 2 to
the final written arguments of the representatives, folio 10548).
520
Cf. Expert opinion on psychosocial impacts and recommendations for reparations in the case of “The Massacres
of El Mozote and nearby places” provided by María Sol Yáñez De La Cruz, undated (evidence file, tome XVIII, annex 2 to
the final written arguments of the representatives, folio 10550).
521
Cf. Case of Cantoral Benavides v. Peru. Reparations and costs. Judgment of December 3, 2001. Series C No.
88, para. 51(e), and Case of the Río Negro Massacres v. Guatemala, para. 287.
111
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