observed in order to analyze this, as well as scenarios such as the inexistence or ineffectiveness of
the available remedies, as well as continuing or permanent situations. In this regard, the Court has
indicated that the six months rule established in Article 46(1)(b) of the Convention must be applied
in accordance with the facts of the specific case in order to ensure the effective exercise of the
right to lodge individual petitions. 13
22.
In this case, the initial petition was lodged on November 20, 1997, 14 and forwarded to the
State on December 10, 1997. 15 The Court has verified that, during the admissibility stage, the
State presented six briefs. In four of these briefs it asked the Commission to declare the petition
inadmissible and to archive it. To this end, the State submitted two different arguments. First, in
its brief answering the petition of February 12, 1998, 16 it argued the inadmissibility of the petition
“because its presentation was time-barred, after the six-month period following the date of which
the final judgment was notified” in the criminal proceeding before the Third Permanent Military
Court. Subsequently, the State presented information on the criminal proceeding arising from the
investigation opened based on the complaint filed by Porfirio Osorio Rivera before the Special
Prosecutor for Enforced Disappearances, Extrajudicial Executions and Exhumation of Clandestine
Graves on June 14, 2004. 17 The forgoing reveals that, even though the State had initially filed this
objection at the proper procedural moment, it subsequently adopted a different position during the
admissibility proceeding by affirming that “[t]he criminal proceeding ha[d] not yet concluded,” 18
and then returned to its initial argument in the proceedings before this Court.
23.
The Court finds no evidence in this case to make it disagree with the decision on
admissibility adopted by the Inter-American Commission. When analyzing the requirement
established in Article 46(1)(a) of the Convention, and in order adopt a decision on the admissibility
requirements, the Commission considered that the proceeding opened in the military jurisdiction
“did not constitute an effective remedy.” 19 Accordingly, the Commission continued its examination
of admissibility based on the investigations that had been opened in the special ordinary
jurisdiction and concluded, in the terms of Article 46(2)(c) of the Convention, that there had been
an unwarranted delay in rendering judgment. 20 Thus, since the exceptions established in Article
46(2) do not require the exhaustion of domestic remedies, neither is the said requirement of the
six-month period applicable in these circumstances; 21 instead, the parameter that must be
13
Cf. Case of Artavia Murillo et al. (“In vitro fertilization”) v. Costa Rica. Preliminary objections, merits, reparations and
costs. Judgment of November 28, 2012. Series C No. 257, para. 35, and Case of Mémoli v. Argentina, supra, para. 30.
14
Cf. Initial petition lodged before the Commission on November 20, 1997 (file of proceedings before the
Commission, volume I, folios 209 to 212).
15
Cf. Communication of the Inter-American Commission of December 10, 1997 (file of proceedings before the
Commission, volume I, folio 203).
16
Cf. Brief of the State of Peru of February 10, 1998 (file of proceedings before the Commission, volume I, folios 192
to 196). See also, Brief of the State of Peru of June 18, 2010 (file of proceedings before the Commission, volume I, folios 24
to 40).
17
Cf. Brief of the State of Peru of February 17, 2005 (file of proceedings before the Commission, volume I, folios 131
to 133); Brief of the State of Peru of April 5, 2010 (file of proceedings before the Commission, volume I, folios 94 to 101),
and Brief of the State of Peru of June 18, 2010 (file of proceedings before the Commission, volume I, folios 24 to 40).
18
Brief of the State of Peru of June 18, 2010 (file of proceedings before the Commission, volume I, folios 24 to 40).
19
Admissibility Report No. 76/10, Case of 11,845, Jeremías Osorio Rivera and others, Peru, July 12, 2010, para. 29
(file of proceedings before the Commission, volume I, folios 7 to 15).
20
Cf. Admissibility Report No. 76/10, Case of 11,845, Jeremías Osorio Rivera and others, Peru, July 12, 2010, para.
31 (file of proceedings before the Commission, volume I, folios 7 to 15).
21
In this regard, Article 46(2) of the American Convention indicates that:
2. The provisions of paragraphs 1.a and 1.b of this article shall not be applicable when:
11