THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS, DECIDES: 1. To declare the claim admissible in relation to Articles 1(1), 2, 4, 5, 8, 21, and 25 of the American Convention. 2. To notify the decision to the State and petitioners. 3. To initiate the proceedings on the merits. 4. To publish this decision and include it in the Annual Report to be submitted to the General Assembly of the OAS. Done and signed at the headquarters of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, in the city of Washington, D.C., March 6, 2003. (Signed:); José Zalaquett, President; Clare Kamau Roberts, First Vice-President; Susana Villarán, Second Vice-President; Commissioners: Marta Altolaguirre, Robert K. Goldman, Juan Méndez, and Julio Prado Vallejo. 6