and re-establishment of the historical memory in a democratic society. 333 In this regard, the
Court underlines the observations of Mr. González Medina’s family regarding the importance
of recovering their father’s name and persona. 334
303. Consequently, this Court finds it appropriate that the State make an audiovisual
documentary on the life of Narciso González Medina, in which reference is made to his
journalistic, literary and creative work, and also to his contribution to Dominican culture, the
content of which must be agreed previously with the victims and their representatives. The
State must assume all the expenses arising from the production, screening and distribution
of this video. The documentary video must be shown on a State television channel that
broadcasts nationally, once, and the family and representatives must be given sufficient
notice of the timing of this broadcast. In addition, the State must show the video during a
public act in Santo Domingo, either in a specific act or during the act of acknowledgement of
responsibility (supra para. 297). The said act must be organized with the participation of the
victims or their representatives. In addition, the documentary must be distributed as widely
as possible among the victims, their representatives, and the country’s main universities in
order to promote it. The State has two years, from notification of this Judgment, to make
the documentary, and show and distribute it.
C.4) Guarantee of non-repetition: adoption of domestic legal
provisions to ensure effective investigation of forced disappearance
304. In its final written arguments, the Commission observed that it had been proved that
“the Dominican legal framework was inadequate to investigate what happened to Narciso
González as a forced disappearance of persons with all its constituent elements,” and “the
Court should take this into account specifically” when establishing the reparations.
305. The representatives asked the Court to order the State to make forced
disappearance an autonomous crime in accordance with the relevant international
standards, in particular Article II of the Inter-American Convention on Forced Disappearance
of Persons. Additionally, they indicated that the Court should ask the Dominican State to
consider ratifying this instrument.
306. The Court concludes that the State failed to comply with the obligation established in
Article 2 of the American Convention to adopt the necessary domestic measures and
provisions to ensure an effective investigation of the forced disappearance of Narciso
González Medina and the identification, prosecution and, as appropriate, punishment of
those responsible (supra paras. 242 to 246). Consequently, the Court decides that, within a
reasonable time, the Dominican Republic must ensure that the application of the norms of
its domestic law and the functioning of its institutions permit conducting an adequate
investigation of forced disappearance and, should the said norms be insufficient, it must
make the legislative reforms or adopt the necessary administrative, judicial or other
measures to achieve this goal.
C.5) Other measures requested
333
Cf. Case of Radilla Pacheco v. Mexico, supra note 50, para. 356, and Case of Manuel Cepeda Vargas v.
Colombia, supra note 236, para. 228.
334
Cf. Statement made by Jennie Rosanna González Ramírez on June 16, 2011, supra note 99, folio 1122,
and statement made by Luz Altagracia Ramírez before the Inter-American Court during the public hearing held in
this case on June 28, 2011.
91
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