43
181.
On the other hand, the Inter-American Court has established that Article 7(4) of the
American Convention “sets forth a mechanism to avoid unlawful or arbitrary conduct from the very act of
deprivation of liberty on, and to ensure defense of the detainee. Both the detainee and those
representing him or with legal custody over him have the right to be informed of the motives of and
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reasons for the detention and about the rights of the detainee.”
Likewise, in analyzing the violation of
Article 7(4) of the American Convention in another case, the Court described the content of that provision
in the following terms:
[…] when the detainee is deprived of his liberty and before making his first statement before the
authorities, the detainee must be informed of his right to establish contact with another person, for
example, a next of kin, an attorney, or a consular official, as appropriate, to inform this person that
he has been taken into custody by the State. Notification to a next of kin or to a close relation is
especially significant, for this person to know the whereabouts and the circumstances of the
accused and to provide him with the appropriate assistance and protection. In case of notification
to an attorney, it is especially important for the detainee to be able to meet privately with him, which
is inherent to his right to benefit from a true defense. In case of consular notification, the Court has
pointed out that the consul “may assist the detainee in various acts of defense, such as granting or
hiring legal counsel, obtaining evidence in the country of origin, corroborating the conditions under
which legal assistance is provided, and observing the situation of the accused while he is in
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prison.
182.
In that sense, the IACHR recalls that in accordance with the Inter-American Principles on
Detention, if a detained migrant is transferred to another facility, he has the right to “notify or request that
the competent authority notify his family or other appropriate persons designated by him” of the transfer
and where he is located197 and must be informed “promptly of his right to communicate through
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appropriate means with a consular office or the diplomatic mission of the State of his nationality.”
183.
With regard to Article 7(5) of the American Convention, the Court has underscored that to
be brought before a judge “is essential to the protection of the right to personal liberty and to the
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protection of other rights, such as the right to life and to personal integrity.” Immediate judicial control is
a measure aimed at preventing arbitrary or illegal detentions, taking into account that under the Rule of
Law, it is the responsibility of the judge to guarantee the rights of the detainee, to authorize the adoption
of precautionary measures or coercion when strictly necessary, and, in general, to ensure that the
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detainee’s treatment Is consistent with the presumption of innocence.
184.
For its part, the State, in accordance with Article 7(6), must guarantee that every person
deprived of liberty has access to judicial remedies to challenge the legality of his arrest or detention. The
Inter-American Court has emphasized that “it is not enough for the resources to exist formally, but, rather,
they must be effective, in other words, the individual must have an effective possibility of filing a simple
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and prompt remedy that enables attainment, if appropriate, of the judicial protection requested.” In that
sense, the Commission recalls that the detainee must be granted access to a judicial review of his
195
IA Court H.R., Case Tibi vs. Ecuador. Judgment of September 7, 2004. Series C No. 114, par. 109.
IA Court H.R., Case Tibi vs. Ecuador. Judgment of September 7, 2004. Series C No. 114, par. 112; see, Principles and
Best Practices on the Protection of Persons Deprived of Liberty in the Americas, Principio V, available at
http://www.cidh.oas.org/Basicos/Basicos.Principios%20y%20Buenas%20Prácticas%20para%20PPL.htm.
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See also UN, Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under any Form of Detention or Imprisonment,
Principle 16(1) (1988), available at: http://www2.ohchr.org/spanish/law/detencion.htm.
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See also UN, Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under any form of Detention or Imprisonment,
Principle 16(2) (1988), available at: http://www2.ohchr.org/spanish/law/detencion.htm; and Principle 16(3) (1988), available at:
http://www2.ohchr.org/spanish/law/detencion.htm.
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IA Court H.R.Case Tibi vs. Ecuador. Judgment of September 7, 2004. Series C No. 114, par. 118.
200
IA Court H.R., Case Chaparro Álvarez and Lapo Íñiguez. vs. Ecuador. Preliminary exceptions, Merites, Reparations
and Costs. Judgment of November 21, 2007. Series C No. 170, par. 81; Case Maritza Urrutia vs. Guatemala. Merits, Reparations
and Costs. Judgment of November 27, 2003. Series C No. 103, par. 66, and Case Bulacio vs. Argentina. Merits, Reparations, and
Costs. Judgment of September 18,2003. Series C No. 100, par. 129.
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IA Court H.R., Case Tibi vs. Ecuador. Judgement September 7, 2004. Series C No. 114, par. 131.
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