TABLE OF CONTENTS
I INTRODUCTION OF THE CASE AND CAUSE OF ACTION .................................. 3
II PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COURT ............................................................. 4
III JURISDICTION ........................................................................................... 5
IV PRELIMINARY OBJECTIONS ........................................................................ 5
A.Alleged violation of the principle of procedural equality and the right of defense ... 5
B.Alleged failure to exhaust domestic remedies .................................................. 7
V EVIDENCE ..................................................................................................... 9
A.Admissibility of the documentary evidence ...................................................... 9
B.Admissibility of the testimonial and expert evidence ......................................... 9
VI FACTS ....................................................................................................... 10
A.Legal framework ....................................................................................... 10
B.Ronald Moya Chacón and Freddy Parrales Chaves .......................................... 11
C. Publication of the article in La Nación on December 17, 2005 ........................ 11
D. Internal proceedings resulting from the publication of the newspaper article.... 13
E. Remedy of cassation before the Supreme Court of Justice ............................... 15
VII MERITS .................................................................................................... 16
RIGHT TO Freedom of thought and expression, JUDICIAL GUARANTEES, and
THE PRINCIPLE OF LEGALITY and NON-RETROACTIVITY, IN RELATION TO THE
OBLIGATION TO RESPECT RIGHTS and THE DUTY TO ADOPT DOMESTIC LEGAL
PROVISIONS ................................................................................................. 16
A. Arguments of the parties and of the Commission .......................................... 16
B. Considerations of the Court ....................................................................... 19
b.1 Importance of freedom of expression in a democratic society ................ 19
b.2 Importance of the role of the journalist in a democratic society ............. 21
b.3 Permitted restrictions to freedom of expression and the application of
subsequent liability in cases in which honor and dignity are affected in matters
of public interest .............................................................................. 22
b.4 Application of the standards to this specific case.................................. 26
VIII REPARATIONS........................................................................................ 30
A. Injured party ........................................................................................... 30
B. Restitution .............................................................................................. 31
C. Measures of satisfaction ............................................................................ 31
D. Other measures requested ........................................................................ 32
d.1 Adaptation of the regime of subsequent liability in relation to freedom of
expression ....................................................................................... 32
d.2 Training programs........................................................................... 33
E. Compensation .......................................................................................... 34
F. Costs and expenses .................................................................................. 35
G. Method of complying with the payments ordered .......................................... 36
IX OPERATIVE PARAGRAPHS ......................................................................... 37
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