INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS CASE OF VERA VERA v. ECUADOR JUDGMENT OF MAY 19, 2011 (Preliminary Objections, Merits, Reparations and Costs) In the case of Vera Vera, The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (hereinafter “the Inter-American Court,” “the Court,” or “the Tribunal”), comprising the following judges: Diego García-Sayán, President; Leonardo A. Franco, Vice-President; Manuel E. Ventura Robles, Judge; Margarette May Macaulay, Judge; Rhadys Abreu Blondet, Judge; Alberto Pérez Pérez, Judge; Eduardo Vio Grossi, Judge; and also present, Pablo Saavedra Alessandri, Secretary,∗ in conformity with Articles 62(3) and 63(1) of the American Convention on Human Rights (hereinafter “the American Convention” or “the Convention”) and with Articles 31, 32, 42, 65, and 67 of the Court Rules of Procedure1 (hereinafter “the Rules of Procedure”), issues the following Judgment. I. INTRODUCTION TO THE CASE AND PURPOSE OF THE CONTROVERSY II. PROCEEDING BEFORE THE COURT III. PRELIMINARY OBJECTION REGARDING EXHAUSTION OF DOMESTIC REMEDIES A. Arguments of the parties B. Considerations of the Court Paragraphs 1-6 7-9 PRIOR 10-17 10-12 13-17 ∗ Deputy Secretary Emilia Segares Rodríguez informed the Tribunal that she would not be present during the deliberations on this Judgment for reasons of force majeure. 1 Rules of Procedure passed in the LXXXV Regular Period of Sessions held from November 16 to 28, 2009. According to Article 79(2) of the Rules of Procedure, “[i]n cases in which the Commission has adopted a report under Article 50 of the Convention before the these Rules of Procedure have come into force, the presentation of the case before the Court will be governed by Articles 33 and 34 of the Rules of Procedure previously in force. Statements shall be received with the aid of the Victim’s Legal Assistance Fund, and the dispositions of these Rules of Procedure shall apply.”