2
The Commission is submitting the case to the jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court
based on the need to obtain justice for the victim given the State of Argentina’s failure to make
substantial progress in complying with the recommendations.
With respect to the recommendation to “provide the measures necessary so that Oscar
Alberto Mohamed can promptly file an appeal so as to obtain a full review of the conviction, in
accordance with Article 8.2. h. of the American Convention” the State referred to a Draft Law
reforming Argentina’s Code of Criminal Procedure that was submitted by the Ministry of Justice
and Human Rights in order to add a new grounds for the admissibility of a review in cases where
the Inter-American Commission or Court issue decisions with respect to the Argentine State.
The State referred to the “favorable opinion” of the legal divisions of various ministries and
offices, as well as the unfavorable opinion of the Treasury Counsel. The Inter-American
Commission notes first that the draft law referred to by the State is still under consideration by
the legislature. In addition, the State did not provide information explaining how that remedy
would satisfy the requirements of Article 8.2.h of the Convention, nor whether, if the Code of
Criminal Procedure were reformed, the new legislation would be retroactively applicable to the
victim in the instant case. In summary, the IACHR feels that to date Oscar Alberto Mohamed
has not had a remedy with which to obtain a full review of the conviction against him.
With respect to the recommendation to “provide legislative and other measures to ensure
the effective fulfillment of the right enshrined in Article 8.2.h of the American Convention in
accordance with the standards described” in the report on the merits, the State indicated that
the Executive Branch is currently reviewing a draft law related to Article 8.2.h of the
Convention. This draft law was submitted by a group of petitioners in the context of a petition
now before the IACHR. The information provided by the State does not indicate that Argentine
authorities have adopted concrete measures designed to adapt its domestic legislation to the
provisions of Article 8.2.h of the Convention. In particular, the State did not report on legislative
and other measures to ensure that individuals convicted for the first time in a second instance
decision, as in Mr. Mohamed’s case, have a remedy consistent with the terms of the referenced
standard under the Convention.
With respect to the recommendation to “adopt the measures necessary so that Oscar
Alberto Mohamed will receive adequate and timely reparation for the human rights violations
established” in the report on the merits, the State indicated that the Secretariat of Human Rights
and the Legal Office of the Ministry of Justice suggested forming an Arbitration Panel to
establish the “headings” and “amounts” that should be recognized and paid for violations found
by the IACHR. In this regard, the Commission notes that no progress has been made on
implementing that proposal and that, according to the information available, the victim has not
yet been contacted by the State. To date, Oscar Alberto Mohamed continues to be
uncompensated for the violations committed against him.
Based on the above considerations, the Commission feels that the State of Argentina
has not made progress on complying with the recommendations made in the report on the
merits. Accordingly, the IACHR deems it appropriate to submit this case to the jurisdiction of the
Court.
The Inter-American Commission submits to the jurisdiction of the Court all the facts and
human rights violations described in report on the merits 173/10. As a result, the IACHR asks
the Court to conclude and declare that:
a)
The State of Argentina violated the principle of legality and non-retroactivity, the
right to a defense, the right to appeal the decision, and the right to judicial protection
enshrined in Articles 9, 8.2 c), 8.2 h), and 25.1 of the American Convention as they
relate to the obligations established in Articles 1.1 and 2 of the same instrument, to
the detriment of Oscar Alberto Mohamed.