I INTRODUCTION OF THE CASE AND THE CAUSE OF ACTION ................................................................ 4 II PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COURT................................................................................................... 5 III JURISDICTION .................................................................................................................................. 6 IV PRELIMINARY OBJECTIONS.............................................................................................................. 6 A. Preliminary objection regarding control of legality of the actions of the Commission ......................... 6 a.1 Arguments of the State and observations of the Commission and of the representatives ........................................... 6 a.2 Considerations of the Court ........................................................................................................................................... 7 B. Preliminary objection on the alleged failure to exhaust domestic remedies........................................ 8 b.1 Arguments of the State and observations of the Commission and of the representatives .......................................... 8 b.2 Considerations of the Court ........................................................................................................................................... 8 V PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATION ........................................................................................................ 9 VI EVIDENCE ...................................................................................................................................... 11 A. Admissibility of the documentary evidence ...................................................................................... 11 B. Admissibility of the testimonial and expert evidence........................................................................ 12 VII FACTS ........................................................................................................................................... 13 A. Background information ................................................................................................................... 13 B. Domestic proceedings regarding the total number of alleged victims ............................................... 13 b.1) First writ of amparo .................................................................................................................................................... 13 b.2) Subsequent actions of the Executive Branch ............................................................................................................. 14 b.3) Second writ of amparo ............................................................................................................................................... 15 b.4) Procedure before the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsperson (Defensoría del Pueblo) .................................... 15 b.5) Approval of the liquidation of pension statements and payments made by the State.............................................. 15 C. Internal proceedings with respect to the sub-group of workers who claimed additional amounts derived from the application of the additional pay increase and other fringe benefits ................................ 16 VIII MERITS........................................................................................................................................ 18 VIII-1 RIGHTS TO JUDICIAL GUARANTEES AND TO JUDICIAL PROTECTION IN RELATION TO THE DUTY TO RESPECT AND GUARANTEE THE RIGHTS AND TO ADOPT PROVISIONS OF DOMESTIC LAW ........... 19 A. Arguments of the parties and of the Commission ............................................................................ 19 B. Considerations of the Court ............................................................................................................. 21 b.1 Duty of special protection for older persons ............................................................................................................... 21 2