underlying this argument, interprets this expression as an allusion to the so-called damage to the “life project”, which relates to the full self-realization of the person affected, taking into account his vocation, aptitudes, circumstances, potential and aspirations, which allow him to reasonably establish certain expectations for himself and achieve them.449 The life project is expressed in expectations for personal, professional and family development that are possible under normal conditions.450 This Court has indicated that “damage to the life project” entails the loss or very serious impairment of personal development opportunities that are irreparable or very difficult to repair. 451 It arises from the limitations suffered by a person in relating to and enjoying his personal, family or social environment owing to serious problems of a physical, mental, psychological or emotional nature. Comprehensive reparation of damage to the “life project” generally calls for reparation measures that go beyond mere monetary compensation, and involve measures of rehabilitation, satisfaction and non-repetition.452 In some recent cases, the Court has assessed this type of damage and has repaired it.453 Likewise, the Court notes that some of the higher domestic courts recognize relatively similar damages associated with “life relationships” or other analogous or complementary concepts.454 286. In this respect, Mr. Danilo Furlan described the abrupt change in Sebastián Furlan’s life as follows: [t]he changes in Sebastian’s life due to the lack of timely and comprehensive rehabilitation assistance were dramatic and total. He went from being a good student to being the last in the class, where he was allowed to sit in as a listener out of pity. He went from being a basketball player in the youth team of Club Ciudadela Norte to being barely able to walk. He went from talking fast to barely mumbling. For those who did not know him, the first impression was that he was drunk, therefore he couldn’t even answer the phone. He went from having friends and classmates to being sidelined, discriminated against and absolutely alone without any social relationships. He went from having extraordinary agility in karate, basketball, swimming and other sports to being barely a shadow of his former self. He went from being invited to all the birthdays of neighbors and friends to being excluded and only attending a birthday when it was his or his brother’s. He went from being free and independent to being limited, controlled, medicated and dependent. He went from having a tremendous will to live to trying to kill himself twice. He went from having a large family to nobody caring about him because he was not 455 ‘socially reliable.’” 287. In short, Sebastian Furlan’s life project was severely affected. Considering the difficulties that a child with a disability must face as regards their own limitations and 449 Cf. Case of Loayza Tamayo v. Peru. Reparations and Costs. Judgment of November 27, 1998. Series C No. 42, para. 147. 450 Cf. Case of Tibi v. Ecuador. Preliminary Objections, Merits, Reparations and Costs. Judgment of September 7, 2004. Series C No. 114, para. 245. 451 Cf. Case of Loayza Tamayo v. Peru. Reparations and Costs, para. 150. 452 Cf. Case of Cantoral Benavides v. Peru. Reparations and Costs. Judgment of December 3, 2001. Series C No. 88, para. 80, and Case of Valle Jaramillo et al. v. Colombia. paras. 227, 231. 453 Cf. Case of the Dos Erres Massacre v. Guatemala. Preliminary Objection, Merits, Reparations and Costs. Judgment of November 24, 2009. Series C No. 211, para. 284 and 293, and Case of Mejía Idrovo v. Ecuador, para. 134. 454 Cf. Council of State of Colombia: Administrative Law Chamber, Third Section, Judgment of July 19, 2000, Case file 11,842, and Administrative Law Chamber, Third Section, Judgment of September 14, 2011, Case file 38,222. Also, see: Judgments of the Supreme Court of Justice of Colombia, Civil Court of Appeals, Judgment of May 13, 2008 and Criminal Cassation Chamber, Judgment of August 25, 2010. 455 Affidavit of Danilo Furlan (Merits file, volume II, folios 692 and 693). For her part, the witness Violeta Jano also expressed her views on this point: "Sebastian's life was never the same. As he could not walk or speak properly, he could no longer play sports or anything. He also lost all his friends because it was difficult to be with Sebastián. He did inappropriate things and was constantly in danger.” Affidavit of Violeta Jano (Merits file, volume II, page 738). 90

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