Inter-American Court of Human Rights
Case of Hilaire, Constantine and Benjamin et al.
v. Trinidad and Tobago
Judgment of June 21, 2002
(Merits, Reparations and Costs)
In the Hilaire, Constantine and Benjamin et al. Case,
the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (hereinafter "the Inter-American Court",
"the Court" or "the Tribunal"), composed of the following judges: *
Antônio A. Cançado Trindade, President;
Alirio Abreu-Burelli, Vice-President;
Hernán Salgado-Pesantes, Judge;
Oliver Jackman, Judge;
Sergio García-Ramírez, Judge; and
Carlos Vicente de Roux-Rengifo, Judge;
also present,
Manuel E. Ventura-Robles, Secretary; and
Pablo Saavedra-Alessandri, Deputy Secretary;
pursuant to Articles 29, 55, and 57 of the Rules of Procedure of the Court
(hereinafter "the Rules of Procedure" or "the Rules"), 1 delivers the present
Judgment, which is structured according to the following order:
I.
II.
III.
21-25
IV.
V.
34-59
VI.
60
VII.
Introduction of the Case
Jurisdiction of the Court
Proceedings Before the Commission
paras. 1-11
paras. 12-20
paras.
Provisional Measures
Proceedings Before the Court
paras. 26-33
paras.
Facts Set Forth
Evidence
a) Documentary Evidence
b) Expert Evidence
para.
paras. 61-83
paras. 70-76
para. 77
*
Judge Máximo Pacheco-Gómez informed the Court that by reason of force majeure, he was
unable to attend the LV Regular Period of Sessions of the Tribunal, and as a result he did not participate in
the deliberation and signing of the present Judgment.
1
In accordance with the Court’s Order of March 13, 2001, regarding the Transitory Provisions of
the Court’s Rules of Procedure, the present Judgment is delivered according to the terms of the Rules of
Procedure that entered into force on June 1, 2001.