Inter-American Court of Human Rights
Case of the 19 Merchants v. Colombia
Judgment of June 12, 2002
(Preliminary Objection)
In the 19 Merchants case,
the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (hereinafter “the Inter-American Court” or
“the Court”), 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
Rafael Nieto Navia, ad hoc Judge;
also present,
Manuel E. Ventura Robles, Secretary; and
Pablo Saavedra Alessandri, Deputy Secretary,
pursuant to Article 36 of the Rules of Procedure of the Court (hereinafter “the Rules
of Procedure”),** delivers the following Judgment on the preliminary objections
raised by the State of Colombia (hereinafter “the State” or “Colombia”).
I
INTRODUCTION OF THE CASE
1.
The instant case was filed before the Court by the Inter-American
Commission on Human Rights (hereinafter “the Commission” or “the Inter-American
Commission”) on January 24, 2001. The application by the Commission originated
from petition No. 11,603, received by the Secretariat of the Commission on March 6,
1996.
II
*
Judge Carlos Vicente de Roux Rengifo, a Colombian citizen, abstained from hearing this case.
Judge Máximo Pacheco Gómez also informed the Court that, due to reasons of force majeure, he could not
attend the LV Regular Session of the Court, and therefore he did not participate in the deliberation and
signing of the instant Judgment.
**
Pursuant to the March 13, 2001 Court Order regarding Transitory Provisions to the Rules of
Procedure of the Court, in force as of June 1, 2001, the instant Judgment on preliminary objections is
rendered under the terms of the Rules of Procedure adopted by the September 16, 1996 Court Order.