E. Costs and expenses 147. As the Court has indicated on previous occasions, costs and expenses are included in the concept of reparations recognized in Article 63(1) of the American Convention.124 1. Arguments of the parties 148. The Commission asked the Court to “order the State to pay the costs incurred at the domestic level in the processing of the judicial proceedings filed by the victims or their representatives in the domestic jurisdiction, as well as those incurred at the international level in the processing of the case before the Commission and those arising as a result of the proceedings before the Court that are duly authenticated by the representatives.” 149. The representatives asked the Court to order the State to pay the sum of US$13,236.76 (thirteen thousand two hundred thirty-six United States dollars and seventysix cents) to reimburse the costs and expenses incurred during the litigation of the case before the Inter-American Commission and Court. These include translation costs, transportation costs for Father Hanssens and Roxanne Dimanche for the hearing held by the Inter-American Commission, the transportation costs arising from client consultation, telephone calls and copying costs. They also indicated that this assessment included future costs in case a hearing was held at the seat of the Court. 2. Considerations of the Court 150. As the Court has indicated, costs and expenses form part of the concept of reparation, because the actions taken by the victims in order to obtain justice involve expenditure that must be compensated when the State's international responsibility is declared in a judgment. Regarding their reimbursement, the Court must assess prudently their scope, which includes the expenses incurred before the authorities of the domestic jurisdiction, and also those arising during the proceedings before this Court, taking into consideration the circumstances of the specific case and the nature of the international jurisdiction for the protection of human rights. This assessment can be made based on the principle of equity and taking into account the expenses indicated by the parties, provided that the quantum is reasonable.125 151. In this regard, the Court reiterates that the claims of the victims or their representatives for costs and expenses, and the evidence to support them, must be submitted to the Court at the first procedural occasion granted to them; namely, in the pleadings and motions brief, without prejudice to the possibility of updating these claims subsequently, in keeping with the new costs and expenses that have been incurred as a result of these proceedings.126 In addition, it is not sufficient that the parties merely present probative documents; but rather they are required to submit arguments that relate the 124 Cf. Case of Garrido and Baigorria v. Argentina. Reparations and costs. Judgment of August 27, 1998. Series C No. 39, para. 79, and Case of Barbani Duarte et al. v. Uruguay, supra note 9, para. 266. 125 Cf. Case of Garrido and Baigorria v. Argentina. Reparations and costs, supra note 124, para. 82, and Case of Barbani Duarte et al. v. Uruguay, supra note 9, para. 270. 126 Cf. Case of Chaparro Álvarez and Lapo Iñiquez v. Ecuador, supra note 35, para. 275, and Case of Torres Millacura et al. v. Argentina, supra note 17, para. 197. 39

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